Download Windows XP

  • Thread starter Thread starter Glen Pettit
  • Start date Start date
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Glen Pettit

I have a Dell OEM version that came with my computer. I'm trying to move to
Vista on my internal HD and move my XP partition to a USB drive. I've copied
my HD and also did a fresh install to the USB drive. Both actions give me a
blue screen on start up. I'm assuming that my problem might be with the OEM
version of XP. I have the license and only need a vanilla media to
troubleshoot with. Where can I get a copy of Vanilla XP without having to
purchase something I already have?
 
Your problem, it seems to me, involves the file "boot.ini", which must reside
on the 'boot disk' (along with ntldr et. al.) You are trying to move a
'system.dat' file (the registry) to a USB which has a differnt 'drive
letter'. Probably, you were on "C:", which eliminates any USB, as far as I
know.
 
Glen said:
I have a Dell OEM version that came with my computer. I'm trying
to move to Vista on my internal HD and move my XP partition to a
USB drive. I've copied my HD and also did a fresh install to the
USB drive. Both actions give me a blue screen on start up. I'm
assuming that my problem might be with the OEM version of XP. I
have the license and only need a vanilla media to troubleshoot
with. Where can I get a copy of Vanilla XP without having to
purchase something I already have?
Click to expand...

Windows XP does not natively support booting from a USB drive. There are
claims to have made it work - but it's not something that just magical
works.

If you are installing to the Dell PC the OEM licensed copy of Windows XP
came with - it is unlikely anything wrong with the CD itself is causing the
issues. Sounds like you are just trying to do something that does not work
'out of the box' (boot to USB drive in Windows XP) or you are missing
drivers and the likes and a generic Windows XP OEM CD wouldn't help you
anymore than the one that came with the computer.
 
Are you trying to safe a copy of XP in case Vista screws up???....if so that
is not the way.
You will need a copy of Acronis True Image and hopefully a DVD drive or an
external HD which can be connected via USB or secondary internal HD.
You would then Image your present HD to the DVD/2nd HD/Ext HD......
You would also need to make an Acronis Bootable Recovery DVD/CD so that you
will have the ability to transfer that image back to its original location.

Now you have a safe perfect copy of the Internal HD.....If Vista screws up
and you decide to go back to XP then you just need to restore that image.

If there is another reason you are trying to copy this partition to a USB
drive please let us know

peter
 
Did you clone this XP to the USB or just copy and paste it? If you just
copy and pasted the partition to the USB Drive this will happen. The system
isnt setup to boot from that drive. The boot.ini file that XP uses to boot
is configured wrong and therefor this is a result.

Best option. Get a CD and do a repair install. If you dont have a CD...

http://www.tech-forums.net/pc/f9/how-install-xp-without-xp-cd-156805/

Check out that thread. IT shows you how to basically create a XP CD with
the I386 folder.
 
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