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Ken
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 Posted: Tue Dec 18, 2007 1:23 am Post subject: WINXP re-install |
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I have been given a second hand Dell Dimension 2400 that has WINXP Home
Edition installed. I want to re-install the OS but the Dell CD set did not
come with the unit. I talked to Dell and they could not help me since the
unit was out of warranty. The unit does have the orginal WINXP product key
label on the side of the case. Can I re-install the OS from another CD set,
say WINXP Professional and use the attached product key to make sure that the
software will continue to run and be validated by Microsoft? Or can I try to
find a WINXP Home Edition install CD and then use the same product key that
is still on the case label for validation? The system is so slow that a
reload is my last attempt to get any performance back. Will either of these
ways work? |
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| Posted: Tue Dec 18, 2007 1:23 am Post subject: Advertisement |
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Shenan Stanley
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| Posted: Tue Dec 18, 2007 1:40 am Post subject: Re: WINXP re-install |
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Ken wrote:
| Quote: | I have been given a second hand Dell Dimension 2400 that has WINXP
Home Edition installed. I want to re-install the OS but the Dell
CD set did not come with the unit. I talked to Dell and they could
not help me since the unit was out of warranty. The unit does have
the orginal WINXP product key label on the side of the case. Can I
re-install the OS from another CD set, say WINXP Professional and
use the attached product key to make sure that the software will
continue to run and be validated by Microsoft? Or can I try to
find a WINXP Home Edition install CD and then use the same product
key that is still on the case label for validation? The system is
so slow that a reload is my last attempt to get any performance
back. Will either of these ways work?
|
General advice - when it comes to a second-hand computer (one you did not
purchase new yourself) --> always wipe it and start fresh. This way you
know what you have and you have no 'left-overs' from the prior owner.
Given this:
"The unit does have the orginal WINXP product key label on the side of the
case."
You can *maybe* do this:
"Or can I try to find a WINXP Home Edition install CD and then use the same
product key that is still on the case label for validation?"
The trick will be to find a Windows XP Home Edition *generic* OEM CD. Even
then - there is no guarantee it will work. (A Retail or Upgrade type of CD
will not work. It needs to be an OEM license type and the generic is to
ensure there has been no modifications that 'BIOS Lock' that CD to a certain
make/model of computer.)
--
Shenan Stanley
MS-MVP
--
How To Ask Questions The Smart Way
http://www.catb.org/~esr/faqs/smart-questions.html |
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Animenia
Guest
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| Posted: Wed Dec 19, 2007 11:09 am Post subject: Re: WINXP re-install |
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Also... Dell has a recovery partition on their systems which you could
try FIRST...
On the bios splash screen hold CTRL and hit F11, hit it several times
so that you don't miss it... If the recovery partition is still there
and it works you should have the options "Restore" and "Reboot".
This will reset the system to how it was when the it was first bought,
Windows XP, Installed drivers and the trial versions of various
softwares.
If this work I would suggest you try to burn the recovery cd's if they
are available for it.
If not, Like Shenan said above getting your hands on a generic OEM CD
of Windows XP could work.
If neither works we're stuck with one thing left. Install the system
using a regular Windows XP Home CD.
However... This would probably be the worst decision you could make so
make sure you try the other suggestions FIRST.
By using a regular Windows XP Home CD you will install XP and nothing
else so make sure you download the drivers for the system FIRST and
store them somewhere else.
Make sure you get ALL the drivers for the system cause NOTHING will be
installed when you boot for the first time.
Make sure that you install the desktop system software first and 2nd
should be the chipset drivers... Besides these two you should be able to
install the other drivers in any order you wish.
Best of luck to you and your system  |
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