Reinstall xp

[Guest]

I have decided that after I install 2 new harddrives I will reinstall XP but
I have a few questions.
The last time I reinstalled was maybe 4 years ago and things have changed
with regard to WGA and WPA.
1) I have Belarc advisor and the product key that it reports. I also have a
COA sticker on my computer. Which of these do I use when asked during set up?
I have had to re-register a few times such as when I updated my video card
driver last Sept. Is this going to present a problem?
I don't have a problem explaining to Microsoft the circumstances regarding
this reinstall, I just don't want to NOT be able to re-activate if there is
even a chance of that.
2) I have my original Dell XP reinstall disc. This is a genuine reinstall
disc not just a recovery disc. But is pre SP1.(wine colored disc) It is only
"XP Gold". I also have SP2 on a disc from Microsoft, so I can reinstall that
way. But I also have a genuine Dell XP with SP2 reinstall disc that came with
my sons laptop this past Christmas, (blue colored disc). Can I use this disc
or would it be better to use the one that came with this particular machine ?
3) I am really NOT looking forward to redownloading all the various updates
to not only the operating system but all of the various apps. also, so I
thought about "auto patch" however, this is a 225 Mb download on a dial-up
network and I wont live long enough to see it through. I also don't know
anyone with a highspeed connection willing to help me out. Are there any
cd's available with auto patch on it, say perhaps in a magazine or available
to order? I haven't seen this option on the auto patch website but perhaps I
missed it.
As always thanks for any and all responses.

 

[JS]

Belarc reports the key code Dell used when they installed XP, you should use
the key code on the sticker for a re-install.
I don't think the laptop's CD will work as at the very least the key code
for that CD will be the code for the laptop and may be tied to the laptop's
BIOS, stick with the original CD that came with your Dell.
You will be required to activate but since your installing to the same PC
this should not be a problem.
You should also check to make sure your PC will support the new drives,
especially if they are more than 120GB in size.

JS

 

[Malke]

D.B. wrote:

See answers inline (some snippage applied):

I have decided that after I install 2 new harddrives I will reinstall
XP but I have a few questions.
The last time I reinstalled was maybe 4 years ago and things have
changed with regard to WGA and WPA.
1) I have Belarc advisor and the product key that it reports. I also
have a COA sticker on my computer. Which of these do I use when asked
during set up?

Use the COA sticker. The one that Belarc reports is the master key used
by Dell when applying their image, not the one for you to use.

2) I have my original Dell XP reinstall disc. This is a genuine
reinstall
disc not just a recovery disc. But is pre SP1.(wine colored disc) It
is only "XP Gold". I also have SP2 on a disc from Microsoft, so I can
reinstall that way. But I also have a genuine Dell XP with SP2
reinstall disc that came with my sons laptop this past Christmas,
(blue colored disc). Can I use this disc or would it be better to use
the one that came with this particular machine ?

You can use the laptop CD if it is the same "flavor" as the version
installed on the desktop; i.e. XP Home. Ex. - If the laptop is Media
Center, you don't want to use that. Or you can slipstream Service Pack
2 into your original desktop installation media. This is very easy to
do. I like AutoStreamer, but there are other methods.

How to slipstream sp2 into XP
http://www.simplyguides.net/guides/using_autostreamer/using_autostreamer.html
- AutoStreamer
http://www.msfn.org/articles.php?action=show&showarticle=49
http://www.windows-help.net/windowsxp/winxp-sp2-bootcd.html
http://www.theeldergeek.com/slipstreamed_xpsp2_cd.htm
http://www.webtree.ca/windowsxp/slipstream.htm

Your license to use the operating sytsem is tied to the Product Key
(your COA number) and not the actual cd.

3) I am really NOT
looking forward to redownloading all the various updates to not only
the operating system but all of the various apps. also, so I thought
about "auto patch" however, this is a 225 Mb download on a dial-up
network and I wont live long enough to see it through. I also don't
know
anyone with a highspeed connection willing to help me out. Are there
any cd's available with auto patch on it, say perhaps in a magazine or
available
to order? I haven't seen this option on the auto patch website but
perhaps I missed it.

I'm not familiar with the "auto patch". IIRC this is offered by a non-MS
website. While that website and "auto patch" might be just fine, I
personally would not recommend getting updates from any place other
than MS.

You can download the updates individually from Windows Update Catalog
and save them to a cd-r for the future.

