Restoring legit win xp home from bad xp pro

[Heathen]

What? no clueless icon for the posting?  Can't think of a better place for it.

As I explained as background in my malfunctioning browser post, someone "fixed" a problem in my win xp home (5.1.2600), by what appears to be overlaying (much of my data, and it seems some other parts of my original OS are still there)  his pirate xp pro.  At the time, I knew virtually nothing about computers except how to use one, and was happy it was fixed.  However, SP2 came along, wouldn't install, & after the aborted installation, told me the OS was not legit.

I managed to get along without SP2, used several different browsers with success, forced installation of some SP2 .sys, .dlls, etc. and life was OK.  Why didn't I simply reinstall my original xp home? The computer didn't come with a restore disk, or copy of the OS.  When I originally started to have the problems (which later caused me to kill the gui interface & led to the bogus xp home) the 1st time, Compaq grudgedly sent me to a site where I downloaded about 10 disks to use for reinstalling.  I never used them, and will have to explore the disks or contact Compaq to even know what order they need to be inserted.

Now, I have a Maxtor 300GB drive, which I have partitioned into N: 200GB (media), M: 49.9 GB (empty), L: 47.9GB (empty).  The original Compaq (5000 series), drive is partitioned into C: 33.3GB, & D(FAT32): 3.89GB.  D partition holds the original win xp home OS, which the disks are needed to help restore. 

Before I do anything irreversible, I thought I'd use the Maxtor maxi-blast to  clone the C & D drives into the L partition.  The maxi-blast is also capable of making a boot disk.  So if the restoration tanks  , I wouldn't just be left with a heavy piece of house clutter.

Does this make any sense?  I know it's only step 1.  I do seem to remember  reading something about problems with the registry and 2 bootable drives.   I'm no tech princess, and this is a daunting, way overdue task.  Any help would be appreciated.

[iceaxe]

You need to get in touch with Compaq about your 10 CD`s and where is your Product key
so you can Format and reinstall LEGALLY

[Heathen]

You need to get in touch with Compaq about your 10 CD`s and where is your Product key
so you can Format and reinstall LEGALLY

I have the product key.  Win xp home came preinstalled on the computer, and the product key can be found in several places.  The 10 CD's were Compaq's response to my saying that the computer didn't come with a restore disk or copy of the OS.  They were downloaded from a site Compaq sent me to, and I was only able to access the site once.  The disks are supposed to activate the win xp stored on the D partition, and restore original win xp home.  This is what I am trying to do, restore the OS to the legal OS.

[Astoria]

I would like to know what's on these 10 discs.
As far as I know, you'd only need 2.
1) the OS disc
2) restore disc

So what's on the other 8?

[Heathen]

I haven't even looked at these disks since 2003, & never tested them.  Only 1 disk (labeled Q55 setupdx) has content.
setupdlx   0   R------   6/27/2003 11:54
CUSTOM   0   R------   6/27/2003 11:54
PROGRAM   51   R------   6/27/2003 11:54
QAPPID.INI   51   
INET   0   R------   6/27/2003 11:54
COMMON   0   R------   6/27/2003 11:54
PNF   0   R------   6/27/2003 11:54
QUICKEN   33,319   R------   6/27/2003 11:54
IPM.GIF   12,826   
IPM1.GIF   2,531   
IPM2.GIF   9,779   
SPIN.JS   503   
Thumbs.db   7,680   
DISK1   1,439,937   R------   6/27/2003 11:54
CQ.DAT   193   
DATA.TAG   109   
DATA1.CAB   300,337   
DATA1.HDR   144,716   
LANG.DAT   23,541   
LAYOUT.BIN   1,416   
OS.DAT   450   
README.WRI   12,179   
SETUP.EXE   61,440   5.52.164.0
SETUP.INI   72   
SETUP.INS   88,556   
SETUP.LID   49   
_INST32I.EX_   296,674   
_ISDEL.EXE   8,704   5.51.138.0
_SETUP.DLL   11,264   5.50.134.0
_SYS1.CAB   175,466   
_SYS1.HDR   3,903   
_USER1.CAB   305,749   
_USER1.HDR   5,119   
DISK10   1,448,669   R------   6/27/2003 11:54
DATA10.CAB   1,448,669   
DISK11   1,444,276   R------   6/27/2003 11:54
DATA11.CAB   1,444,276   
DISK12   1,442,958   R------   6/27/2003 11:54
DATA12.CAB   1,442,958   
DISK13   1,444,626   R------   6/27/2003 11:54
DATA13.CAB   1,444,626   
DISK14   1,442,670   R------   6/27/2003 11:54
DATA14.CAB   1,442,670   
DISK15   1,451,285   R------   6/27/2003 11:54
DATA15.CAB   1,451,285   
DISK16   1,447,227   R------   6/27/2003 11:54
DATA16.CAB   1,447,227   
DISK17   1,443,297   R------   6/27/2003 11:54
DATA17.CAB   1,443,297   
DISK18   1,447,404   R------   6/27/2003 11:54
DATA18.CAB   1,447,404   
DISK19   1,442,318   R------   6/27/2003 11:54
DATA19.CAB   1,442,318   
DISK2   1,443,506   R------   6/27/2003 11:54
DATA2.CAB   1,443,506   
DISK20   645,315   R------   6/27/2003 11:54
DATA20.CAB   645,315   
DISK3   1,444,859   R------   6/27/2003 11:54
DATA3.CAB   1,444,859   
DISK4   1,444,520   R------   6/27/2003 11:54
DATA4.CAB   1,444,520   
DISK5   1,445,780   R------   6/27/2003 11:54
DATA5.CAB   1,445,780   
DISK6   1,446,410   R------   6/27/2003 11:54
DATA6.CAB   1,446,410   
DISK7   1,445,825   R------   6/27/2003 11:54
DATA7.CAB   1,445,825   
DISK8   1,447,356   R------   6/27/2003 11:54
DATA8.CAB   1,447,356   
DISK9   1,447,006   R------   6/27/2003 11:54
DATA9.CAB   1,447,006   

[Astoria]

I'm sorry, apparently these "disks" are 1.44Mb floppy disks.
I assumed they were cd's.........

Here's what you do, put the 1st disk in your A drive.
Click Start--->run
than type:
a:\setup.exe

See what happens.

If any problems occur, please let us know.

[Heathen]

The contents listed in the above post are on 1 CD.  As I stated before, all the other disks were blank.  It's possible that at the time I screwed up the copying, but more likely I was only allowed 1 download at this Compac site, and for some reason repeated the download process and wound up with the extra disks. Remember, I knew less than nothing about computers @ the time - slightly more now  - & its very possible.

Before I start throwing disks in, I have to make a copy of the C & D drive, which is why I asked the questions & was looking for feedback in my original post.