I just received my recovery DVD (big thanks to a fellow member here).  Now I want to extract the Windows XP out of the recovery dvd so I can create a separate Windows CD with SP2 integrated, so fresh install straight with SP2 instead of fresh install the SP1 then do another SP2.

Can someone help?

Are we talking about a recovery DVD here? Because for what I know the content on the recovery disk is nothing but an hdd image. So acutally I dont think its possible to extract the install files from that disc.

You can just borrow an installation disc from a friend or even dl it. You can add SP2 to the installtion files by slipstreaming it. When its done… install it using your own key. That what I did.

I forgot to mention.

I dont know why people keep on telling that its hard to get the drivers. When you enter your modell number on the sony support site it will provide you with all the drivers neccessary.

Recovery DVD that can be purchase at Sony Service Sales.   I have that program that can extract the sony mirror image files if that helps.

So it’s not from the hard-drives…

Hmm.. Im still not to sure what this DVD does. There
are two posibilities:

1st possibility:
Its just an image of preinstalled software thats being copied bit by bit:
E.g. TRs are being sold with a recovery partition. The content of that partition is nothing but an image of the system partition (like when you backup with Norton Ghost). You can use it to recover the preinstalled software and you can somehow extract single files from the image but you wont be able to extract install files because they arent there.

2nd possibility:
The Recovery DVD offers to INSTALL a FRESH copy of Windows XP.
In that case the install files are there.

I used to have such a Recovery CD. It offered to install Windows ME onto my old laptop. What I did? I chose to install a fresh copy of Windows ME. After it unpacked all the Windows ME files I switched my PC off so that it nor installed ME neither had the possibility to delete its temp folder.

After rebooting the system I found a folder on my harddisc that contained all WindowsME install files. Have you tried that yet?

However… I still believe that download works faster.

The DVD does full system recovery (so fresh install windows XP), and yes, I do see the Windows XP files in there, but I don’t know which one to copy.

I didn’t try to do the full system recovery as I would think it would give it the same exact thing as if the TR2A is bought new.  I just want to extract the Windows XP home, then copy to a hd, slipstream it with SP2, and voila, full version windows XP home for my TR2A as the recovery system checks the mo-bo as you know it already, so it can’t be installed on any other system except TR2A.  The reason I want to extract windows XP out of the recovery DVD is that i do not own windows xp software at all, so i dont want to go out there buying a full version of windows which is available in the recovery dvd, and i also don’t want to use pirated windows as it doesnt allow me to ‘microsoft update’. 

Basically I want a full version windows XP home with SP2 slipstream without the additional add on that Sony usually put when buying a new PC (like quicken, game, etc).

Btw, what do you mean by ‘download is faster’? where to download windows xp home for TR2A only?

What I do: chuck the recovery disk, its worthless.  Install Win XP (Pro, for me) from an install disk.  Of course, the sony serials tend not to work for any other winxp disk, so call india (via microsoft) and tell them my serial number.  The whole calling process is actually pretty painless and usually takes less than 8 minutes total time (i’ve done it a lot and timed it)
Dell install disks always work well (and everybody knows someone w/ a dell)

The thing is I don’t have win xp pro install disk.  Now what exactly did you do to call India MS?  I am currently run win xp pro and I use the serial key that was given to me by my company, but it says that’s invalid serial key when I go microsoft update.

That’s why now I want to go back to XP Home, but without installing all the original software, just the windows.  I prefer to have it slipstream to sp2 if possible.

The I386 folder from the Restore DVD is all you need, so it is not worthless, it’s just tricky to get the files.  But the I386 folder is the same thing you would find on a retail copy of XP…

The easiest way I know how to get them is to just let it restore your system and when you log in for the first time, copy the I386 folder from C:\Windows and you can then use that to slipstream and burn a CD, then restore your system from the CD…

And Home is the same thing as Pro, just less features.  Some people think that Home runs slower or worse than Pro, but I’m sure they just got a virus or had some other type of problem with Home at the time…

SH

@Gameson (reminds me of my favorite Whisky Jameson btw)

You do see the files? So whats the problem? I thougt
the Microsfot binaries are hidden or compressed somehow and you
dont know how to access.

Why do you need software that only works on your TR2A?
Once again: I didnt give you advice to use pirated software!
I would never do that.

What I tried to explain to you is: You can try to
get the neccesary binaries (Install files) from a friend or from the internet (e.g. filesharing - XP CD Image). Thats what I did when I wanted to slipstream my own XP.

I USED MY OWN SONY LICENSE KEY TO INSTALL THE SOFTWARE. There nothing illegal about that if you ask me. Having the licences key label on my laptop makes me believe that I have the right to use XP. Correct me if Im wrong

Another problem that you could step into:

....installation worked fine with the license key but when
I tried to activate XP via internet I was told that my license key is not correct, too (the license key from the label on my laptop)!!!!!!!!!!!

THATS A PROBLEM THAT MANY OEM-XP license keys have (Sony, HP)!!!
In another thread I already explained why! Microsoft stopped supporting
computer based ACTIVATION for these keys! BUT THEY ARE NOT INCORRECT OR ILLEGAL!

I followed their instructions and gave Microsoft a phone call. Their answering machine (or however you call it) told me that my key is not correct either. But in that case the answering machine offers you to talk to microsoft employer (I mean a real person). They checked my license key again and activated my XP!!!

so you are saying ANY Windows Home XP will take my Sony TR2A sticker serial key?

I dont know how many different XP-home versions are available out there but it worked fine for me :!:

Back up your system (if you currently have a running one) and try!

Taking the files form the i386 folder on the hd is a nice idea, but only works, when you have the orignial harddisk installed. I own a TR5 and a Z1 and both have upgraded harddisks. Here you can not use the recovery dvds at all, because they say, this is not the right system.

There are some tools for creating bootable Xp-CDs and I tried some. But no luck.

Has anybody created a running recovery-cd without hardware-check?

Christoph

so you are saying that the recovery DVD only works when the original HD has the recovery partition??

I already formatted my HD long time ago, that HD partition in my TR2 is long gone since day 1 I own the TR2.

that sucks..

Recovery works based on your motherboard, NOT hard drive. It works on same series. For example, recovery DVD Home version for TR1A will work on all TR1 laptops.
i386 folder in Windows folder is almost what you need to create your own CD with SP2 integrated. On original XP cd, it has some other folders. One important thing that you should have right signature file of XP Home or Pro on root of CD.

how do i get that signature file?