Step by Step Guide to Clean XP Install

Wait a second...

Are you saying that if you reformat, but DON'T re-partition, that the restore partition is then useless? That doesn't make sense, since the restore function is outside of the O/S... it's bios driven, isn't it? So if the partitions were all left the same, and you just reformated the O/S partition, I would think that the restore function would still remain. Is there anyway to do a clean reinstall that retains the restore functionality?
Thanks,
Sion

 

the restore partition will no longer work if you reformat the harddrive. I know when I reformatted mine, I thought the partition would work, so I left it on there. Then later I tried to use it, and it didn't work.

Then we had a Dell Tech post on here a few times, and confirm my suspicions:
http://forum.notebookreview.com/showthread.php?t=24262

SG

 

Hm, if I knew that before I reformatted it might have made me a little more scared of it. Oh well, it's all good.

 

Let me guess, you left the partition so you can go back to the original state? So now you got like 5 GB wasted unless you delete that partition.

 

What does the Cyberlink DVD Decoder do exactly? If I don't have it installed, I can't watch DVDs on my notebook?

 

In order to watch DVDs, you have to have a dvd decoder. Nero, CyberLink, Interactual, etc are all dvd decoder. Basically, it reads and translates your dvd so you can watch them. Without this decoder, you will get an error everytime you try to play a dvd.

Since Cyberlink comes with your system, I would just recommend getting it since it would be free. I've tried Nero, and had some sound problems with it. Interactual is good also.

Even if you have WMP installed, you still can't play DVDs without a decoder. WMP is just a player, not a decoder. Same with WinAmp.

 

I have the CD, and I figured I needed it, I just wanted to know why

 

I just got done reformatting my Dell. Runs a lot better again. Went from a 2min start up to 25 sec, on a 1.4 GHz proccesor. Not bad...

 

can someone help? i've reformatted my dell pc. i used disk management to delete the restore partition then reinstalled from oem xp pro cd. during install the restore partion space still showed up so i chose to delete it again. nothing happened so i just highlight the main partition and chose to reformat and install the fresh copy. everything works fine but i still have the 3.5gb unallocated space. my question is can i merge this space with the main partition. is it just a matter of renaming it c even though c is already being used. thanks for any help.

 

I Just orered a dell 6000 with the intent of puting an older retail version of xp pro on it since all of you suggest reformating anyhow i thought id save 150 dollars for the pro upgrade. I never really gave it much thought about if it would work or not since it has been put on 3 computers already. Do you think there are any snags im going to run into when putting it on my dell?

 

Since you ordered the XP Home version, the product key (located on bottom of laptop) won't be valid for XP Pro. You have to have the same systems in order to use the key. I'm not sure, but I think the standard license with XP Pro is 1 computer, so unless you got a volume license, you might have problems. You could try to use the same product key that came with the cd, but it is illegal.

 

yeah I never thought about it that way before I guess my retail version has been put on two of our computers and a friends soooo they havent hunted me down yet. I should probably get a copy from dell then just to be safe or can i burn it off the hard drive? just so if something goes wrong when i reformat I will actually have a copy of an operating system. Is this hard or should I just ask dell for one?

 

I would just ask it from dell especially since they stop making it where you could burn a copy of a clean system. You could backup the drive using Nero backup or some other software, but that will still have all of the junk software. If you request it from dell, you'll get a clean system.

I've burned a backup of my hdd using Nero and its pretty easy to do if you have a dvd burner. It only takes 1 DVD to do it, but like I said, it won't be a clean system.

SG

 

Please help:

I did a clean windows XP install and think I totally messed up the drivers.

Without going into the huge detail I could about everything, I just want to do a dell system restore by pressing ctrl f11 at start up.

However this won't work although I know the 8gb restore partition is still there (hard drive is 72gb).

It takes me 30 minutes to install internet for 2 minutes of it working.

So how do I restore the Dell back tp Dell factory settings (Dell restore with all the bloatware)?

Help needed as quick as possible

 

Unfortunately, once you do a clean install, the restore partition is no longer valid. If you could describe the problems that you are having, we will be able to better assist you.

If you don't have highspeed internet, you can call dell and request the Drivers CD. This will be shipped to you free of charge, and you'll receive it generally within 2 days of requesting it.

