install win2k on Dell laptop

[JClark]

Hello group:
My son has a Dell notebook (Inspiron 8200) which came with WinXP. I'd
like to format the HD and install Win2k Pro. Is there any problem with
special Dell drivers, etc? Can I treat this computer just like any
other and do this, then reinstall all the programs? I copied the data
files to another computer via network connection, so those are saved.
Dell isn't much help, having joined the "no support" group, it seems.
Many thanks for advice.

Jack

 

[JClark]

I would download any Inspiron 8200 Windows 2000 drivers from Dell.
You should be able to install and apply the drivers. I suspect you will find
keypad, audio, and video drivers.


Jerold Schulman
Windows: General MVP
JSI, Inc.
http://www.jsiinc.com

Jerold:
Many thanks. I'll see what I can get from their website.

Jack

 

[nehalemn]

That was the first thing I did to my Dell, and it works
beautifully. You can get drivers from the Dell website
for any OS. It's under support and all you have to do is
enter the service tag on the bottom of the laptop or
select a system type and it will give you a list of
drivers, or you can use this link:

http://support.dell.com/filelib/Devices.aspx?
Category=0&OS=WNT5+&OSL=EN&SvcTag=&SysID=INS_PNT_P4_8200

Have fun!

 

[Geoffw]

if you go to the online support and enter your computer
service tag you will get an idea of whether it is 2000
compatible, there may even be a link tothis, I know there
was with older latitude laptops

Geoff

 

[Rick]

Dell (from India) told me that I couldn't format the HD and then put
Win2k on it instead of XP.

You should have asked them to explain why not, or at least ask if they
are required by Microsoft to claim that.

But I did it and it works beautifully.
Obviously.

I downloaded the video and audio drivers from Dell, and although they
were XP drivers, they work fine (so far) with W2K.
Thanks to all for suggestions and advice.

Welcome to WPA-less computing. Great, isn't it?

Rick

 

[JClark]

You should have asked them to explain why not, or at least ask if they
are required by Microsoft to claim that.


Welcome to WPA-less computing. Great, isn't it?

Rick

I does work fine, Rick. But I'm not sure what WPA means.

Jack

 

[Bruce Chambers]

Greetings --

WPA is Windows Product Activation. This is a benign, relatively
non-intrusive copy-protection mechanism that Microsoft has introduced
with Office 2K SR1 and WinXP. Other software manufacturers are
starting to follow suit and are adopting the similar methods.

However, the tin-foil-hat crowd have somehow managed to use WPA as
a target for all sorts of silly "Big Brother/ET Phone Home" conspiracy
hysteria, while the software pirates are bemoaning the inconveniences
of having to bypass an anti-theft mechanism.


Bruce Chambers

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You can have peace. Or you can have freedom. Don't ever count on
having both at once. -- RAH

 

[Bruce Chambers]

Greetings --

With Win2K, as long as you have a license for each machine, it
really doesn't make any difference which CD you use to perform the
installation. And, if making installation CDs with the latest service
pack slipstreamed in weren't OK, I doubt Microsoft would have added
the capability to the OS or provided the instructions for doing it on
their web site.

Bruce Chambers

--
Help us help you:



You can have peace. Or you can have freedom. Don't ever count on
having both at once. -- RAH