does any one know??????

[phoenixd]

i just put this pc together and i am curious about something i used to have a compaq and i also have a emachine along with the one i just built now is there anyway possible to install xp home using either one of these two systems discs???? there has got to be a way to make a install disc in my opinion considering the fact of this , that i still own the compaq and the emachine has a sister board of mine made by the same manufactor. i have tried to install with both but i get stuck in a few places and it wont let me go any futher. can i pull files from those two and create my own install disc using my key from the compaq????i would like to try really dont want to buy another os if thats the case can anyone refeer me to another os besides windows???

nope, the cds are protected only to work on the compaqs and emachines

[Kc2iLq]

Simple... use linux.
I'd suggest downloading Mandrake 9.1 and giving it a shot. Unless you're a serious gamer or rely on certain software only available for windows, there's no reason that Linux wouldn't work for you.

-Kc2iLq

[phoenixd]

well this really disturbs me i own these two other pc's and there is no way to manipulate the file contents to work for the machine i put together!!!! what about this i have downloaded some instructions on taking a pc with xp on it and getting the network edition of sp1a and a certain boot.ini file and the deploy.cab file and combining them to make a install cd of xp the site in question is http://www.tacktech.com/display.cfm?ttid=249 (winbackup) is the sites name if i remember correct