How to download updates and drivers from the Windows Update Catalog or
from the Microsoft Update Catalog:
http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;en-us;323166

You can slipstream the Microsoft Rollup Update (for SP1)
http://windowsxp.mvps.org/saveupdates.htm

MS Update Rollup 1 (SP1)
http://support.microsoft.com/kb/826939

However, you still need to download the rollup. I don't know anywhere
outside of Technet or MSDN membership that you can get the rollup on cd
sent to you. You might want to call MS Windows Update support to ask.

Windows Update support -
http://support.microsoft.com/oas/default.aspx?&gprid=6527&
Unlimited support requests are included at no charge - (866) 834-8317

Malke

 

[Bruce Chambers]

I have decided that after I install 2 new harddrives I will reinstall XP but
I have a few questions.
The last time I reinstalled was maybe 4 years ago and things have changed
with regard to WGA and WPA.
1) I have Belarc advisor and the product key that it reports. I also have a
COA sticker on my computer. Which of these do I use when asked during set up?

If you have a factory-installed OEM license, and haven't since
reinstalled the OS, the revealed Product Key is probably of the drive
image used at the factory and not your specific Product Key; therefore,
it probably cannot be -- and definitely should not be -- used for a
re-installation. Use the Product Key from the CoA label affixed to the
side of the computer.

I have had to re-register a few times such as when I updated my video card
driver last Sept. Is this going to present a problem?

No. Registration is *always* optional, and provides no benefit to
owners of OEM licenses, such as yourself. Or did you perhaps mean that
you had to re-activate the license? This is mandatory, but should not
be a problem.

I don't have a problem explaining to Microsoft the circumstances regarding
this reinstall, I just don't want to NOT be able to re-activate if there is
even a chance of that.

Shouldn't be an issue. You will most likely have to activate via
telephone, though. Some time ago, Microsoft disabled the CDs/Product
Keys from most major OEMs such as Dell from activating via the Internet.
(This was in response to the large number of the branded OEM CDs being
illegally (without the computer) resold vis eBay, computer fairs, etc.)
A free, 5 minute phone call should clear this up.

There's no limit to the number of times you can reinstall and activate
the same WinXP license on the same PC. Nor is there ever a charge. Nor
does a Product Key (so long as it's not an evaluation license) ever
expire.

Here are the facts pertaining to activation:

Piracy Basics - Microsoft Product Activation
http://www.microsoft.com/piracy/basics/activation/

Windows Product Activation (WPA)
http://www.aumha.org/a/wpa.htm

2) I have my original Dell XP reinstall disc. This is a genuine reinstall
disc not just a recovery disc. But is pre SP1.(wine colored disc) It is only
"XP Gold". I also have SP2 on a disc from Microsoft, so I can reinstall that
way.

Or you could use the original WinXP Installation CD, along with the SP2
CD. to create your own Slip-streamed installation CD. For
slip-streaming the service pack and subsequent updates to WinXP:

How to integrate software updates into your Windows installation source
files
http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;en-us;828930

SlipStreaming WinXP
http://www.webtree.ca/windowsxp/slipstream.htm

But I also have a genuine Dell XP with SP2 reinstall disc that came with
my sons laptop this past Christmas, (blue colored disc). Can I use this disc
or would it be better to use the one that came with this particular machine ?

There's a chance this would work, if the newer CD is also a full
installation CD, and not a Recovery CD, and if you use your own Product
Key. It depends on just how closely Dell locked the CD to the BIOS of
your son's computer.

3) I am really NOT looking forward to redownloading all the various updates
to not only the operating system but all of the various apps. also, so I
thought about "auto patch" however, this is a 225 Mb download on a dial-up
network and I wont live long enough to see it through. I also don't know
anyone with a highspeed connection willing to help me out. Are there any
cd's available with auto patch on it, say perhaps in a magazine or available
to order? I haven't seen this option on the auto patch website but perhaps I
missed it.

Understood. Try the CD the came with the newer computer, first. If
that works, fine. If it doesn't work, consider creating a slip-streamed
installation CD.



--

Bruce Chambers

Help us help you:



They that can give up essential liberty to obtain a little temporary
safety deserve neither liberty nor safety. -Benjamin Franklin

 

[Guest]

Thanks JS
You may be and probably are right about the disc being BIOS locked.
Oh well, it only adds one more step to the procedure and I have the SP2 disc.

