Re: Backup Copy of Windows XP CD

Tech-Archive recommends: Repair Windows Errors & Optimize Windows Performance

Wayne Smith wrote:
Operating System: Windows XP Professional

I have a valid and legal retail copy of Windows XP Professonal, which I am running on my PC, connected I also have a 320GB USB External Hard Drive. On that external hard drive I have copied every piece of software I have from the original installation CD and use these files whenever I need to install or re-install software or components.

To keep my original Windows XP CD in good condition I've packed it away and only use the external hard drive version when I need to, I also made some backup copies of this Windows XP CD by highlighting all the files on the external hard drive, right-clicking them and selecting Send to CD ... so far so good, all the XP installation files copied fine to the blank CD and once it had finished I double-clicked the CD Drive icon and the Windows XP Installation screen appeared, I can then follow the instructions to upgrade my OS if needed.

However, if I then keep that *copied* XP CD in the drive and restart my computer, but changing the BIOS settings to boot from the CD Drive first, it never detects that *copied* version of Windows XP and continues straight on to boot XP as normal. If however I use a piece of software like Nero to copy the original XP Professional CD to a blank CD, when I restart the computer it will boot from that CD and start the Windows XP installation.


Yes, that's exactly the way it should work. Copying the CD's files to the external drive, and then copying those files to another, blank CD won't magically render the CD bootable. It's necessary to use a utility such as Nero to make the copied CD bootable.




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Bruce Chambers

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