Create Your Own Windows XP Installation Disc

This tiny item in the latest PC World caught my eye because it's such an amazing tip, and one that I'd never heard before.

Most new PCs come with a "system restore" CD, a disc that contains Windows XP plus all the drivers and extra software that came with your computer. The idea is that you can use this disc to return your computer to its original factory state if things go sour or if you want to give the machine to someone else (but not with a blank hard drive).

But what if you want to reinstall windows without wiping your hard drive? Or what if you didn't get a CD at all, or you lost yours? Here's how to create a Windows installation CD from scratch, using the files already on your computer.

I won't merely retype the steps on the PC World site (linked above), but you will need to download and install PE Builder (it's free) to get started. You'll also need a CD burner and blank CD-R disc, of course. Just follow the extremely simple instructions in the PCW story above to complete the creation of your very own Windows disc, perfect for reinstallations whenever you need it.