Re-install Disk

[Robert]

-- I am going to try to help my daughter reformat her Dell computer. She has
the original xp re-install disk that originally came with the computer she
is about to reformat, but she misplaced the envelope and does not have a key
code for the disk. Does she need one or will the install just take place?
robert

 

[Rich Barry]

Robert, if you have a OEM version of WinXP from Dell you will need the
product key. If your daughter's computer is still running go and get
Jellybeans Magic Key.
http://www.magicaljellybean.com/keyfinder/

It will give you a read out of the product key. You may have a Dell
Recovery disk. That contains a image of the original version of XP that
came with the computer.
That will not need a key.

 

[Daave]

-- I am going to try to help my daughter reformat her Dell computer.
She has the original xp re-install disk that originally came with
the computer she is about to reformat, but she misplaced the envelope
and does not have a key code for the disk. Does she need one or will
the install just take place? robert

Actually, that particular CD from Dell never came with a Product Key,
and a Product Key won't need to be entered during installation because
of Dell's System-Locked Preinstallation routine (which looks for certain
data on the actual motherboard).

If you were to use a *generic* OEM XP installation CD, then you would
have to use the Product Key on the COA sticker on the Dell.

Also, you might find this page helpful:

http://michaelstevenstech.com/cleanxpinstall.html

HTH.

 

[Ken Blake, MVP]

Robert, if you have a OEM version of WinXP from Dell you will need the
product key. If your daughter's computer is still running go and get
Jellybeans Magic Key.
http://www.magicaljellybean.com/keyfinder/

It will give you a read out of the product key.

That will give you the key that Windows was installed with. *However*
if Windows came installed on an OEM computer, it was probably
installed with a different key than the one assigned to your daughter,
and one that will *not* work if you reinstall Windows.

However, OEM computers normally come with the proper key on a sticker
on the case--usually on the back, or if it's a laptop, on the bottom.

 

[Ken Blake, MVP]

-- I am going to try to help my daughter reformat her Dell computer.

Why do you want to reformat and reinstall? In my view, it's usually a
mistake. With a modicum of care, it should never be necessary to
reinstall Windows (XP or any other version). I've run Windows 3.0,
3.1, WFWG 3.11, Windows 95, Windows 98, Windows 2000, Windows XP,
Windows Vista, and now Windows 7, each for the period of time before
the next version came out, and each on two or more machines here. I
never reinstalled any of them, and I have never had anything more than
an occasional minor problem.

It's my belief that this mistaken notion stems from the technical
support people at many of the larger OEMs. Their solution to almost
any problem they don't quickly know the answer to is "reformat and
reinstall." That's the perfect solution for them. It gets you off the
phone quickly, it almost always works, and it doesn't require them to
do any real troubleshooting (a skill that most of them obviously don't
possess in any great degree).

But it leaves you with all the work and all the problems. You have to
restore all your data backups, you have to reinstall all your
programs, you have to reinstall all the Windows and application
updates, you have to locate and install all the needed drivers for
your system, you have to recustomize Windows and all your apps to work
the way you're comfortable with.

Besides all those things being time-consuming and troublesome, you may
have trouble with some of them: can you find all your application CDs?
Can you find all the needed installation codes? Do you have data
backups to restore? Do you even remember all the customizations and
tweaks you may have installed to make everything work the way you
like? Occasionally there are problems that are so difficult to solve
that Windows should be reinstalled cleanly. But they are few and far
between; reinstallation should not be a substitute for
troubleshooting; it should be a last resort, to be done only after all
other attempts at troubleshooting by a qualified person have failed.

And perhaps most important: if you reformat and reinstall without
finding out what caused your problem, you will very likely repeat the
behavior that caused it, and quickly find yourself back in exactly the
same situation.

If you have problems, post the details of them here; it's likely that
someone can help you and a reinstallation won't be required.

 

[Richard]

-- I am going to try to help my daughter reformat her Dell computer.
She has the original xp re-install disk that originally came with
the computer she is about to reformat, but she misplaced the envelope
and does not have a key code for the disk. Does she need one or will
the install just take place?
robert

Hi Robert,

There is probably a product key sticker on the computer, side, back or
bottom. Also look for another sticker with the Dell "Service Tag". If the
computer did not come with the optional Drivers and Utilities CD, you will
need to get the drivers from the Dell website. The following link will get
you to the download page, where you need to click on the "Choose by Service
Tag" button, and then click on the "How do I find my service tag" link for
help finding the tag, and explanation. The tag identifies the exact
configuration of the computer so that only those drivers and downloads for
your configuration are suggested. See the Download Manager FAQ also. Get a
copy of the "Manual" for your model, if you don't have it already.

Dell - Drivers and Downloads
http://support.dell.com/support/downloads/index.aspx

You will find complete re-install instructions here:
Manually Reinstall Your Windows XP Operating System
http://support.dell.com/support/topics/global.aspx/support/dsn/en/document?docid=179256

Step 1: Backup important files & data.
Step 2: Remove non-essential peripherals.
Step 3: Prepare your computer for reinstallation.
Step 4: Reinstall the operating system from the OS Setup Disk.
Step 5: Install Dell drivers and utilities.
Step 6: Connect your computer to the internet or network.
Step 7: Install critical and recommended Windows Updates.
Step 8: Install your applications.
Step 9: Install your third-party hardware and software drivers.
Step 10: Restore your personal files and data from backups.

It is best to use that as starting guidance and make yourself a complete
checklist of everything you need to do, and have everything on hand that
you will need before starting.

There are numerous Windows XP self-help articles available there, with
troubleshooting guides and links to Microsoft Knowledge Base articles.

Simple KeyFinder - Find your lost Product key
http://www.winkeyfinder.com/remository/simple-keyfinder/simple-keyfinder.php

HTH. (Hope This Helps.
--Richard