If you do have high speed internet:

To get your internet working, you probably need to reinstall your wireless or ethernet driver. You can find these and the other drivers on Dell's website:
http://support.dell.com/support/downloads/index.aspx?c=us&cs=19&l=en&s=dhs

If you have a second computer, download either the wireless card driver or the broadcom driver for the ethernet card. Choose save this file instead of run. Once it is downloaded you can email it to yourself, use a USB jumpdrive, burn to a cd, or any other method you can think of to transfer it to your laptop. Once you get it to your laptop, run the file, and it will self install and this should correct your internet problem.


Since you first posted this under the video card update thread, I'm assuming that your screen is probably looking very weird. If this is the case, you just need to reinstall your video card driver.

Please post back with any questions that you have.
Thanks,
SG

 

Many thanks although I'm very dissapointed about how silly i have been full xp reinstalling rather than Dell pc restored

I am currently on my only other computer - a small PDA so typing is very difficult and hard work. I meant to post this in the clean install stuff, no ida how it turned up in the video card thread.
I am in the UK
The problems are:

1.the characters @ and " are the wrong way round when pressed. Stuff like $ are also mixed up. I think its coz i set uk english at setup when my keyboard is us english.

2. Screen resolution is messed up - should be WXSGA+ but is an odd 1280/800. looks odd.

3. I install my BT broadband basic. I connect to the internet - it works for 5 minutes then I lose connection and it says MY ISP, and says can't find telephone entry
Not enough time to download any drivers . . .

So there are the main problems at the moment. When you say re-install the drivers how do I do that? I don't have another computer atm.

So, I am extremely thankful for all the help. . .

(phew, twas a laborious 15 minutes of tapping keys)
.

 

ack, that sucks. In my opinion it is better to do a clean install versus the restore function. Actually it seems like majority of your problems are related to the drivers. I have some solutions...

1.) for the keyboard problem, go to control panel-->regional & language options--> and select your correct language.

2.) the screen problem is because of the drivers. This will fix once you install your video card driver.

3.) I'm not really sure. I have BT, but never used it for broadband. If it is like wireless and ethernet, you probably just need get the driver.

About reinstalling the drivers: all of dell's drivers are self installing. Meaning that you just have to run the program and it will do the rest. You can check to see what all drivers have been installed by right clicking on my computer -->select Manage-->select device manager. Anything that has a yellow questionmark beside it, means that it doesn't have a driver or there is some conflict.

A few options to getting the correct drivers:
1.) If you burned a copy of the c:\dell folder before you reformatted, you can paste this back to your c: drive. You should see several windows pop up and things begin to install. Once everything has been installed, check the device manager to see if there is any conflicts. If there is, in the device manager: goto the action menu-->select scan for hardware changes. That should reinstall any drivers that did not self install the first time. Again, you should have to do anything besides telling it to scan for changes.

2.) If you have a friend or relative that has a computer and broadband, you can use theirs to download the drivers from Dell's drivers and download website.

3.) Last option, call dell and request the drivers CD. This will have all of the drivers that were loaded on your system before the reformat.

Hope this helps,
SG

 

yippee

Things are on the up. I'm on my laptop now!

I was far to quick to assume that I had messed up the drivers when actually I had burnt the Dell folder to a CD. When I first tryed the CD, I burnt the folders to the C:/ Drive and nothing happened. I looked in the folders and couldn't find anyway to download any drivers. I assumed I had done something wrong, but actually following your advice I did get most of the drivers downloaded.

Things aren't perfect, I am on my USB ADSL modem currently, and I am still having trouble with my Ethernet D-lInk modem (although I was having trouble with before formatting as well).

And the following two devices still have driver problems: PCI device and USB device although I haven't noticed the consequences yet.

Another things thats probably irrelavant but Super Pi normally took about 1:42, but now on AC power, with Poweroptions at always on, I get around 4:00?!

A huge thanks for all the help you are willing to give, I really appreciate it

 

Glad to hear that some things are working. I know the PCI device is on dell's website, I just can't remember what driver it is under. I'll try to find it for you. You might try updating windows and hopefully that will take care of the USB device.

As for the Super Pi issue, I'm not sure why that would be so high. Did you have several programs running?

SG

 

i was just going over your article and for the drivers section I was wondering why it is not suggested to also burn the drivers folder along with the dell folder to save a little hastle when re installing windows. Maybe this doesnt work It just seems like it might be a good idea would it not?

