Clean Install Questions

[Daave]

I recently acquired a used PC (Dell Dimension 2400). I also have all the
discs the system came with.

I'd like to perform a clean install. I've never done one before, but I
printed out instructions from
http://www.michaelstevenstech.com/cleanxpinstall.html , so I am fairly
confident I'll be okay.

But I am puzzled. I ran both the Magical Jelly Bean Keyfinder and Belarc
Advisor to find out the Product Key. They match, which is good. However,
they do not match the key printed on the sticker that is taped to the
side of the Dell case.

For what it's worth, the Dell Windows OS Reinstallation CD indicates it
includes Service Pack 1a. I assume this is what the Dell shipped with
originally. Currently, there is Service Pack 2 also installed; I assume
this was the result of Windows Update. Also I noticed that (according to
Belarc) the key for the OS is identical to the key for Internet
Explorer.

Can anyone explain what may be going on? Thanks in advance.

 

[Nepatsfan]

[email protected],

I recently acquired a used PC (Dell Dimension 2400). I also
have all the discs the system came with.

I'd like to perform a clean install. I've never done one
before, but I printed out instructions from
http://www.michaelstevenstech.com/cleanxpinstall.html , so I
am fairly confident I'll be okay.

But I am puzzled. I ran both the Magical Jelly Bean
Keyfinder and Belarc Advisor to find out the Product Key.
They match, which is good. However, they do not match the
key printed on the sticker that is taped to the side of the
Dell case.

For what it's worth, the Dell Windows OS Reinstallation CD
indicates it includes Service Pack 1a. I assume this is what
the Dell shipped with originally. Currently, there is
Service Pack 2 also installed; I assume this was the result
of Windows Update. Also I noticed that (according to Belarc)
the key for the OS is identical to the key for Internet
Explorer.

Can anyone explain what may be going on? Thanks in advance.

The XP installation CD provided by Dell uses a Volume License
key during installation. Look on the CD for a file named
winnt.sif within the I386 folder. If you open that file with
Notepad you'll see the CD key that the two keyfinders reported.
That key allows you to install XP on a Dell computer and skip
having to go through the activation process. For your purposes
you don't have to use the key on the sticker.

As for your service pack issue, you have two choices:

1. Install XP using your current installation CD and install
SP2 either through Windows Update or by downloading Service
Pack 2 from this site:

Windows XP Service Pack 2 Network Installation Package for IT
Professionals and Developers
http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/...be-3b8e-4f30-8245-9e368d3cdb5a&displaylang=en

2. Create a "slipstreamed" installation CD.

Create a Slip Stream version of Windows XP
http://www.webtree.ca/windowsxp/slipstream.htm

Here are some of the files you'll need to obtain in order to
follow this procedure:

Windows XP Service Pack 2 Network Installation Package for IT
Professionals and Developers
http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/...be-3b8e-4f30-8245-9e368d3cdb5a&displaylang=en

Order Windows XP Service Pack 2 on CD
http://www.microsoft.com/windowsxp/downloads/updates/sp2/cdorder/en_us/default.mspx

AutoStreamer 1.0.33
http://fileforum.betanews.com/detail/1092632287/1

CDBurner XPPro
http://www.cdburnerxp.se/download.php

Here are some other resources you might want to take a look at:

How to use AutoStreamer to Slipstream Windows XP Service Pack 2
http://www.simplyguides.net/guides/using_autostreamer/using_autostreamer.html

Slipstreamed Windows XP CD Using SP2
http://www.theeldergeek.com/slipstreamed_xpsp2_cd.htm

Slipstreaming Windows XP Service Pack 2 and Create Bootable CD
http://www.helpwithwindows.com/WindowsXP/winxp-sp2-bootcd.html

How can I slipstream service packs into the Windows 2000,
Windows XP or Windows Server 2003 media?
http://www.petri.co.il/windows_2000_xp_sp_slipstreaming.htm

Universal Windows Slipstreaming and Bootable CD Guide
http://www.msfn.org/articles.php?action=show&showarticle=49

Whichever route you take, make sure you have your antivirus
software and firewall program installed before connecting to
the Internet. Even if you're just going to Windows Update, your
security software should be running and updated first.

Good luck

Nepatsfan

 

[Daave]

The XP installation CD provided by Dell uses a Volume License
key during installation. Look on the CD for a file named
winnt.sif within the I386 folder. If you open that file with
Notepad you'll see the CD key that the two keyfinders reported.
That key allows you to install XP on a Dell computer and skip
having to go through the activation process. For your purposes
you don't have to use the key on the sticker.

Thanks for the clarification.

You said I don't need the key on the sticker for my purposes. So, just
out of curiosity, what is this key on the sticker used for? Also, for
the slipstream process, am I right assuming that the key needed is the
same one in the winnt.sif file?

And thanks for the links!

 

[Nepatsfan]

[email protected],

Thanks for the clarification.

