Hello people
Just a random question. So what exactly makes a boot cd for windows xp different from a burned copy i can open and access in windows? Say I'm trying to install windows on a computer, and i can't enter windows, I'm going to need one that boots up along with POST and the message reads "Press any key to boot from CD" What makes the boot cd different? A list of instructions it has to execute? Is it at all possible to load windows from a burned CD as opposed to an OEM copy? I have a couple burned versions of windows XP pro and i would like to put them to use, but just wondering if i can just from the startup instead of going into windows?
Thanks again!
Chris
Mordimier,
A bootable CD does have lists of executable, but the essential difference between a bootable CD and a simple Copy of files, is that the Bootable CD was created(burned) as an .iso image and not as a DATA or Music saving CD.
A person could copy all of the XP operating system files that exist on their machine and save to file on a CD for saving/backup or whatever, and the CD would still not "boot".
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Now if you have (1) one bootable CD for XP of any flavor (Home, Pro, Media Center) you can correctly use that installation CD to reinstall XP onto any machine that has previously had that same flavor of XP installed AND which has the Windows Genuine Advantage Product Identification Key Code Sticker on the side of the case. Use the code (1) one time with the same machine that the license code came with.
There are exceptions.
A Dell or HP recovery disk will reinstall XP onto its original machine, but would not necessarily be useful for installing on another machine of a different brand name or home build.
You have an ambitious project, but much of the feedback that I've been offering to you is in the nature of discouraging and limiting information.
Sorry.
But generally, that's the way MS has it set up.
Doug
but the essential difference between a bootable CD and a simple Copy of files, is that the Bootable CD was created(burned) as an .iso image
Ummm, I am afraid that is not quite right. An ISO image is just a file, similar to a .zip file, that contains all of the folder and/or file structure in a compressed form used to recreate (burn an image) of a data CD. It may or may not be bootable. If the ISO Image File is for a bootable CD, it will also contain Boot Sector information that is needed to bring up a basic operating system. Without the boot sector information, regardless the imaging method used to burn the disk, it will not be bootable.