 

It would work. On my system the drivers were in the dell folder, so that is why i suggested to burn the dell folder. Lately I've seen some users stating that they had a separate drivers folder from dell. Whichever folder the drivers are in, is the folder you need to download.

Thanks for the suggestion.
SG

 

I am expecting an XPS M170 next week. Dell said it will include the xp/drivers/resource CD's. Planning to do a clean xp install once i get it. One question though:

Will the DVD decoder be on whats called the Dell resource CD? will i have to install the whole of that CD or just the DVD decoder alone? Presumably the resource CD also includes a lot of junk that you wouldnt want to install. Am i talking sense here?

 

The dvd decoder, Cyberlink Powerdvd, comes on a separate disk. If they are sending you all of the disks, which with the XPS is probably a good bet, then you should have a separate disk for Cyberlink and another disk for Sonic (burning software). On the resource cd, I can't remember exactly what it has on it but I think it just has some programs that dell believes is useful (basically programs like Dell experience, Quickset, etc). You don't have to install any or all of it. It gives you the option on what you want to install.

They might send you the applications cd which has all of the junkware. Its the same deal as the resource cd in which you don't have to install any of it or you can install the programs you want.

I might have gotten the resource and applications cd mixed, but its the same principle. It will run some installer program, but that does not install anything. In order to install anything, you actually have to click on the program, and choose to install it.

SG

 

Thanks SG.

 

I don't have 4 hours to read through this entire thread. Can I use a retail Windows XP cd with Dell's OEM CD-Key to do a reinstall?

 

LOL, yes you can as long as they are the same version (meaning XP Home Disk with XP Key).

 

Hi, I am trying to get all the proper drivers for doing a clean install on my new b130. when i go to the dell "drivers and downloads" site, there are many choices within each device, i.e. In Communication Drivers> there are two options of Conexant D110,HDA,MDC,v.92,modem.
In Diagnostic Utilities> Dell 32 Bit Diagnostics (Graphical User Interface version) or Dell 32-bit Diagnostics Utility Partition Contents Upgrade Tool.
In FlashBIOS Updates i need to choose from floppy, non-packaged, or plain-text.
It is all just a bit confusing.
Has anyone been through this on a B130?

 

Folks, would the Dell technical manuals be on the Resource CD or do they need to be backed up before doing a clean xp install? (I am still waiting for my notebook to arrive).

Maybe we should have a comprehensive list of all the software that we need to backup/have before we zap the hard drive.

 

i'm not sure if they are on the cd or not. I do know they are on the web at http://support.dell.com/support/index.aspx?c=us&cs=19&l=en&s=dhs

Just choose your system and for tools, select "User Guides and Manuals".

SG

 

Got my system today. Planning to do a clean install. I have all the CD's except for the cyberlink stuff. Its not on the Dell resources CD either. Can I burn it onto a CD from the system first or would i have to call dell to send me the CD?

Thanks.

 

I wish you could burn the folder, but it doesn't contain the install files, so it won't be of much help. Yes, you need to call dell and request it. They'll send it free of charge and you'll get it in about 2 days.

 

Is the Sonic DVD/CD burn software really needed? I thought XP should already be able to handle that!

Thanks.

 

XP will burn CDs, but not DVDs. You have to have separate software for DVDs. If you don't plan on burning DVD, then your probably wouldn't use Sonic very much.

I didn't like sonic at all, so I switch to Nero which you could get for around 20 bucks if you look at pricegrabber.com or buy.com . Also Winamp and WMP burn cds also.

 

Wow I didnt know that, learn something new everyday. Weird how XP wont burn DVD's.

The Sonic CD did come with my system, just wasnt sure if i needed it.

Thanks SG.

 

Thanks for the guide.

I got Dell to send me the disks and I used the red XP OS reinstall disk. Everything is going fine but I am now looking at a screen to complete saying it is "Installing applications...wait up to thirty minutes to complete"

Does this mean I did all of this for nothing and this Dell disk is simply going to reinstall all of their bloatware?

 

It shouldn't be reinstalling the bloatware. Does it have a column on the left hand side that has a series of steps to be taken and then in the rest of the screen it is describing XP?

If yes, then you are fine. Its just installing the standard XP applications.

