backup/install question

[jenneva]

I just bought a new TR series Sony notebook with Windows XP Pro installed, and I'm really unhappy with the setup. I'd like to wipe the drive and do a clean install, except for one problem:

Sony doesn't provide a copy of the OS. They include a utility so you can make recovery CDS (10 of them, if you can believe it) but that would just restore the notebook back to its current setup.

Does anyone know how I can backup XP Pro and reinstall just the OS? Obviously, the backup would have to be bootable... is this even possible?

I have a feeling I'm going to have to buy another copy of XP, but I thought I'd ask ... so if anyone has any suggestions, I'd really appreciate your help

Thanks,
Jenn

[tomwalshco]

You'll be kept in the dark while making backup CDs, but they should fall into 3 categories - System restore, Driver restore and Application restore. Usually it takes the first 2 CDs to copy the System restore. Word of warning. Backup CDs you make can't always be trusted to work.

[jenneva]

Thanks for the info. I'll give it a shot..