Thanks

 

[Guest]

Hi Malke.
I understand. Will use the COA sticker.
The laptop and desk top cd's are of the same "flavor" i.e. both are XP home.
The only difference,other than color, are the newer, laptop cd has SP2.
I have tried to slipstream SP2 onto a disc with XP home. I thought I did it
right and used it periodically to run SFC /SCANNOW. However, when I tried to
do a repair install 4 weeks ago before I realized my drive was failing, it
kept saying that it needed to access files on one of my drives that was
unavailable. I attribute this to probably not burning it properly as I
believe the image files for the ISO burn were placed on the drive it was
asking to access.
At the time, I tried to use autostreamer but wound up wasting 3 or 4 discs
in the process. Ultimately, I followed instructions from one of the MVP's
site and thought it was a sucessful burn.

Thanks

 

[Malke]

Hi Malke.
I understand. Will use the COA sticker.
The laptop and desk top cd's are of the same "flavor" i.e. both are XP
home. The only difference,other than color, are the newer, laptop cd
has SP2. I have tried to slipstream SP2 onto a disc with XP home. I
thought I did it right and used it periodically to run SFC /SCANNOW.
However, when I tried to do a repair install 4 weeks ago before I
realized my drive was failing, it kept saying that it needed to access
files on one of my drives that was unavailable. I attribute this to
probably not burning it properly as I believe the image files for the
ISO burn were placed on the drive it was asking to access.
At the time, I tried to use autostreamer but wound up wasting 3 or 4
discs in the process. Ultimately, I followed instructions from one of
the MVP's site and thought it was a sucessful burn.

Thanks

It may have been a successful burn and you may be having more than just
hard drive problems. There's no way for me to know.

You should be able to use the laptop cd - try it, it won't hurt! If it
doesn't work, then you'll need to do the slipstreaming. After you
install XP, don't forget to install Dell's hardware drivers for the
desktop. Don't use the Dell Resource CD from the laptop!

If you have lost your Dell Resource CD for the desktop, go to Dell's
tech support site for your specific model machine and download drivers
ahead of time.

Malke

 

[Guest]

Hi Malke.
I will try the laptop cd. Asfar as the drivers for the hardware, I don't
think there is anything original left. When I bought the computer I knew less
than zero so I took what the Dell salesman recommended. My mistake. It had
128 Mb. of ram, 20 Gb.hard drive, 1.7 Ghz. processor,1 cd-rw drive,1 floppy
drive, 16 Mb.video card and on-board sound. Since than I have replaced the
ram with 1 Gb.,a sound blaster audigy card, a new modem, up graded to a 64
Mb. video card, added a new key board and track-ball mouse, added a
second,now bad, 120 Gb. harddrive, added a usb 2 pci card, and firewire and
midi ports, and added 2 new speakers with a sub woofer. I just bought two
new 100 Gb. harddrives,(i'm going to replace the bad one and the original), a
new 256 Mb. video card and a 2.6 Mhz. processor.
The chipset is only an Intel 845 and is supported natively by XP.
Since I'm going to install the new boot drive before I load Windows AND the
new drives are less than 137 Gb., I should not be affected by the size
limitations. Also, I think we only used about 40 Gb. of the old harddrives
combined so 200 Gb's. should be sufficient and aesy for maintenance duties
such as defrag..etc.
I 'm glad I was able to do all of these upgrades because this has been an
invaluable learning experience.

 

[_DD]

After you
install XP, don't forget to install Dell's hardware drivers for the
desktop. Don't use the Dell Resource CD from the laptop!

If you have lost your Dell Resource CD for the desktop, go to Dell's
tech support site for your specific model machine and download drivers
ahead of time.

Malke, Could you please explain your comment "Don't use the Dell
Resource CD from the Laptop"? Not sure I follow that, given the
next paragraph.

I need to install drivers for a Dell Inspriron system, and was about
to do that via their Dell Resource CD. Is there a problem with that?

 

[Malke]

Malke, Could you please explain your comment "Don't use the Dell
Resource CD from the Laptop"? Not sure I follow that, given the
next paragraph.

I need to install drivers for a Dell Inspriron system, and was about
to do that via their Dell Resource CD. Is there a problem with that?

The Dell Resource CD has drivers and some utilities for a specific range
of computer models. I was cautioning you to either use the correct
Resource CD for the computer you were working on OR to get the right
drivers from Dell's website. Obviously, drivers for a laptop system are
not going to be the ones you need on a desktop machine.

Malke