Reformatting a Dell?

[hat]

My aunt and uncle brought a couch over here for us because they were getting a new one, and ma aunt was taking about her computer, and how it has so much shit built up on it... spyware... etc. She's had it for 4 years and she wants me to brush it up a bit. I explained to her that it would be better just to do a complete reformat to make sure everything died. Now, I know that prebuilts come with a sticker that has a key on it, so here are my questions:

Will the sticker work with a "real" non-oem version of Windows?
Is it any different with reformatting Dells than it is custom builds?

[Kreij]

You can use any windows disk you want to reload a dell, but if you use their OEM disk you will not have to activate anything.

Reformatting a Dell is the same as any other system, the only difference is that you may need to go to the Dell web site to get specific drivers. Personally, I would download all the necessary drivers before you begin the reformat. You may need to look at the working system to see what some of the hardware actually is.

I use all Dells here at work and have done it a jillion times.

[hat]

If I use thier OEM disk I assume I would still need to download drivers?
Do reinstall disks come with all machines? Do the reinstall discs come with the "crapware" already on it?

[DanTheBanjoman]

the only difference is that you may need to go to the Dell web site to get specific drivers

How is that a difference? You have to get specific drivers for basically any hardware.

Basically I'd just make sure you have the drivers for the NIC, as long as you have that you can download the rest. If you don't it'll get annoying.


As for the license sticker, you'd need the right disk, no clue how to tell which is right.I'd guess basically any OEM disk works since it's just another distribution like retail or corporate. Keys are different.

[Steevo]

Some you cannot use any XP disk with. I have had a few machines I had to dig out a OEM disk, or burn a disk.


Dan is correct. Or just use Nlite, or download the drivers and burn them to a disk before you install.

[Kreij]

How is that a difference? You have to get specific drivers for basically any hardware.

I meant that Windows has a harder time identifying Dell devices on many occasions, than it does on standard off-the-shelf hardware.


Basically I'd just make sure you have the drivers for the NIC, as long as you have that you can download the rest. If you don't it'll get annoying.

I usually get the video drivers first also, as it can be a pain trying to download at VGA resolution.


As for the license sticker, you'd need the right disk, no clue how to tell which is right.I'd guess basically any OEM disk works since it's just another distribution like retail or corporate. Keys are different.

The license sticker on the box is irrelevant. If you have a valid Windows key, the OS will load from a retail disk. You can load any number of Dell boxes with a single Dell OEM disk.

@Steevo : Never had that happen. I have loaded Dell's using many different XP disks and it has always worked fine.

[hat]

So can you use a non-OEM disc with the OEM key?

[Kreij]

So can you use a non-OEM disc with the OEM key?

No. Actually I don't think you have to enter a key at all using the OEM disk.

[hat]

You guys have been a great help. I will ask her if she has the reinstall disc.