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General discussion

Need to reinstall Windows XP on a laptop w/ out the CD

by jayme101501 Oct 24, 2009 12:08PM PDT

I have a Dell Inspiron 6000 laptop purchased new in 2005. Long story short I was having issues with it and I needed a computer ASAP for school so a friend got me a version of Windows. But now I think I am having trouble again and I want to know how to get back to the factory settings that would have originally come with this laptop except that Dell never gave me a reinstall CD. I no longer have a warranty on it so I am not sure what to do and I may end up purchasing Window XP but wanted to try a forum to see if I can avoid this scenario.

Discussion is locked

18 Posts
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Ask Dell anyway.
by r. proffitt Former Forum moderator Oct 24, 2009 12:12PM PDT

Restore media runs from 35 to 55 bucks. You can't get a Windows license for that much. And as you see, few machines come with restore media. Almost all have us make our own. Today I find most pass this up.

Ok, and if you were to pay for a new Windows license, skip XP, pass up Vista and go with Windows 7.
Bob

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reply
by jayme101501 Oct 24, 2009 12:30PM PDT

so it is possible to get a restore media cd? but from where?

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Sorry.
by r. proffitt Former Forum moderator Oct 24, 2009 12:55PM PDT

I get these from the maker. In this case, dell. If they don't have any then shop for Windows 7.

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thank you
by jayme101501 Oct 24, 2009 1:02PM PDT

thanks for responding. so you have windows 7? how do you like it? i just need to make sure i have microsoft word for school

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I'm on the road currently.
by r. proffitt Former Forum moderator Oct 24, 2009 1:06PM PDT

I started before Windows 7 went live but did the Beta and RC. When I get back I'll be on 7 ASAP for my main work machine. Some of us have to wait a little longer.

For me, I can use almost anything from Windows 2000 to 7 but today I'm on a Windows Mobile development team so we use Vista so we can get the full Windows Mobile 6 experience. Not everyone needs to be that close to the leading edge.
Bob

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windows
by jayme101501 Oct 24, 2009 2:32PM PDT

ill try to contact dell first for a reinstall CD, I am a college student and really don't feel like putting out the money to go buy a new operating system Happy

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does dell have hidden partition with factory os on it?
by mamontano Oct 26, 2009 9:07PM PDT

My sony does? May want to check.

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Recovery partition
by ust1268 Oct 30, 2009 11:05AM PDT

Press F11 at startup to see if the Recovery Partition comes up. If not, go to Dell.com and navigate to Support, enter your Tag/Service# (you should find it on the bottom of your laptop)and go to Downloads and you should be able to find out if a Recovery Disk is still available for your unit. They usually run about $18. If not, go to restoredisks.com, enter your info, and order the disk - their charge is about $35.

Good Luck!

Be sure to get ALL the updates after reinstalling - it can be tedious, but is absolutely necessary!

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help
by SwtCheri Nov 1, 2009 8:58AM PST

i read u r message , I was wondering if this would also work for a emachine -t3410 my recovery was lost in a fire , and i still have my computer in all , i do have problem meaning when i format it , i can not go to recovery there isnt any , and not every thing is downloaded , would this -f-11 would i be abe able to see if it is the same , please help me ,

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Maybe
by john3347 Oct 30, 2009 11:44AM PDT

It may not be still available from the computer manufacturer (Dell in your case), but you are entitled to the OS that originally came installed on your computer. As R. Profitt stated, there is usually a "handling" fee for the full install CD or DVD, but if you have the genuine Microsoft installation key sticker on the bottom or side of your computer, you can install the original OS using that key even if you borrow an actual CD from a friend. (Must be the same OS as original, tho.)

Go to Dell website and search for the required CD to reinstall the OS by computer serial number and see if it is still available before you try other procedures. Any drivers specific to your computer model will be included on the reinstall CD.

