I have been told I should make a copy of the two CDs purchased directly from MS.

How do I do this?  I only have one CD-ROM device built into my laptop. I do, however, have another that could be connected via a USB connection. A link to good instructions will suffice.

Is it true that a CD may degrade after five years?

Many thanks once again, {redoak}

Thank you for your response and the info.

Are you familiar with "ISORecorder?" It is a free utility. Here is the link:

http://isorecorder.alexfeinman.com/v2.htm

Among the instructions this is found. Is this correct? "To create a disc image insert a CD (DVD) into a drive and right-click on it choosing "Create Image" from CD option."

I do believe I understand how creating the ".iso" duplicate disk is accomplished. Just need some assurance on the free utility and the instruction for writing to disk.

{redoak}

Good to learn of satisfaction with ISORecorder.

The instruction for temporarily writing the original CD to the machine's disk is given by the ISORecorder website as helpful advice for folks like me. You don't actually use ISORecorder to do the writing. I should have been more careful with my wording.

I believe I am all set to proceed. However, any additional advice will be appreciated. I will keep my eye on this topic for a few days.

{redoak}

I just found radified and I'm thoroughly impressed!  This is a real gold mine of information!

Just wondering, is there such a thing as something similar to ISO recorder, but for DVD's? Nothing copy protected, just some home videos and genealogy data ..... 

Thanks.

http://www.cdburnerxp.se/

the above is FREE and can be used for Cd and DVD
CDBurnerXP Pro is a freeware CD/DVD-Writer program.
The program can write CD-R, CD-RW DVD+R/RW DVD-R/RW discs.

for burning ISO images the best is
IMGBURN
and it is also FREE
it is much better than NERO for burning (writing) .ISO images to CD
for Burning large .ISO images to DVD use Nero .

down load ULTRA ISO (also Free)
and you can make an .ISO image of your
XP or Vista  DVD
that way ypu can keep a copy on a USB hard drive as well as on a DVD
for safe keeping.

if you got OEM recovery XP use method recommended BY BART
http://www.nu2.nu/bootcd/#wxp
or use nlite to make a generic CD
http://www.nliteos.com/index.html
=================================================
if you have a VISTA recovery use my method to make a Custom generic  DVD

..........................
how to make a Custom Vista DVD

Reference WAIK PE maker:
http://www.911cd.net/forums//index.php?showtopic=18758

change 6makeiso.bat slightly
--------------------------------
cd \
c:
cd c:\Program Files\Windows AIK\Tools\PETools"

OSCDIMG -bc:\PE\winpe_x86\etfsboot.com -n -o -m c:\PE\winpe_x86\iso c:\PE\winpe_x86.iso

pause
---------------------------------------------------------------
the -m parameter OSCDIMG removes limitation of Cd size
so it can make a DVD image size
other changes:
put Boot.wim and install.wim in resources directory( C:\pe\winpe_x86\ISO\sources )
and winpe.wim in(C:\pe\winpe_x86\winpe.WIM)in waik has been changed(replaced) by same Boot.wim(from DVD) and renamed WINPE.wim

because my install.wim is from OEM PC and is for Premium edition
it will not accept any other key except for premium. or(leave Blank)

put A43.exe file manager in ISO(in C:\pe\winpe_x86\ISO ) folder plus all tools in tools directory in Iso folder.

they will be seen on root of DVD .

if you want to just go back to cd size remove (cut) the install.wim from
the resources directory

Do not mount and add things to system 32 as it will not work also
do not drop A43.exe to resources directory again it will not work .

so a custom ISO size 2.4GB is made works as custom PE with all your tools in root of DVD
which you can access if you choose command prompt and F: and enter or what ever is drive letter of DVD
Drive; or you can actually use same DVD to install Vista if you leave product key empty and untick
the Auto activation it will gives you 15 days to activate and figure out the Vista wireless driver .
if you are lost read and down load Maxamine Batch files and also set up a Microsoft WAIK folder
on your computer,down load Waik from Microsoft

http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/details...;displaylang=en

http://www.911cd.net/forums//index.php?showtopic=18758

http://www.911cd.net/forums//index.php?act...post&id=643

the rest is easy in 1 hour you will have a custom made installation DVd and also VISTA pe2 with all your favorite tools
like imagex and A43.EXE File Manager and Opera Browser , Self Image cloning ............etc working in PE environment.

Regards Ben
happy Computing