No XP installation disks with new computer.

[Guest]

I have just purchaced a Dell laptop. After a complete system failure all I
have of the XP Pro operating system are the product key and serial number and
the genuine product sticker because no installation discs came with the
computer as it was all loaded at the shop. How do I download and install the
operating system I just bought with this new computer.
Please help.

 

[Mary Sauer]

Do you have a recovery disk? Windows should be present on the disk. If not, call Dell
and complain...

 

[Frank Saunders, MS-MVP OE]

I have just purchaced a Dell laptop. After a complete system failure
all I have of the XP Pro operating system are the product key and
serial number and the genuine product sticker because no installation
discs came with the computer as it was all loaded at the shop. How do
I download and install the operating system I just bought with this
new computer.
Please help.

There should be a Recovery disk or documentation as to how to make one.

The WinXP files themselves are probably in an i385 folder somewhere on the
hard drive, maybe under the Windows folder.

--
Frank Saunders, MS-MVP OE
Please respond in Newsgroup only. Do not send email
http://www.fjsmjs.com
Protect your PC
http://www.microsoft.com./athome/security/protect/default.aspx
http://defendingyourmachine.blogspot.com/

 

[Rick \Nutcase\ Rogers]

Hi,

It's under warranty if you just purchased it, call Dell and have them fix
it. Don't waste your time on something you paid to have them do.

Incidentally, as others have mentioned, with many OEM systems there are no
disks. Instead they place the system files on the hard drive in a folder
called I386, and often provide a recovery partition separate from the
working system which is used to reinstall the operating system. This is
frequently accessed by some means described in your owners manual.

--
Best of Luck,

Rick Rogers, aka "Nutcase" - Microsoft MVP

Associate Expert - WindowsXP Expert Zone

Windows help - www.rickrogers.org

 

[Stan Brown]

Sat, 5 Nov 2005 01:55:02 -0800 from Ian james

I have just purchaced a Dell laptop. After a complete system failure all I
have of the XP Pro operating system are the product key and serial number and
the genuine product sticker because no installation discs came with the
computer as it was all loaded at the shop. How do I download and install the
operating system I just bought with this new computer.

Welcome to the wonderful world of "you only _think_ you bought the
software."

As you say you just bought your computer, it should be under
warranty. Go back to the shop and insist that they restore your
computer to working order. While you're at it, ask for Windows XP
installation CD for next time. They're not obligated to give it to
you, but you've got nothing to lose. They _are_ obligated to restore
your system to working order during the warranty period.

 

[Richard Urban]

You would call Dell for resolution of this problem.

--

Regards,

Richard Urban
Microsoft MVP Windows Shell/User

Quote from George Ankner:
If you knew as much as you think you know,
You would realize that you don't know what you thought you knew!

 

[HillBillyBuddhist]

|I have just purchaced a Dell laptop. After a complete system failure all I
| have of the XP Pro operating system are the product key and serial number
and
| the genuine product sticker because no installation discs came with the
| computer as it was all loaded at the shop. How do I download and install
the
| operating system I just bought with this new computer.
| Please help.
| --
| G''day G''day G''day

If you have not altered the disk partitions you can use the restoration
(hidden) partition to restore the computer.

See;

How Do I Use the DellT PC Restore by Symantec Utility?
http://support.dell.com/support/topics/global.aspx/support/kb/en/document?dn=1090151

You had the opportunity to order an XP CD when you ordered the computer if
you ordered from the Dell Web site. If you contact Dell you can still obtain
one.
--
Doug

I'm not an MVP a VIP nor do I have ESP.
I was just trying to help.
Please use your own best judgment before implementing any suggestions or
advice herein.
No warranty is expressed or implied.
Your mileage may vary.
See store for details.

Remove shoes to E-mail.

 

[Mike Hyndman]

Hi,

It's under warranty if you just purchased it, call Dell and have them fix
it. Don't waste your time on something you paid to have them do.

Incidentally, as others have mentioned, with many OEM systems there are no
disks. Instead they place the system files on the hard drive in a folder
called I386, and often provide a recovery partition separate from the
working system which is used to reinstall the operating system. This is
frequently accessed by some means described in your owners manual.

Not a lot of use when the h/d will not boot and no CD to boot from.
Over the last three years I have been involved in the purchase of 30 Dell
laptops and every one came preloaded and with a recovery CD.
Did the OP say that he bought it from a shop? I thought that the whole point
of Dell was that the prices where "good" because they didn't have the
overheads found in store based sales. Was this a new PC or was it something
that had been traded and lost the discs iin the process, if so, his argument
is with the store he bought it from.

MH