Using .iso Files And A Hard Drive Question

[markg]

I have 3 questions, which are kinda related.

My system crashed on Saturday. No booting up at all.

Long story short - I have a partitioned drive, so i booted up using a CD, formatted the C drive and reinstalled Windows XP. A friend gave me a copy of XP with SP2 on it - but i'm not happy with that copy - there are things missing on it - like i cant activate the firewall at all in control panel etc

So - i downloaded a very recent copy of XP off a site. However it is in .ISO format.

Magic ISO came with it, so i can see the actual files within XP but i'm not sure how to make a bootable and usable CD out of it all. I have tried extracting the files to a folder on my hard drive, but i dont see a setup file. Any ideas?

The other idea i had was to reinstall my old (pre-SP1) version of XP and then just download all the Service Packs and patches. Is this a good idea to replace the version of XP i have but dont like?

Since installing this new version of XP, when my PC boots up, it says the drives need checking, but hangs when it gets to 55% on the D drive. I can bypass this check and all appears ok, though when i try to check the D Drive in control panel, it says it cant - there is a corrupt file on the d drive. I'm hoping this is a software problem and not a sign that my HD is gonna fall over.

Just in case, everything is backed up to an external HD.

[ballbreaker]

The .ISO file will give you a bootable CD when you burn to CD using one of the software burning programs like NERO. They have an option for burning .ISO files.

If it were me, and all data is backed up, I would delete all partitions then re-create after which you format.

[waldwolf]

markg - ISO stands for International Organization for Standardization. The organization sets standards, such as ISO-9960, which is the file system for CD-ROM disks.

If the WindowsXP-SP2 disk your friend gave you was one supplied with his computer, more likely than not, the manufacturer has modified (hacked) that version of WindowsXP to meet specific needs, and has added programs, drivers, etc. various hardware on the mfr's product require, such as the audio, video cards, CD/DVD burner(s), etc., etc. If the CD your friend loaned you did come with his computer, and unless you both have the same make/model, I'm surprised it would actually install at all.

The .iso copy of XP you downloaded from the internet may or may not be an exact copy of an original legal Microsoft XP Operating System CD. If it is a pirated copy, most likely files have been hacked (removed) to reduce the overall download size. Commonly removed files are manuals, browsers, addons, etc. Also be aware, it is just as easy for the "hacker" to add files to the iso, nasty things like virus's, keyloggers, rootkits and spyware.

Most burning software (Nero, Easy CD Creator, Fireburner, etc.) will burn an ISO file to blank CD-ROM media. Check your burning software for exact details.

I would personally reinstall the WinXP-SP1 and either locate one of the free Microsoft issued SP-2 updater disks, let Windows Update install the SP-2 update, or download the SP-2 ISO file from Microsoft's website, burn it to CD, install it, then put it away for safekeeping.

Whatever your decision, it should be a fun learning experience.

waldwolf

[markg]

Most burning software (Nero, Easy CD Creator, Fireburner, etc.) will burn an ISO file to blank CD-ROM media. Check your burning software for exact details.

I would personally reinstall the WinXP-SP1 and either locate one of the free Microsoft issued SP-2 updater disks, let Windows Update install the SP-2 update, or download the SP-2 ISO file from Microsoft's website, burn it to CD, install it, then put it away for safekeeping.

Whatever your decision, it should be a fun learning experience.

waldwolf

Thank you so much for the replies so far.

So if i burn the .ISO file using Magic ISO to a CD then it will be bootable?

If so, then that is jolly easy.

I got my version of XP of a t@rrent site that is Dem@nic (if you see what i mean!) and other people who have downloaded it all say its a brilliant download and works a treat.

After i download, i always, ALWAYS, scan the downloaded file with my up to date virus scanner. This one turned up clean.

I might use your suggestion of installing my old version of XP and then just download SP2 and all the patches etc, and save my .ISO one for another date.

One tip for you guys - though i guess most of you are far more computer savvy than me...........

When i download files, i save them to a folder on my external hard drive.

The benefit of this is if you have to reinstall them - they reinstall off the external HD and not the installation CD. This is a LOT quicker !

Further more, with the size of applications rising, and the physical size and price of external HD falling, it now makes more convenient sense to stick it all on your HD. (With maybe back up copies on a whole load of CD's)

Just thought i'd mention it.

Thanks again for your clear advice and replies so far.

[nikster]

You can also mount the .iso directly, without burning a CD.

I also keep all my installers around, and generally just rip install CDs to .iso files as well and then mount the .iso directly in WinXP when needed. I used the instructions in the link, works just fine:

http://www.tech-recipes.com/rx/620/xp_smal...ut_burning_them

It's a free tool from Microsoft that enables WinXP to mount .iso images.They then show up as additional drives and you can use them just like a CD. Works for install CDs and most normal software. The only thing it doesn't work for is "Game CD" for certain games which have a copy protection that requires the actual physical CD to be in a drive. For all other intents and purposes, it's the same.

[astral]

This reply will not help you in your current situation,

but I suggest all readers look at this site

which tells you how to make a bootable disk for your operating system installation.

Particularly useful as many manufacturers do not provide the Windows install disk,

only a clone copy which if used will clear all the other data on your disk.

PS This bootable disk is for your own use, on your own machine.

It should not be distributed in any way to promote piracy.

[waldwolf]

......When i download files, i save them to a folder on my external hard drive.

The benefit of this is if you have to reinstall them - they reinstall off the external HD and not the installation CD. This is a LOT quicker !

Further more, with the size of applications rising, and the physical size and price of external HD falling, it now makes more convenient sense to stick it all on your HD. (With maybe back up copies on a whole load of CD's)......

You bring up an interesting but disturbing subject.

Currently, there are relatively inexpensive hard disk drives (HDD's) capable of storing over 1 terebyte* utilizing new technologies to store large quantities of data. Unfortunately, this "ultra-compacting" of data has made such large capacity drives less reliable than their earlier (smaller capacity) relatives.

At present, stored data may be more secure utilizing several smaller HDD's, rather than only one large capacity drive. Just a little food for thought.

* 1 terebyte = 1,099,511,627,776 bytes in computer terms.

waldwolf

[markg]

You bring up an interesting but disturbing subject.

Currently, there are relatively inexpensive hard disk drives (HDD's) capable of storing over 1 terebyte* utilizing new technologies to store large quantities of data. Unfortunately, this "ultra-compacting" of data has made such large capacity drives less reliable than their earlier (smaller capacity) relatives.

At present, stored data may be more secure utilizing several smaller HDD's, rather than only one large capacity drive. Just a little food for thought.

* 1 terebyte = 1,099,511,627,776 bytes in computer terms.

waldwolf

Fair point Waldwolf. I think it's still quite new technology though?. I have no need for a HD that large.

I have also found that CD's dont always last that long out here. A couple of years sometimes in the wrong environment can make them delaminate. It certainly isnt a permanent storage media.

I have found out how to answer my own question and make the download bootable.

I used a FREE burner called InfraRecorder which i got off the Ubuntu site. Its open source software. You just click, actions, burn image and then select the .iso file. It burns it to a CD which then becomes bottable.

The xp software i downloaded actually from T@rrentS7y but the tracker i think is Dem@noid. Comments for the download from T@rren'sp'eye are good, but the same download from Dem@noid have a few quiries. I'm thinking therefore of just reinstalling the first/old version of XP and then downloading all the patches and service packs.

I'll also format my D drive too - after copying everything over to my external HD of course.

[dr_Pat_Pong]

Improper topic