Quick clarification RE 'Reinstallation Disc'

The 'Reinstallation' disc that came with my Dell XPS can install to a blank partition/HDD (IE doesn't require a previously detected install of WinXP), right? I have had issues in the past with using a inadvertantly purchased windows xp 'upgrade' disc that needs to detect a previous installation of some windows OS.

I just don't want to wipe my windows installation and then be unable to put my copy of windows back on it.

 

If the disc came from dell, look on the disc. It should say 'upgrade only' if it needs a previous installation of Windows.

 

Typically, if it says "Reinstallation disc" then it won't require a previous install of the OS.

If it says "Restore Disc" it may just be the additional files that were added to the laptop, and not the original OS.

But I would verify using the disc or the manual or Dell CS.

 

All of the discs (at least the ones with Inspirons) are OEM discs, so as far as I know, you can install them on new HDD. We've had several members buy new HDD, and then requested the disc from Dell to put XP on it. The only requirement that I know of is that it has to detect certain hardware to know that it is a dell and is allowed to the OEM version of XP installed.

 

The disk that came with my XPS is purple-ish, says "Operating System" at the top "Already Installed on your Computer" then "Reinstallation CD Microsoft Windows XP Pro Inlcuding Service Pack 1a"

It's part number "P/N R2352" if that helps at all.

I'd like to wipe my HDD before I go back to school (in just a couple weeks, unfortunately) so that I start the year off fresh. However, I'd rather not end up with any 'nasty surprises' like not being able to install windows.

 

You shouldn't have any problems as long as you are installing it on the same HDD that is on your computer. It is an OEM version. I'm a bit concerned about it saying SP 1a.

 

Assuming it's a legitimate disc you can upgrade from SP 1a to SP2 directly from Microsoft - takes a while if you don't have broadband, though.

You might contact Dell though, as SP2 has been out for a LOONG time.

 

I would call dell before you formatted. The reason is because there have been some complications with SP 1 + Express cards. SP 1 doesn't support express cards.

 

This is on my XPS Gen1 (Purchased in 2004), so expresscard support is not an issue.

This is not the original HDD that came with the laptop; I upgraded to a bigger/faster HDD mid way through last year. However, my friend who was helping me installed a non-OEM version of windows with a 'borrowed' CD key which has caused me problems with running updates etc. I want to go back to using my legit copy of windows so my computer is in tip-top shape for the school year; I really don't want to spend weekends fixing the thing.

 

I think you could change the software key of your current install to the one that came with the laptop and not have to re-install, but I'm not sure about that.

 

I'll give that a try (I found several instruction sets online) but I'd like to reinstall windows too, it's been getting screwy lately