adamjthompson Posted July 5, 2006 Report Share Posted July 5, 2006 Hello,I recently bought a refurbished Dell desktop that came with Windows 2000. However, it did not come with a OS CD to reinstall Windows should my computer ever crash. How do I create one?I found how to create an emergency repair disk using the backup utility, but that seems to just backup my settings, not the entire OS.Thanks for any help... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kyle Posted July 5, 2006 Report Share Posted July 5, 2006 If you bought the laptop from Dell directly, there may be an I386 folder in the root of your C drive. If you have this folder, it will contain all of the files needed to reinstall Windows. This folder must be burnt to a CD that is bootable. You can do this with Nero.If you don't have this folder, you have the option of borrowing a copy of Windows 2000 from a friend. This would only be legal if you already own a license of Windows 2000. If you are not sure if you do, check for a Windows 2000 COA sticker on the bottom of the computer.Kyle Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
adamjthompson Posted July 6, 2006 Author Report Share Posted July 6, 2006 If you bought the laptop from Dell directly, there may be an I386 folder in the root of your C drive. If you have this folder, it will contain all of the files needed to reinstall Windows. This folder must be burnt to a CD that is bootable. You can do this with Nero.If you don't have this folder, you have the option of borrowing a copy of Windows 2000 from a friend. This would only be legal if you already own a license of Windows 2000. If you are not sure if you do, check for a Windows 2000 COA sticker on the bottom of the computer.KyleI did not get the computer directly from Dell (I think it is an older computer), and it does not have an C:\I386 folder.It does have a Windows 2000 sticker on it with the license key, so it's legal. :-)So my best option is to borrow or otherwise obtain a Windows 2000 CD and use my key to re-install if a re-install is ever necesary?~Adam Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
-pops- Posted July 6, 2006 Report Share Posted July 6, 2006 Dell appear to use their own modifications of Windows system so using a standard copy of W2K to re-install may not work in the way you wantThe easiest way to ensure that your system keeps running is to make a backup.You could make a backup of your system as it is now so you can return to that in the event of a disaster you can return your machine to its original state. The best way, though, is to make regular backups of the system to enable you, again in the event of disaster, to return your computer to the condition it was when you made that backup.There is lots of information in this forum on backups. click here. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
adamjthompson Posted July 6, 2006 Author Report Share Posted July 6, 2006 That's some good stuff in that thread. :)I can't find in there how to backup W2K, though. I can backup all of the data fine, but without an OS, I can't get my computer up and running!Am I missing something?~Adam Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
-pops- Posted July 6, 2006 Report Share Posted July 6, 2006 Using commercial backup software such as Acronis will allow you to make full system backups of W2K.If you become a subscriber of Windows Forum, there is a special discount for Acronis available:click here.Click here for Acronis information. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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