You said I don't need the key on the sticker for my
purposes. So, just out of curiosity, what is this key on the
sticker used for? Also, for the slipstream process, am I
right assuming that the key needed is the same one in the
winnt.sif file?

And thanks for the links!

Thankfully I've never had to resort to this but it's my
understanding that if you lost your Dell CD you could use a
generic OEM XP installation CD along with the key that's on the
sticker to reinstall and activate Windows. I'm not sure but I
think you'd end up having to use the phone activation option in
this scenario. Bottom line, don't lose the Dell CD or the
sticker. When you finish making your slipstreamed installation
CD, store the original CD in a safe location.

When you create your slipstreamed CD, the original winnt.sif
file will be retained. That key should be used whenever you
install XP on your Dell.

Good luck

Nepatsfan

 

[Daave]

[email protected],


Thankfully I've never had to resort to this but it's my
understanding that if you lost your Dell CD you could use a
generic OEM XP installation CD along with the key that's on the
sticker to reinstall and activate Windows. I'm not sure but I
think you'd end up having to use the phone activation option in
this scenario. Bottom line, don't lose the Dell CD or the
sticker. When you finish making your slipstreamed installation
CD, store the original CD in a safe location.

When you create your slipstreamed CD, the original winnt.sif
file will be retained. That key should be used whenever you
install XP on your Dell.

That's good to know; I'll take good care of that Reinstallation CD! I
wonder if it's possible to make up a backup copy of it (for my use). Or
might there be some kind of anti-piracy encoding preventing me from
doing so?

FWIW, doing some Internet research I found that Dell OEM Windows CDs
aren't exactly "volume license"--but it's a similar idea. The
description I saw was the "special" product key is linked to a "golden
master" OEM copy of windows. Very large-volume companies like Dell are
apparently considered "royalty OEMs." Go figure!

Googling for "royalty OEM," I found this Web site:

http://www.grm.net/~robncjon/xplinx.htm

where I saw the following, which I found interesting:

"If your Dell CD fails to slipstream it's not because it's a restore CD,
it just has some
hotfixes slipstreamed in a funky way and it needs to be cleaned up."

and

"If you slipstream a SP on a royalty OEM's CD such as Dell's, the BIOS
checking feature WILL be eliminated. When you slipstream, the program
copies retail copies of certain files and those files do not have
instructions on checking the system."

So it seems that having a Dell makes life more complex. :-(

If my slipstream needs to be "cleaned up," I wonder what specifically I
should do!

And do I really want to create a boot disk that will not have the BIOS
checking feature? I'm asking these questions because I've never done
anything like this before, and it seems very daunting!

I went to the Microsoft Web site. Not too surprisingly, it recommended
against downloading the whole Service Pack if it's to be used for just
one PC; it stated that the Windows Update method is smaller and "more
appropriate." ;-)

After downloading it, I used Nero to burn a copy onto a CDR. I got some
odd, conflicting information: although the burn was "successful," there
was a message that the verification failed!) I wish I had written down
the exact message (but I *did* print out a cumbersome 5-page
report)--IIRC, one of the files was "different." Just for yucks, I
compared the two files. The one on my hard drive was 266 MB. Selecting
Properties, I saw it was exactly 278,927,592 bytes. But there was
another value--bytes _used_, which was 278,953,984.

I then looked at the disc I had just burned. The 266 MB file was also
exactly 278,927,592 bytes (so far, so good). However, the bytes used
value was slightly off at 278,929,408. I'm guessing this may not be the
correct forum for all this info, but I figured I'd mention it because
I'm concerned if there's not a 100% exact match, then maybe the
slipstreaming will be screwed up.

Well, thanks for taking the time to read all this stuff and for your
responses.

 

[Nepatsfan]

[email protected],

That's good to know; I'll take good care of that
Reinstallation CD! I wonder if it's possible to make up a
backup copy of it (for my use). Or might there be some kind
of anti-piracy encoding preventing me from doing so?

FWIW, doing some Internet research I found that Dell OEM
Windows CDs aren't exactly "volume license"--but it's a
similar idea. The description I saw was the "special"
product key is linked to a "golden master" OEM copy of
windows. Very large-volume companies like Dell are
apparently considered "royalty OEMs." Go figure!

Googling for "royalty OEM," I found this Web site:

http://www.grm.net/~robncjon/xplinx.htm

where I saw the following, which I found interesting:

"If your Dell CD fails to slipstream it's not because it's a
restore CD, it just has some
hotfixes slipstreamed in a funky way and it needs to be
cleaned up."

and

"If you slipstream a SP on a royalty OEM's CD such as
Dell's, the BIOS checking feature WILL be eliminated. When
you slipstream, the program copies retail copies of certain
files and those files do not have instructions on checking
the system."

So it seems that having a Dell makes life more complex. :-(

If my slipstream needs to be "cleaned up," I wonder what
specifically I should do!

And do I really want to create a boot disk that will not
have the BIOS checking feature? I'm asking these questions
because I've never done anything like this before, and it
seems very daunting!

