I need help reformating my DELL!!!

I have an old Dell 15" notebook and when I order it I forgot to add the reinstallation discs. Now I want to reformat my computer, but I don't know how to get the image of the reinstallation CD. Can anyone please tell me where to find the image of the reinstalltion cd in step by step? I basically need the Window XP Home CD because I got the product key and I can download the drivers from dell website. Thanks in advance.

 

Image? do you mean icon maybe? is there a restore partition you could use? Many times if there is in the start menu there is a pre-installed program to create these rescue discs as many times as you'd like, please clarify.

 

I think he is referring to a disk image like an ISO. I don’t think DELL copies an aimage of the installation disk to the hard disk; however there is something called a restore partition which you can use to reinstall windows. Here is a good article written about the DELL restore partition and how to use it.

DELL will send a new XP reinstallation CD (free of charge I think) if you request for one. I’m not in US and I have never requested any CDs from DELL; therefore I’m not sure for how long they send you CDs up on request, nor the process of requesting (maybe a simple call will do), hopefully some other member can answer that.

 

I just want to reformat it by just installing XP Home alone. I can restore my computer, but when I restore it I still get those unecessary programs. So is there any way that I can reformat my computer instead of restoring it?

 

Yes, if you have an XP install disk. If you don't, then you have to do a restore and manually remove the programs you don't want.

 

Any home edition CD will work with your key. You can borrow an installation CD from a friend or something . As long as you use your key to install, it is legal.

 

No, retail versions of XP do not work with the Dell OEM key on the bottom of the laptop.