As an in-home PC tech, I have run across machines that are unbootable
in safe mode due to Windows corruption by viruses or file deletion,
etc.  Some of these machines are custom-built "clone" PCs that have no
Windows XP CD-Key sticker on the side.  Customers often have no clue
where their original XP discs are.  In this situation, it would be
nice to recover the XP CD key from the registry so I can reinstall
Windows for them using their license.  I have an XP CD-key recovery
tool that works from a console window ("cmd" window) in XP, but I
would like to get that working on a PC that can't boot via the HD.

So my question is, how do I make an XP boot CD that will do the bare
minimum to see the NTFS-based hard drive so I can run my utility?  I
tried using Nero using the "Microsoft Corporation.img" file from an
original XP install CD to create a boot CD, but I got an error
"CDBOOT: Couldn't find NTLDR", then it goes to the hard drive to boot
instead.

There are many instructions online for creating custom XP install
discs, but that's not what I'm after.  I just want something that is
the equivalent of an old MS-DOS boot floppy where I get a command
prompt and have the option to run my own console programs... something
similar to "Safe Mode with Command Prompt", but the GUI is optional.

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Clarification of Question by fungicord-ga on 18 Nov 2005 06:09 PST

To make a shorter, clearer version of my original question, I'd like
to know how to make a boot CD that goes to XP's "Safe Mode with
Command Prompt" using only files loaded from the CD.

This may work for you:
http://www.sysinternals.com/Utilities/NtfsDosProfessional.html

feldersoft,

NTFSDosProfessional is a very interesting program, but it's not what I
need.  My utility gives an error "Cannot run in MS-DOS mode" when
using that.  This makes sense because my utility is an XP program. 
Even though it runs from a command prompt, it still needs an XP
command prompt.

Well this might work it claims to work with almost all versions of windows.
 http://www.geocities.com/acid_zebra/
Do you have a bootable floopy, you might even make a bootable cdrom for this. 


Since iam not sure about the legal aspects of creating the bootable Xp cd.

Probably you could boot live cd version of linux, like knoppix.
http://www.knoppix.net 
And using wine run some tool like this.

 http://www.geocities.com/acid_zebra/

I do not believe what you are asking for exists.  If your program is
an XP program, you need to find one that is not.  XP has no bootable
dos mode like you're looking for.

Does your utility support telling it arbitrarily where the registry
files are?  If so, you could copy the user's registry using ntfsdospro
and then using another machine, run your utility.

Another option would be to build an XP Live CD:
http://www.nu2.nu/pebuilder/

However, your utility might just read the windows serial from the live
cd and not the user's drive if it doesn't support specifying where the
registry is.

A linux live cd maybe another option...but again you need a util that
will actually read the registry files.

http://forum.pcmech.com/showthread.php?p=983652

Hey,

Take a look at:

http://www.ubcd4win.com/
UBCD4Win is a bootable CD which contains software that allows you to
repair/restore/diagnostic almost any computer problem.

Or you can try:
http://www.ultimatebootcd.com/


Steffen

I have a GUI boot disk that does just this.
It uses BartPE and RockXP.

It boots a dead system gets the XP key and then can do some other stuff.
If you are intrested let me know. Shawn@REMOVETHIStotalcommsolutions.com

You can try to locate a copy of Super WinPE online somewhere, but it
is not exactly 100% legit.

http://www.geekissues.org/keyword/Super+WinPE+Plus+2004

However, using a product like Winternals ERD Commander will also allow
you to do what you want.

http://www.winternals.com/Products/ErdCommander/