How To Replace An Original Windows XP Disc

Good day: I have an original (purchased) Windows XP Home Edition disc which
was badly scratched and is unusable (unbootable). I would like to replace it
(at a cost presumably) from Microsoft. However, when I go on MS's support
site, apparently an e-mail or phone reply from them will cost me CAD $59.00.

Could someone on this forum (or is this the correct forum to ask?) advise on
how I can replace this disc with a new one from MS w/o the cost of a CAD
$59.00 e-mail reply from them ? I would like to keep Windows XP for a while
yet but in the event it crashes I would need the original disc to do the
reboot. Thanks in advance.

Eric

And your Windows Update question would be...?

How to replace Microsoft software or hardware, order service packs, and
replace product manuals:
http://support.microsoft.com/kb/326246

Richard wrote:
> Good day: I have an original (purchased) Windows XP Home Edition disc
> which
> was badly scratched and is unusable (unbootable). I would like to replace
> it
> (at a cost presumably) from Microsoft. However, when I go on MS's support
> site, apparently an e-mail or phone reply from them will cost me CAD
> $59.00.
>
> Could someone on this forum (or is this the correct forum to ask?) advise
> on
> how I can replace this disc with a new one from MS w/o the cost of a CAD
> $59.00 e-mail reply from them ? I would like to keep Windows XP for a
> while
> yet but in the event it crashes I would need the original disc to do the
> reboot. Thanks in advance.

On Mon, 15 Feb 2010 12:59:18 -0500, "PA Bear [MS MVP]"
<> wrote:

>And your Windows Update question would be...?
>
>How to replace Microsoft software or hardware, order service packs, and
>replace product manuals:
>http://support.microsoft.com/kb/326246
>
>Richard wrote:
>> Good day: I have an original (purchased) Windows XP Home Edition disc
>> which
>> was badly scratched and is unusable (unbootable). I would like to replace
>> it
>> (at a cost presumably) from Microsoft. However, when I go on MS's support
>> site, apparently an e-mail or phone reply from them will cost me CAD
>> $59.00.
>>
>> Could someone on this forum (or is this the correct forum to ask?) advise
>> on
>> how I can replace this disc with a new one from MS w/o the cost of a CAD
>> $59.00 e-mail reply from them ? I would like to keep Windows XP for a
>> while
>> yet but in the event it crashes I would need the original disc to do the
>> reboot. Thanks in advance.
I the scratch is on the bottom all may not be lost. Check with video
rental stores, Kerakoe store and the like. When I lived in Colorado
Springs there was a Kerakoe store that would reface the disk for
$2.75. If the disk is scratched on the top this will not work. Ask
around your friends for the correct disk (retail, OEM ?) and borrow
it, if needed. The important piece of the puzzle is the install key.
Google for find install key or such and you will find several programs
that will retrieve the install key specific to YOUR box. If you
purchased the box from a commercial builder, there should be a
Certificate of Authenticity stuck somewhere on the box, which will
have your install key on it. PA's right, this is off topic for this
group...next time look for a group more in line with you question.

--
Eddie in Loveland

"Men occasionally stumble over the truth, but most of them pick
themselves up and hurry off as if nothing ever happened." - Sir
Winston Churchill

Richard wrote:
> Good day: I have an original (purchased) Windows XP Home Edition
> disc which was badly scratched and is unusable (unbootable). I
> would like to replace it (at a cost presumably) from Microsoft.
> However, when I go on MS's support site, apparently an e-mail or
> phone reply from them will cost me CAD $59.00.
> Could someone on this forum (or is this the correct forum to ask?)
> advise on how I can replace this disc with a new one from MS w/o
> the cost of a CAD $59.00 e-mail reply from them ? I would like to
> keep Windows XP for a while yet but in the event it crashes I would
> need the original disc to do the reboot. Thanks in advance.

PA gave you the link you need.

Also know that you can just find someone with the same version/edition of
Windows XP Home Edition (retail I assume) and make a copy of it.

--
Shenan Stanley
MS-MVP
--
How To Ask Questions The Smart Way
http://www.catb.org/~esr/faqs/smart-questions.html

"PA Bear [MS MVP]" <> wrote in message
news:...
> And your Windows Update question would be...?

That's why I added "or is this the correct forum to ask"!!

Eric

Thanks very much Shenan.
Eric
"Shenan Stanley" <> wrote in message
news:...

> Also know that you can just find someone with the same version/edition of
> Windows XP Home Edition (retail I assume) and make a copy of it.
>
> --
> Shenan Stanley
> MS-MVP
> --
> How To Ask Questions The Smart Way
> http://www.catb.org/~esr/faqs/smart-questions.html
>

And that's why I answered your question anyway!

Richard wrote:
> "PA Bear [MS MVP]" <> wrote in message
> news:...
>> And your Windows Update question would be...?
>
> That's why I added "or is this the correct forum to ask"!!
>
> Eric

But not before you were quick to point out what I mentioned might be the
case, that is 'not the correct forum'.
Anyways.....My concern has been resolved and I've passed on my thanks.
Eric
"PA Bear [MS MVP]" <> wrote in message
news:...
> And that's why I answered your question anyway!
>
> Richard wrote:
>> "PA Bear [MS MVP]" <> wrote in message
>> news:...
>>> And your Windows Update question would be...?
>>
>> That's why I added "or is this the correct forum to ask"!!
>>
>> Eric