[PCWorld]

Post your comments for Answer Line: Create a Windows CD for PCs That Don't Have One here

[RocketDFS]

Sometimes with certain versions of Windows XP, locking desktop icons will also revert the 'drop shadows' to 'blocks'. To undo this glitch go to Display Settings in the Control Panel or right-click your desktop, go to the Desktop tab and select Customize Desktop, go to the Web tab and uncheck (clear) the Lock Desktop Icons box.

[splttingatms]

I used Powertoy Tweak UI to change My Documents to an external hard drive. If I reinstall windows using the above method, can this cause problems?

[hurricane]

I have tried three times to create this bootable CD and it will not boot. I am either doing something wrong, or the instructions are wrong.

[u0671]

Just wonder if anybody had a problem finding winnt32.exe file. I have tried using Windows Explorer but to no avail.

[DennisOReilly]

On my Windows XP PC the winnt32.exe file is located at C:I386. To find it on your machine, click StartSearchFor FIles or Folders, enter "winnt32.exe" in the "All or part of the file name" box, and click the Search button.

[LincolnSpector]

Not every PC has the correct i386 folder. If you installed XP on your system from a true Microsoft XP CD (as opposed to it coming pre-installed on your PC), this folder won't be there. But then, in that case, you don't need this tip because you have an XP CD.More troubling, since I wrote this column, I've discovered that some PCs that do come with XP pre-installed don't have all of the needed files in the i386 folder. In this situation, the tip won't work. Not only will you be unable to create a Bart PE disc, but you will not be able to install from this folder even if you used a Bart PE disc created on another PC.The trick is still worth trying if you want a better reinstall option than the one that came with your computer. If it doesn't work, you haven't lost anything.Lincoln SpectorAuthorAnswer Line

[Tbender]

I tried this and keep getting warnings that it cannot find ten different files starting with iastor.sys and ending with aarich.sys. I have checked the I386 folder and all those files are present and accounted for but they keep coming up as warnings. I checked the forms at the CD builder for any type of a hint and found several with the exact same problem. Unfortunately the forum responders treated the posters more like idiots for not knowing the answer. The other responders posted useless help, one suggesting changing a registry entry that simply does not exist.

[CLEMBECK]

Can an install disk be created for and OEM version of WindowsXP Pro

[Jsjaxn]

HELP!!! I just reisntalled using this process and now none of my applications work and most importantly I have no network adapters so I cannot configure my internet connection.Strangely, my broadband remained connected thru it all and my wireless router is still getting a signal and the other 3 pcs in the house can still get to the internet voa the worelss even though this PC to which the router is connected has not network adapters and even refuses my broadband installation CD.Any ideas?

[kenw]

Is there any way to reinstall windows XP from a windows XP upgrade disk without losing all my data Thanks

[yearight3]

HP, Compaq, Emachines, Gateway, Toshiba, Sony. ALL of these, unfortunately popular, but garbage, PC's do NOT come with a Windows CD. This fact should figure into PC World's ratings. The companys will hem and haw when you try and get what you should've gotten in the first place. Some will send you a "recovery" disk, after pleading, others will charge you. Buy a Dell, they give you what you should have for free

[yrret]

Thanks for this excellent article for use with XP systems.
But could you please also write an article on how I might be able to do the same thing if your laptop came with Vista. My Toshiba laptop came with no recovery disk. It does have a hidden disk section. But I have no idea how to use it. I tried to get some help through Toshiba tech support. But it's in the Philippines, and the language barrier is so poor it's useless. After trying to talk with several different support people, I just gave up.
Bartpe only works with XP and below. Another article on doing this with Vista too would be greatly appreciated.

[kcihtred2]

i no that if you have to burn it your self, and it fails, contact the computer company and most of the time they will GIVE you one for free

[Bassoon]

I also have a laptop that came with Vista preinstalled and no recovery disk included. I have already had to restore the laptop to its original configuration using the hidden partition from the manufacturer. I would like to create my own restore disc for Vista. Please consider furthering this story to include a 'how to' for Vista. Thank you!
Bassoon

[gatepe]

IF I restore my laptop's OS, using this method, what happens to the 116 "updates" my laptop shows as installed? These include Hotfix for Windows XP (4 entries), Windows XP Hotfix (15 entries), Security Update for Windows XP (72 entries), Update for Windows XP (17 entries), Windows Genuine Advantage Validation Tool & Notificatin Tool (1 entry each), Security Update for Windows Media Player (3 entries), Windows Imaging Component (1 entry), Hotfix for Windows Media Format 11 SDK (1 entry), and Hotfix for Windows Media Player 11 (1 entry).

[awhinden]

What about Windows VISTA?

I have a new Compaq Presario that fails to even make a recovery DVD - it just turns the DVDs into coasters halfway through the process.

[AveragePCUser]

Use PE Builder to find valid i386 Installation Files. PE Builder has a "search" option under the "source" menu which will search drives for valid i386 Windows Installation files. It's a lot easier than trying to do it yourself with "explorer" You may have multiple i386 folders on your computer, but they may not have valid Installation Files. You can download PE Builder from http://www.nu2.nu/pebuilder/download/. If you had a Windows XP installation disk, then you could just copy the files off the disk. But sense you are reading this article, you probably don't have the Windows disk. But you can probably think of some way to get the i386 files even though you don't have the disk yourself.

[vabut67]

Does this procedure work with Vista?

[rgreen4]

You can order recovery DVD's from HP for your machine. Most run around $19.

If you contact technical support, they may either walk you through solving the problem, or if they can't, if you ask for the supervisor, they may send you one gratis.