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Reinstalling Windows OS - XP
by MrNittyGritty Oct 30, 2009 12:59PM PDT

While recent copies of Windows OS's have many of the drivers your computer needs to make it operationally functional that's usually not the whole story! You may have to go to different vendors sites to get the latest drivers. I have found that Belarc advisor is a good starting point when trying to determine what's on my computer (hardware and software). You might also want to get a copy of Driver Magician Lite. Both programs are free and be found at www.cnet.com.

Good luck!

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you can legally reinstall
by Bob.F Oct 30, 2009 12:53PM PDT

If you have a label on the laptop with a serial number for windows your in luck. Just get another copy of windows it must be the same type ( home or Pro and same service pack as the original install. If you can,t find one a tech at a store may do it for a reasonable price. If you get a copy start the install from the borrowed disk and when the serial number is asked for type the serial number from the label on your laptop All the experts say this will work you can then register and update windows legally

good luck Mozart.

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They may say that.
by r. proffitt Former Forum moderator Oct 30, 2009 11:18PM PDT

But what to do if it won't activate? I've watched many try what you tell but it fails when it comes to activation.

Not to start yet another license discussion but the OEM license does not include rights to the Retail version. That in a nutshell is why the activation fails.
Bob

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The license should work with a "generic" OEM CD
by JamesJ Nov 1, 2009 8:29PM PST

I had to reinstall XP Home for someone a while back on an old HP system. They did not get a CD with their system. I got a copy of a couple of XP Home OEM CD's from someone. One was supposedly from a Gateway system and the other from a Dell, but the CD's were actually identical. I used one of them to create a new XP Home OEM CD with SP3 and had no problem using that to reinstall XP Home on the HP system and activate it.

One key may be getting a generic OEM CD, instead of one that was created for some specific system (unless, of course, it was for the same specific system).

Also, this PC was a desktop. A laptop is more likely to need special drivers, so that may complicate things. Assuming that they have a CD burner available, they may be able to d/l the drivers for their laptop and use a program like nLite to create an XP Home OEM CD with the laptop drivers integrated. It's more work up front, but it makes installation much simpler.


Also, FWIW, contrary to the previous post, you don't have to reinstall the same service pack that came with the system. The system I mentioned was several years old and came with either the original XP Home, or maybe SP1. I had no problems using their OEM license to install XP Home with SP3.


Having said all of that, there's something to be said for getting a recovery CD from the manufacturer if that's possible. Aside from drivers, if the system came with some pre-installed software, that would hopefully be on the recovery CD. In my case I'd checked and HP did not offer one (I think they used to, but it no longer seemed to be available).

James

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"It's alive!!......it's alive!!
by tlworkroom Oct 31, 2009 1:45AM PDT

Try ebay for XP disks. Sometimes there's a bargain available.

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dell may help
by maggotman Oct 31, 2009 6:07AM PDT

i got an installation cd of dell for my sons pc but it took a long time and the pc was still in warrenty,cant see them giving you the disc if your lappy is nearly 5 yrs old. ive been on the dell site and asked for support for pc but when i put in service tag, i get message: your system is out of warrenty if you need technical support for you pc here is a phone number for a small cost, yea right premium more like.

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XP Reinstall
by Rickybee Nov 1, 2009 11:52PM PST

Funny enough I just did this on a Dell 610 laptop this past weekend. It was infected with a virus and needed a clean install but he didn't have the CD. The license code was on a sticker on the bottom of the laptop though. This too was of a 2005 vintage so it was reasonable to assume it was installed with SP2, and it was the pro edition.
So I just used a Windows XP Pro SP2 CD and it installed just fine with its license key. Next I went to Dell's website and downloaded all the drivers onto a thumbdrive. Installed all those until all the hardware was recognized. Installed SP3 from a CD I keep in my kit, ran all the updates and activated Windows without a problem.
I have 25+ years tech experience and to me the license key is the most important thing, give me that and I can get the computer reinstalled with very few exeptions.

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Find it on Ebay
by rje49 Nov 4, 2009 10:02AM PST

There are many Dell XP(Home and Pro) re-install disks for sale on eBay. As mentioned, just get the version that was originally installed, and is named on the sticker with your key code (on the bottom of your laptop).

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