I went to the Microsoft Web site. Not too surprisingly, it
recommended against downloading the whole Service Pack if
it's to be used for just one PC; it stated that the Windows
Update method is smaller and "more appropriate." ;-)

After downloading it, I used Nero to burn a copy onto a CDR.
I got some odd, conflicting information: although the burn
was "successful," there was a message that the verification
failed!) I wish I had written down the exact message (but I
*did* print out a cumbersome 5-page report)--IIRC, one of
the files was "different." Just for yucks, I compared the
two files. The one on my hard drive was 266 MB. Selecting
Properties, I saw it was exactly 278,927,592 bytes. But
there was another value--bytes _used_, which was
278,953,984.

I then looked at the disc I had just burned. The 266 MB file
was also exactly 278,927,592 bytes (so far, so good).
However, the bytes used value was slightly off at
278,929,408. I'm guessing this may not be the correct forum
for all this info, but I figured I'd mention it because I'm
concerned if there's not a 100% exact match, then maybe the
slipstreaming will be screwed up.

Well, thanks for taking the time to read all this stuff and
for your responses.

Issue #1, Back-up copy:

According to the EULA from my XP Pro OEM installation, you're
allowed to make one back-up copy of your original installation
CD. Here's the text and note the caps are not mine, they're
courtesy of Microsoft.

* Back-up Copy. YOU MAY MAKE A SINGLE BACK-UP
COPY OF THE SOFTWARE. YOU MAY USE ONE
(1) BACK-UP COPY SOLELY FOR YOUR ARCHIVAL
PURPOSES AND TO REINSTALL THE SOFTWARE ON THE
COMPUTER. EXCEPT AS EXPRESSLY PROVIDED IN
THIS EULA OR BY LOCAL LAW, YOU MAY NOT
OTHERWISE MAKE COPIES OF THE SOFTWARE,
INCLUDING THE PRINTED MATERIALS ACCOMPANYING
THE SOFTWARE. YOU MAY NOT LOAN, RENT, LEASE,
LEND OR OTHERWISE TRANSFER THE CD OR BACK-UP
COPY TO ANOTHER USER.

Issue #2, Slipstreaming SP2 into a Dell installation CD:

If you're at all concerned about creating and using a
slipstreamed XP installation CD, why not just run the
installation with the Dell disk you have and then use the CD
you created to install Service Pack 2. FYI, the second set of
figures you cite, 278,927,592 bytes and 278,929,408 bytes,
match the values I have on my SP2 CD for Size and Size on disk
respectively.

Another thing to keep in mind is that at some point in time
you'll want to visit Dell's support site to see if there are
any updates for your systems hardware. Enter either the info
from the Service Tag on the back of your computer or select
your model from the list on the right.

Dell Drivers and Downloads
http://support.dell.com/support/downloads/index.aspx?c=us&l=en&s=gen

Good luck

Nepatsfan

 

[Daave]

Issue #1, Back-up copy:

According to the EULA from my XP Pro OEM installation, you're
allowed to make one back-up copy of your original installation
CD. Here's the text and note the caps are not mine, they're
courtesy of Microsoft.

* Back-up Copy. YOU MAY MAKE A SINGLE BACK-UP
COPY OF THE SOFTWARE. YOU MAY USE ONE
(1) BACK-UP COPY SOLELY FOR YOUR ARCHIVAL
PURPOSES AND TO REINSTALL THE SOFTWARE ON THE
COMPUTER. EXCEPT AS EXPRESSLY PROVIDED IN
THIS EULA OR BY LOCAL LAW, YOU MAY NOT
OTHERWISE MAKE COPIES OF THE SOFTWARE,
INCLUDING THE PRINTED MATERIALS ACCOMPANYING
THE SOFTWARE. YOU MAY NOT LOAN, RENT, LEASE,
LEND OR OTHERWISE TRANSFER THE CD OR BACK-UP
COPY TO ANOTHER USER.

Good to know. Thanks.

Issue #2, Slipstreaming SP2 into a Dell installation CD:

If you're at all concerned about creating and using a
slipstreamed XP installation CD, why not just run the
installation with the Dell disk you have and then use the CD
you created to install Service Pack 2. FYI, the second set of
figures you cite, 278,927,592 bytes and 278,929,408 bytes,
match the values I have on my SP2 CD for Size and Size on disk
respectively.

Glad to hear it!

Another thing to keep in mind is that at some point in time
you'll want to visit Dell's support site to see if there are
any updates for your systems hardware. Enter either the info
from the Service Tag on the back of your computer or select
your model from the list on the right.

Dell Drivers and Downloads
http://support.dell.com/support/downloads/index.aspx?c=us&l=en&s=gen

Perfect. It's bookmarked. Thanks again.

 

[Nepatsfan]

[email protected],

Good to know. Thanks.


Glad to hear it!


Perfect. It's bookmarked. Thanks again.

You're welcome.

Nepatsfan