The title says it all. I've got a 'modern' pc with Windows XP home installed, but my C drive is 16 years old(Don't ask how that happened). Just yesterday it has started making noises and will only boot half of the time. I almost always get the Bios message "Boot disk failure" when starting up the machine. I no longer have my Windows XP "companion disk" that was purchased with this machine. How do I save my installation of windows? Can I make a cd/dvd boot disk or something?

Do you have a second hard drive in the computer now? If so, that drive needs to be empty and then you can clone the boot drive to the second drive. That assumes the second drive is large enough to accommodate the data on the original drive.

I wonder if it would be possible to clone the disk, since the HDD is failing. Wont get through the process. But well, you may try. I dont think theres any other way to save the windows installation other than cloning way. Anupam

Clearly while nice to recover entire system as is... data recovery/preservation would be the prime concern? So perhaps address that first? And possibly before you do that - or attempt to... First remove the drive; wrap in paper towel; put in a plastic bag; place in refrigerator (NOT the freezer) for about an hour... Then remove it; open the bag and leave drive (still in paper towel on the bench to "warm-up" a little...; after say about 15-30mins or so... remove from bag, remove paper towel; re-install in computer and then proceed to copy off data to optical media. After-which clone the drive? Even if you decide not to go the cooling routine first... see if you can copy data off the drive before attempting to clone the drive etc...; if all else fails you may at least safeguard all those important files etc...? Or have you already got safe/guaranteed/readable copies elsewhere? If the drive will not boot properly, get a Knoppix or Ubuntu CD (or similar) and boot with that. Then access the drive as a resource for that Linux variant (running the system from the CD) and again copy off all data; after-which try the cooling routine etc. as above...? As regards the missing XP disk... have you tried to get another from the vendor/supplier of your system? Or if you have the necesary documentation (COA etc.) contact M$ and see it they will oblige (usually for a small fee - as in postage etc...)? A kwik trawl for "Cicero computer" reveals they're made by Seanix; that the Cicero outfit has a less than positive fan club...; so you may not be able to get a disk from them (but it don't hurt to try)? Worst-case scenario... get an OEM (or other "standard/retail" version) via eBay - or somewhere like Newegg.com. One can get legal disks (of either variant) for not too many pennies either way...