The Notebook Review forums were hosted by TechTarget, who shut down them down on January 31, 2022. This static read-only archive was pulled by NBR forum users between January 20 and January 31, 2022, in an effort to make sure that the valuable technical information that had been posted on the forums is preserved. For current discussions, many NBR forum users moved over to NotebookTalk.net after the shutdown.
Problems? See this thread at archive.org.

    question re: 630m format and reinstall of XP

    Discussion in 'Dell' started by Brodel, Apr 25, 2006.

  1. Brodel

    Brodel Notebook Enthusiast

    Reputations:
    0
    Messages:
    15
    Likes Received:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    5
    Hey

    I've read the guide to reinstalling XP but am still slightly confused, I'm buying mine in the UK and you have to select to purchase both the drivers CD and the XP CD (around $10 each).

    I already have an OEM copy of XP from my desktop, can I use that copy for the Dell laptop or would it need to be a brand new unused copy? Also, the guide seems to assume you get the drivers CD for free but I don't think that is the case here, is it needed for a format or can I just download the drivers I need from the Dell site?

    thanks in advance.
     
  2. kegobeer

    kegobeer 1 hr late but moving fast

    Reputations:
    836
    Messages:
    3,682
    Likes Received:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    105
    You should be able to download all of the Dell drivers for your model from the Dell website. Just make sure to follow the guide and download all of the necessary software/drivers.

    You can use any XP disk you want, it just can't be installed on more than one computer at a time. You do not need to purchase the XP disk from Dell.
     
  3. Brodel

    Brodel Notebook Enthusiast

    Reputations:
    0
    Messages:
    15
    Likes Received:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    5
    ok, thanks. I'll skip the drivers disc and just get the XP one then, my current one is installed on the desktop I'm using at the moment.
     
  4. primehunter326

    primehunter326 Notebook Consultant

    Reputations:
    3
    Messages:
    291
    Likes Received:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    30
    What if your ordered XP Home and you ordered the XP pro reinstall CD, would it be possible to reformat with XP pro and save $150 for it not being preinstalled on your system?
     
  5. kegobeer

    kegobeer 1 hr late but moving fast

    Reputations:
    836
    Messages:
    3,682
    Likes Received:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    105
    No. Dell won't ship you an XP Pro disk if you didn't order XP Pro as your OS.
     
  6. primehunter326

    primehunter326 Notebook Consultant

    Reputations:
    3
    Messages:
    291
    Likes Received:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    30
    So you have to get the same reinstallt disc as the OS that's on your system? Not a huge deal though it would have been cool to save a couple $100 if you were planning on doing a reformat.
     
  7. kegobeer

    kegobeer 1 hr late but moving fast

    Reputations:
    836
    Messages:
    3,682
    Likes Received:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    105
    What you are describing is a free upgrade to XP Pro, which Dell is most certainly not going to do.