create a boot-able disk from an iso file

[Bill Stanley]

On 01/10/2011 04:58 PM, Boggess Rod wrote:
>>> no reason to go with 64 bit with less than 4 Gb of RAM.
>>>
>>> the second decision was that she still wants to access Windows
>> occasionally.
>>> ? ( I can't blame her for her apprehensions, it's a big step to take
> for
>>> most people.) ?Wine is out of the question for the average computer
> user.
>> ?I
>>> considered dual boot but that would leave much of the HD as idle most
> of
>> the
>>> time. ?She also would have troubles sharing data. ?That leaves the VM
>>> running WinXP. ?She is proficient enough to handle most of the issues
> of
>> a
>>> VM. ?The problem was that the virus badly corrupted the reinstall
>> partition
>>> that Dell puts on the HD. ?They also do not give a physical reinstall
>> disk.
>>> ?Unless someone knows of a legal way to get a reinstall image for use
> in
>> the
>>> VM i'm forced to go pirate even though I don't like it.
>>>
>>> Bill Stanley
>>>
>>
>> Since some messages were inadvertently sent directly to the OP instead
>> of the list, I'm re-posting then for easier understanding.	
>
> The install isn't what makes it illegal -- the lack of a unique license
> is. These are probably recoverable from the registry, unfortunately, MS
> started encrypting them, so the only way I know to get them is by
> running one of several tools (Google is your friend) on the machine in
> question. If you can still boot into it, you should try and recover
> those licenses.
>
> Also, if you have got the system de-loused, there are tools out there
> that will create a VM from the system directly. (I'm guilty, but you
> really should make a copy or clone of a system before running anti-virus
> just in case it goes badly.) If you can get the license information (it
> should also be on a sticker on the laptop somewhere), you might be able
> to get some trial XP ISOs from Microsoft or from other places, and just
> register the license with the existing code.

I know all this already...  Luckily, I was able to download a version of 
Win XP where the DRM stuff was disabled.  I have to observe the VM 
carefully since I know that is is a cracked version.  On the plus side, 
a lot of the MS bloat-ware has been removed and it is ideal for use in a 
VM.  (the footprint is very small)  Updates are out of the question, the 
MS firewall and virus checker ??? has been also disabled.  This makes it 
really dangerous as a stand alone OS but for a VM (particularly for home 
use) it seems OK.  Only time will tell.

Bill Stanley