XP SP3 boot disc

[chazpowerslide]

My wife's Acer Aspire One which is/was running Linux which has steadily been p*****g me off with functions ect stopping working.

I'd like to format the HDD and install XP via an external DVD drive (no dvd on the netbook)

Can any of you guys help out with the XP boot disc or advise on how I could proceed...........

Chaz.

[pete275]

I can put you the CD in the post if its any help to you. Boot from USB should be OK I would have thought assuming you've got the product key on or with the machine?

XP Home with Service Pack 3 will be what you're after I think.

[Dibby]

Download it direct from Microsoft:

http://www.microsoft.com/downloa....d=25129

[pete275]

Thats just SP3, it doesn't include the actual OS just the updates.

[Dibby]

You must be able to get the XP disc with SP3 rolled in from the Microsoft site.

If not I've got an XP disc with SP3 updates rolled in as a bootable setup disc you can have Chaz, supply your own activation number though

[jeremyf]

If you have the original XP install disc ie no service packs then you can 'slipstream' the sp2 and sp3 update from Microsoft to create a new CD.  It's a bit of a faff but it got me out of a hole recently when I installed a new motherboard and it bluescreened the installation.  See:

http://www.winsupersite.com/article....k-2-sp2

http://www.winsupersite.com/article....k-3-sp3

[Dibby]

Rather than use DOS to integrate the updates I used nlite to roll in service packs, updates and include automagically installing drivers, antivirus, Office, replace Internet Explorer with Firefox or Chrome

It'll also roll your CD key into the installation to give you an unattended install, strip out a lot of the unnecessay bumph you don't need from a default Windows install like Windows Media Player and movie maker

[John Loudon - Sponsorship Liaison]

The licence key could be on a label underneath the laptop. if there is one, best to try and get the same version of s/w as the licence key eg XP home, XP Professional etc else the key wont work. I have Dell versions of the XP Pro SP3 CD here but installing it on other brands of hardware can be problematic