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Resolved Question

How can I complete XP setup without SP2 disk?

Apr 30, 2014 6:49PM PDT

1. Bought custom built machine around 2008/2009 with XP Home + SP2 & SP3 preinstalled. Was given OEM disc for XP. I presume the builder merely downloaded SP2 & 3 from Update and therefore never had disks for them.

2. Hard drive failed 2012/2013. Used another machine from then till now.

3. Revisited custom machine couple of weeks ago and started setup afresh. The machine reformatted the drive (one and a half hours) and proceeded with setup on OEM disk. Got as far as finishing basic XP and then told me to insert SP2 disk. I never had it.

4. Windows says you can also click OK if you want to use SP2 from another medium (eg a floppy). SP2 is 266 megs, so I used my Win7 machine to burn SP2 onto DVD disk. Now the XP machine will not accept the DVD disk.

5. I am assuming that if/when SP" gets into and finishes my setup it will not ask me to insert SP3 disk, because SP3 is still available on Update, whereas SP2 is not.

6. So here I am with my old XP machine almost re-setup with Windows using my own OEM disk, but for the addition of SP2. Is there any way I can complete this setup without having to buy a new SP2 disk?

Discussion is locked

jbcouk has chosen the best answer to their question. View answer

Best Answer

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Something strange.
Apr 30, 2014 6:54PM PDT

The original XP disk can't ask for the SP2 disk, because it doesn't know it exists. Onily SP2 can ask for the SP2 disk.
What happens if you insert that OEM disk when it asks for the SP2 disk?

Kees

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Completing XP setup
May 1, 2014 1:52AM PDT

Your answer has logic, and has made me study the disc closely - and sure enough, written on the hologram there is "Includes Service Pack 2". So I will now try the procedure you suggest. Although it does make me wonder why they ask me to "insert the disk marked 'SP2' when they know it's already included on the disk that is still sitting inside the DVD drive. Perhaps they are dumber than I am, although that is unlikely I must admit.

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Re: disk
May 1, 2014 4:58AM PDT

The disk can be removed (or even" must be removed) when the install first reboots. Then everything it needs is on the hard disk and the real installation can begin.

Maybe they added something in SP2 that isn't included in the inititial install for some reason. Then it needs the disk again.

Kees

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Not strange any more.
May 1, 2014 4:54AM PDT

Yep. I did as you suggested and fed the OEM disk in again and then the machine
sailed right through to a successful XP setup. Thanks. I should read things more carefully.

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Answer
Now the XP machine will not accept the DVD disk
Apr 30, 2014 11:12PM PDT
"Now the XP machine will not accept the DVD disk"

Maybe it's only a CD drive???
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Completing SP2 drive
May 1, 2014 1:55AM PDT

The drawer on the XP machine is labeled "DVD ROM".