Windows XP Boot Disk

There continues to be some interest in creating Windows XP boot disks even though many of the newer PC's do not even have floppy drives. If you can start your computer from a CD-ROM or through a network-based connection, it is recommended that you do so.

Microsoft has stated that future products will no longer support installations by boot disks, and will require the ability to start from a CD drive or from a network. In some cases, you may just need to go into your BIOS settings and change the "Boot Order" of your machine. Click here for instructions on how to do it.

For now, at least, you can still download the Windows XP Boot Disks if you have a working CD drive, but are unable to boot your computer from your CD-ROM. In that case, you will need a working floppy disk drive that can boot your computer from a floppy disk.

There are actually six Windows XP Setup boot floppy disks. You must have the files and drivers from these disks to access the CD drive and start the Setup procedure.

You will need to download the Setup disks that corresponds to your version of the Windows XP CD-ROM. The version will be displayed on the CD-ROM disk, along with the Service Pack version. For this tutorial, I will use the windows XP Home Edition as an example.

Click here to download the files necessary for the Windows XP Home Edition boot disks.

Click on the "Download" button as shown above to download the executable file.

The download contains only one large program file. When you run the executable file, it will extract the files and you will see the following message:

"This program creates the Setup boot disks for Windows XP. To create these disks, you need to provide 6 blank, formatted, high-density disks.

Please specify the floppy drive to copy the images to:"

Type in the appropriate drive letter for the floppy disk drive (typically drive A). After you type the floppy disk drive letter, you receive the following message:

"Insert one of these disks into drive A: This disk will become the Windows XP Setup Boot Disk. Press any key when you are ready."

When you press a key, the files begin copying to the floppy disks. Insert the blank disks as you are prompted until all six disks have been created. If, for some reason, the process is interrupted, you will have to start over from the beginning.

Create a label for each disk with the correct sequence number specified by the program. The disks must be used in the correct order during the Setup process.

After all six disks have been created, insert disk number one in the floppy disk drive, and then restart your computer. The computer's "Boot Order" must be configured to start from the floppy disk drive. You may have to modify the BIOS settings on your computer to do this. Click here for instructions on how to do it.

The Setup process begins. Insert the other floppy disks, in order, when you are prompted. You will need to use the Windows XP CD-ROM in order to finish the Setup process.

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