Lost my Xp Pro cd and need to re install any suggestions?

Question

Hi i lost my Xp Pro cd and now that my desktop crashed i need to re do it (the key is on the side but with no cd the computer won do anything.) Any suggestions would be awesome.

Answer 1

Yo need a new Cd with the same Xp, and try to repair the system

Answer 2

If you have the CD key (i'll take you're word on having a legitimate key), you can download Windows through torrents and use your key to activate it. This method is legal only if the key you have was either purchased or came with a preinstalledd version of Windows.

Answer 3

If you have AIM, email me and I will send you the ISO to burn it to disc yourself.

[e-mail]

Answer 4

If you can find a freind with the exact same version of XP you could burn a copy of their CD and use your key.

It wil have to be the same.. XP home vs. professional...  "gold" (no service pack) or Service pack1 or Service pack 2... each of the 3 use a different set of keys... but you pretty much have a 50/50 chance because there were never too many "gold" CDs released... most likely yours will be either SP1 or SP2 version key, and your friend would likely have the same...  Just make sure if your key is for home edition, that the cd is home and if it's Pro, it will have to be an xp professional CD.

You may also try contacting your computer manufacturer for a replacement media if it is a "name brand" computer, or microsoft.  either should be able to supply you with a replacement CD for around $20.

If the machine isn't worth that to you, then I'd suggest trying out linux and see how you like it, since it's free for the download.  Kubuntu is probably one of the best distros for a windows-user's first experience.  http://www.kubuntu.org (don't get the KDE4 version, stick with the KDE3.x version... KDE4 is still pretty cutting-edge (experimental)

Answer 5

Borrow a copy and use your CD key, done it many times, works fine.

Or take to a computer repair shop, they will do it for you using your CD key.