 

Thanks SG - I have never seen this screen before and maybe it is a peculiarity with XP Pro Media center 2005. I confirmed that the bloatware was not installed...I guess the media center software was what was installing.

Anyway FWIW I re-installed the QuickSet stuff from Dell. I like it, useful.

 

Several of the basic Windows features are called "applications" during install, I think. IE, Media Player...

 

Southerngirl I have my first laptop ordered a Dell Inspiron 6000 and I cant wait. Just wanted to verify some stuff. I already have an OEM XP Home disc so Im good there. So I reinstall Windows normally like on any other box except I need to have a disc with my Dell network card drivers ready. Install that get the rest of the drivers and Im good to go? Thank you for your time. :centrino:

 

Is it a dell OEM Disk? You won't be able to use any other manufacturers OEM disk.

If you've reformatted before, it is the exact same procedure. Once you are done and are booted up into windows, you'll need to install your network driver so you can get access to the net.

I would go to the driver's website that I posted in the first post, and download & save your network driver. Then you can burn that to a cd or save to a jumpdrive or SD card.

SG

 

Southerngirl it is just a standard Microsoft branded OEM disc
http://www.ncix.com/products/index.php?sku=6526&vpn=N09-01153OEM&manufacture=Microsoft

 

oh okay...then it should work.

We have had a few users say that product key that is located on the bottom will only activate Dell OEM disks. If that CD doesn't work, call Dell and request the OEM XP cd.

 

on the Dell resource CD there is a Dell utility called NSS (notebook system software). According to Dell, it contains critical patches for the operating system and the computer itself. should we install that too? Or is that the what contains all the bloatware?!

Thanks.

 

you should install it. It will run only one time and will fix the critical issues.

 

Just curious about something; if you take a copy of the dell drivers folder and then paste it back after reinstall (which is a quicker way than installing the drivers individually from the dell cd), does the system automatically detect them because of the name "drivers" in the path, or, could you give the folder any name you wanted? Also, does it have to be on the C drive?

 

You could do that, but it's a real pain.

It might be better for you to install the drivers from the cd. Your best bet is to download the most updated drivers from dells website.

 

yes if you copy the folder and paste it back, most of the drivers will self detect. Always check the device manager to be sure though because i've noticed that some do not auto detect.

Its better to paste them on c: or which ever partition your windows is on, but you can change the name of the folder.

Like hn said, chances are you drivers will not be current with this method. Even using a CD from dell, your drivers will most likely not be updated. So if you have a high speed connection, be sure to check for updates.

 

Can you simply burn the drivers from your computer before you do the reformat? I saw the "drivers" folder by going: my computer->local diskC->drivers...there were different folders in there for audio, modem, network, system, and video. If this is possible, how do you do it? That wouldn't defeat the whole purpose by loading a lot of Dell junk on there again, would it? And about the partitions: can I just have one? I only have a 30gb hard drive, and could easily save most of my stuff on a CD before reformatting. What about the restore partition? I could still use the CD's I requested from Dell if I had any problems, right?

 

Yes you can do that. Just burn a copy to CD, then once you do the format, you copy the folder back on to the c:drive. Most of the devices will automatically detect the drivers, but it always good to check the device manager to make sure. For any devices that doesn't have a matching driver, you can right click on it, and select "Update Driver" or download it from the web.

This will not install any junkware. This folder just contains the drivers for your system.

Yes you can only have 1 partition. The way I would do it (if you aren't familiar with partitions) is to delete both partitions when you are reformatting. All of the space will be labeled as "unpartition space". Select that and create a new partition -- you shouldn't have to enter the amount of space you want. I think you can hit enter and it will use all the space.

SG

 

I painstakingly read through most of the posts in this thread, and finally took the initiative to contact Dell around 11pm.

As the phone number gave the usual "Your time is important to us, please hold" rubbish, I logged onto dell.com/chat. As I've learned much from this thread, I simply typed a straightforward message: "My Inspiron 6000 did not ship with a Windows CD, I'd like to receive a copy in the mail."

After a 2 minute wait (the estimated time was 8), I spent about ten minutes with a technician and to much surprise (and relief!) it concluded with "You would be receiving your part within 24 hours."

Long story short: NO "Dell Hell" for me. I highly recommend taking the chatroom route if you still need the Windows CD.

Good luck everybody, and thanks SouthernGirl, you're very helpful.