question for xp and dell users...

i plan on buying an e1505 next month but i am contemplatiing dumping the bs dell gives me for software in exchange for an original full version of xp. my question is, will i be able to use some of the software and utilities from dell's oem disk, still? i know i will have manually do all my drivers beforehand. (edit- i have absolute no interest in vista unless i get a free 64 version, and only until it gets mainstream support, os and software wise.)


on a sidenote, i will probably buy a 7200 rpm hard drive before i do this. how much more power does a 7200 rpm hard drive consume opposed to 5400 rpm, who makes the quietest, who make the fastest read/write, and who has the best overall in term of quietness > read/write?

 

Dell software and utilities are separate of the Operating System so you should be able to do a clean install from the XP disc, go to SP2 and all updates then pick and choose which Dell Utilities you want to install.

As far as a 7200RPM hard drive I believe Hitachi and Seagate make some of the best and fastest HDs, someone correct me if I am wrong. Also trying searching the threads because it is most likely this has already been asked before.

 

Since vista is coming out soon, Dell sends you everything you need to format. You do get a clean format with the discs they send you. Before you do format, please check out the format guide - link below. It will save you some trouble.

 

No need to buy XP separately - you can get a "clean" copy from Dell, and install all needed drivers from the Dell support website.

All software you get from Dell you should be able to reinstall. If not, call them....

I've also looked into power consumption of 7200 RPM drives. As far as I can tell, there is a negligible difference in power and noise. Get a 7200 if you need the speed.