I recently discovered a laptop in our workshop that was running Windows XP to help configure an old machine, but unfortunately, the laptop was damaged beyond repair. The manufacturer of the machine has long since gone out of business, and I can't find any installation discs or ISO files for Windows XP. I'm trying to figure out the best approach to get a new XP machine up and running. I have access to a lot of old hardware, but it seems like I need something specific to support Windows XP and the custom drivers for a serial adapter that communicates with the machine. Any suggestions?
5 Answers
If you have the hard drive from your smashed laptop, you can clone it to a replacement machine. Just make sure the hardware is compatible, and you should be able to get it up and running again.
Another option you might want to consider is to virtualize XP on a modern machine. Most legacy stuff just needs virtual COM ports for the serial-to-USB adapters. It can save you a lot of hassle with driver issues.
For a native XP setup, look for a processor and motherboard that are from Gen 4 or earlier, like Intel i5 or i7 4xxxx series. I’ve bought my parts from sites like voice-boards.com, and they work perfectly with XP.
You can find an XP SP3 ISO on Archive.org. It's a good way to get started if you can't locate an original install disc.
Buying an old Optiplex or similar desktop on eBay is a great option. They’re usually inexpensive, and you can wipe the existing OS and install XP without any problems.
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