How to Copy a Windows XP System File

1. Click the Windows 'Start' menu. Click 'My Computer.'
2. Click the drive where Windows XP is installed. This is most commonly the 'C:' drive.
3. Click 'Tools' and select 'Folder options.' Click the 'View' tab. Select 'Show hidden files and folders' under the 'Hidden files and folders' option. Click 'OK.'
4. Double-click the 'Windows' Folder. Double-click any of the folders to access the Windows XP system files, or select the files that are not in folders.
5. Insert either a blank or rewriteable CD or DVD or a USB flash drive.
6. Click the Windows 'Start' menu and open 'My Computer.' Drag the Windows XP system file to the USB flash drive located under 'Devices with removable storage' or a blank or rewriteable CD or DVD under 'Hard disk drives.'
7. Click 'Write to CD' if you are copying the system file to a CD or DVD. Follow the on-screen step-by-step guide to finalize the copy process. Click 'No' when the option to burn the file to another CD comes up. The CD will automatically eject when the file is copied.