Thank you for being a valued part of the CNET community. As of December 1, 2020, the forums are in read-only format. In early 2021, CNET Forums will no longer be available. We are grateful for the participation and advice you have provided to one another over the years.

Thanks,

CNET Support

Question

where to get a copy of

Mar 11, 2012 11:12PM PDT

I need a download of windows XP Home to load on my new hard drive. Where can I find a download of this. Thanks Gene

Discussion is locked

- Collapse -
Answer
Re: download of Windows XP
Mar 11, 2012 11:29PM PDT

If you're a MSDN member it's available. But becoming one is more expensive than buying a disk with a license.
There's no legal other source.

- Didn't your PC come with an XP disk?
- Didn't your PC come with recovery disk or the possibility to make one?
- Didn't you make an 'image' of your old hd?
- Can you order a recovery disk with the manufacturer? That's cheaper than buying a new license.

Kees

- Collapse -
windows xp home
Mar 11, 2012 11:58PM PDT

no it was on the hard drive and when it went I lost it. I had a recovery disk but am unable to locate it. I have the actavation code on the side od the desktop and just need a copy to load it.

- Collapse -
Re: XP CD.
Mar 12, 2012 12:17AM PDT

Maybe a friend, relation, family member still has a CD? Or eBay or Craigslist.

Note, however, that that license code is an OEM license code. There's no guarantee at all that some other version of XP Home (say, from another OEM or a retail version) will accept it. So my advice is to only pay for it if it works.

If you don't have the recovery disk any more, are you sure you have all the right drivers for XP? If you don't, you might have a crippled machine until you find them. Maybe better to order a new recovery disk if they still are being sold.

Kees

- Collapse -
windows XP
Mar 12, 2012 12:38AM PDT

Thanks Kees, I have contacxted a friend that said he would burn me a copy and he said he assures me it will work. going to have to update operating system one of these days. I have seen where windows 8 is coming out soon.maybe then. Gene

- Collapse -
(NT) Let's hope he's right.
Mar 12, 2012 12:40AM PDT
- Collapse -
windows xp home
Mar 12, 2012 1:15AM PDT

He works for a computer repair plave here in town that come out and straighten things out for you so I beleive he most likely right. Kepp my fingers crossed