How to Create a Boot CD for Windows XP Pro

In the event that you have a major Windows XP issue that doesn't allow you to boot into your operating system, it is a good idea to have a way to boot Windows without using the copy installed on your computer. For this, you can easily create a Windows XP boot CD. This will allow you to boot into a Windows XP environment, and even give you the ability to repair any issues on your computer's installed version of Windows XP.

What You'll Need:

Windows 98 Boot Disk image

Windows XP installation disk

Nero Version 5 or later

How to Create Boot CD for Windows XP Pro

Download the Windows 98 Boot Disk image found HERE. Create a directory called C:\XPboot by double-clicking on "My Computer," then double-clicking on "C:" Now right-click on a blank area of the "C:\" window and select "New," then select "Folder." Type in "XPboot" for the name the folder.

Insert your Windows XP installation disk into your computer. Double-click on "My Computer," then right-click on the Windows XP installation disk and click on "Explore." This will allow you to press "Ctrl" + "A" to select all of the contents of the disk, then press "Ctrl" + "C" to copy the contents of the disk to your clipboard.

Navigate back to "C:\XPboot" and press "Ctrl" + "V" to paste the contents of your Windows XP installation disk into this directory.

Start Nero and in the Nero Wizard, select "Create a Bootable Disc." When asked for the boot image, point Nero to the Windows 98 Boot Disk image that you downloaded, then click "New."

Add the files from "C:\XPboot" to the project, then burn the disk. Be sure to select "Finalize Disk," then click "Burn."

If your Windows XP startup disk does not load on boot up, you may need to change the settings in your computer's BIOS to allow the system to boot from the CD drive. Refer to your computer manufacturer's manual to determine how to accomplish this on your system.

Instead of using a Windows XP startup disk, you can also try performing a Windows XP "Repair Installation" using your Windows XP installation disk. Insert the disk into your computer, and once the Windows XP installation disk boots, press "enter" to start the setup. Don't press "R" to "Repair a Windows XP installation using the Recovery Console." Accept the license agreement, select the installation of Windows XP you wish to repair and then press the "R" button. Follow the on-screen prompts to complete the process. This will remove any Windows XP updates that have been installed, so once the process is complete, you will need to reinstall any updates.

Using the Windows XP startup disk to access your computer's hard drive when booted will require that you utilize the FAT32 file system on your hard drive.