Missing Windows XP CD

I have a PC with Windows XP Home Edition pre-installed on it and the machine has a certificate of authenticity/ product key sticker attached to it and has been validated by Microsoft. However, the hard disk on this machine is now totally dead and I need to replace it, then re-install XP etc - but the PC manufacturer did not provide me with an XP CD to use for this re-install.

How can I solve this problem please ? Bearing in mind that I already have a valid certificate of originality/product key, surely I do not need to pay for another full XP package ?

Please note that I am only willing to consider fully legal and legitimate solutions to this problem, so no unofficial downloads etc thanks.

 

Thanks Steve. Borrowing is fine, but I'd rather buy one and keep it for future use. Do you know if it is possible to obtain one legitimately someplace ? The only ones I've seen for sale are on ebay etc and they seem to be either brand new complete with license etc (and so expensive) or seemingly illegal copies.

 

good suggestion, thanks Steve.

 

This comment won't help in this recovery, but under the heading of being prepared for the next one:

If you also get a copy of Symantec Norton Ghost, you can then use that to burn an image to cds of your os and apps installed on the new hard drive and then use that image to recover from a future problem (remembering that that image does not include your data or apps added since the image).

You can look on eBay, or in the US you can watch the sunday papers for rebate specials at stores like CompUSA.

 

and not to forget Free Acronis True Image.