DescentBB

I need to install XP on a blank harddrive. I have the XP files, but no bootable disk. I've been told Nero can create a bootable disk, but otherwise what's the best way to go about doin gthis?

If you google autostreamer, it can make a bootable XP disk for you out of the install files. As an added bonus, if it is an older version of XP like gold or SP1, you can slipstream SP2 on to it and bypass some updates.

If the files you have already have SP2, you can also apply most of the hotfixes after SP2 on to the install and create a bootable ISO image if you use the tools from this site: http://www.ryanvm.net/msfn/

Even better. Get nLite. You can get rid of all the annoying extra software on XP that you will never use that bog down resources. Not to mention, you can set it up so that it automatically loads your CD key, username and I think even your network settings (though I'm not 100% positive on the latter). You can also add in your own drivers onto it. You can also get rid of all the annoying tour screens and set it up in such a way that all you have to do, is put the disk in, tell it to load windows and walk away.


http://www.nliteos.com/nlite.html


I haven't actually made a bootable disk myself but I toyed around with it a bit to see what my options were in it. My brother recommended it to my boss and I at work.

X2 for nlite. Being able to remove MSN, Accessability and other useless crap is quite handy.