bootable windows cd image

**moto_123** · 08-21-2006, 02:31 PM

i am in the hardware testing phase of my project and am wondering if anyone has a cd image they have created using nlite or equivalent to boot windows from a cd. i have found many posts reguarding creating flashcard type installs, but none that use a cd. all i would need is a very basic cd image to boot windows, hopefully with some sort of mp3 player to test my sound card as well. hopefully one that someone has used several times and feels is stable. since i already have my cd player installed and i have succesfully booted GeexBox operating system (geexbox.org if anyone is interested) i would like to try the same thing with windows. this is a result of a failed instal of my hard drive....i cant get windows xp to boot from my hard drive and i am hoping this will allow me to figure out why or at least bandaid the situation until i can fully test the mobo in a spare desktop computer.

also note i have very limited knowledge of software and programing, this is why i am hoping someone has a cd image i can borrow rather than trying to create my own from my windows xp install cd.

thanks!

**ShawJohn** · 08-21-2006, 02:40 PM

cannot legally do this. You have to make your own ISO from nLITE using your own CD, or Install.

**moto_123** · 08-21-2006, 03:04 PM

i figured that'd be an issue......but how would it be any different than if i had a friend of mine here use my install cd to make it? the problem is i dont have anyone who knows how, and i know i would fail if i tried to do it myself.

if there is something on each windows install cd that makes them different, could i just mail mine to someone and have them create the ISO and burn a bootable copy of that and then send it all back to me? or could i just send them my cd key? like i said, i have no clue how the process works.

i have an extra copy of windows xp licensed to me, so i know the end result is not vilating any of microsofts copyright or other laws.

**v8 scimitar** · 08-21-2006, 03:34 PM

Do you mean to actually boot from and run from a cd? If so I don't think this is possible with XP as XP constantly needs access to write to disk which you cant do with a read only cd. Course the nlite guys might have figured a way round this if so apologies and I am sure one of them will steer you in the right track.

**moto_123** · 08-21-2006, 03:42 PM

i am not sure exactly what it requires, or i would be attempting it myself. but after reading many posts on it, its seems as though a few people have it working. most of these boot from flash cards and use some sort of program to virtually write the windows info to the ram. plus since geexbox operating system is bootable and completely runable from the cd, i would think windows xp would be as well.

**v8 scimitar** · 08-21-2006, 04:28 PM

XP uses a page file extensively which is why it needs to write to disk. It also continually reads and writes to the registry. having had a quick look at Geexbox it's a Linux distro. Linux doesn't use page files or registries which is why it will work from read only disks. Flash media can be written to but yes they probably use a ram disk to write too as flash media is pretty slow but this will only be for none system writes which don't have to be saved.

**oeri** · 08-21-2006, 09:30 PM

Originally Posted by v8 scimitar

Linux doesn't use page files or registries which is why it will work from read only disks.

No... it just uses an entire swap partition

Originally Posted by ShawJohn

cannot legally do this. You have to make your own ISO from nLITE using your own CD, or Install.

Of course you can do it legally!

http://www.reatogo.de/

Cheers!
-oeri

**2k1Toaster** · 08-21-2006, 09:36 PM

Also there is a hidden sys file that is not unpacked on windows installation. It is on the XP Pro CD. Basically it is a ramdrive instruction. If the CD has that on it, it loads to RAM. Now keep in mind that unlike knoppix or something, Windows needs a hell of a lot of space to use the RAM drive. It loads everything, and then all the temp stuff too. Not really practical or reccommended but can be done.