Clean Install of XP

Question

Is it possible to do a clean install of XP using the OS cd provided by Dell (currently being mailed to me)? Also, does this cd support drive partitioning like a regular version provided by M$? I have downloaded all the drivers and utilities for the hardware, but I'm wondering if I'll need to install those for the BIOS and chipset? Does the DELL CD include the bundled software (this is what i'm trying to avoid by doing the clean install)? Lastly, does the Dell provided CD support drive partioning?   I ask because I have my own Windows XP Pro CD that I purchased to upgrade my desktop computer, but I'd like to use the Dell provided CD for this clean install in order to retain the changes that Dell made, for example the provided support information stored on the C: drive, support information tab provided under 'General' tab in System properties of the control panel, etc. Plus the Dell CD includes SP2 while mine is the original release (i'd have to download and install SP1, SP2, and all updates in between).   Thank you in advance to anyone who can answer my questions.

mydith · Answer

If you want to do a clean reinstall of your OS and then you want to have all the applications pre-installed by Dell, you basically need the Dell Application CD which I think Dell would ship out if you have an active Service Contract.

MDTerp429 · Answer

Thanks for your reply.

Basically, I just want the Dell Support (which i already downloaded), QuickSet (already downloaded), and also any unique changes to the OS provided by DELL. For example, when I right click "My Computer" and select properties, instead of seeing the WinXP logo in the bottom left corner, I see "DELL" and there is a tab that I can click for support information specific to my DELL laptop. I want to go the route that will provide these features in the install, but but not any of the bundled software (AOL, Earthlink, Wordperfect, Jasc Photo Shop, Norton, etc). I'm just not sure if these features are specific to the DELL OS CD or if they will be implemented when I install the Dell Support Tool...

I think I'll just make the backup CD using the backup utility, do a clean install, and see what happens. If I can't seem to finagle what I want, then I can always go back to factory settings...

rickmktg · Answer

@MDTerp429 wrote:

Thanks for your reply. I have searched the forums, I guess I just didn't quite find the answer to my question, thus I posted here. In any event, I believe you have answered my basic question, that the OS CD will be tied to the BIOS. I already downloaded the Dell Support and QuickSet tools, and the dell media experience is being shipped to me. I believe I am all set to do what I intend.

Thanks to everyone for the support.

I don't know what the OS being tied to the bios has to do with your question, but ok...

rickmktg · Answer

@MDTerp429 wrote:

Is it possible to do a clean install of XP using the OS cd provided by Dell (currently being mailed to me)? Also, does this cd support drive partitioning like a regular version provided by M$? I have downloaded all the drivers and utilities for the hardware, but I'm wondering if I'll need to install those for the BIOS and chipset? Does the DELL CD include the bundled software (this is what i'm trying to avoid by doing the clean install)? Lastly, does the Dell provided CD support drive partioning?

I ask because I have my own Windows XP Pro CD that I purchased to upgrade my desktop computer, but I'd like to use the Dell provided CD for this clean install in order to retain the changes that Dell made, for example the provided support information stored on the C: drive, support information tab provided under "General" tab in System properties of the control panel, etc. Plus the Dell CD includes SP2 while mine is the original release (i'd have to download and install SP1, SP2, and all updates in between).

Thank you in advance to anyone who can answer my questions.

Using the Advanced Forum Search on the bottom of this page, you can quite easily find the answer to this often asked question.

The Dell CD, as stated hundreds of times on these forums, is just like a retail XP CD except that it's tied to the Dell bios. It contains no drivers or software that you are looking for, and it functions just like a retail CD with full ability to partition during a CLEAN install. You will "retain" nothing during a CLEAN install, and will have to install all your programs and data.

Systems shipped after June 15, 2004 came with Symantec PC Restore. This utility restores the computer to an "as-shipped" condition. If you haven't reformatted, repartitioned, or otherwise modified the master boot record, it should work. Click here for instructions about Symantec PC Restore.

If the Symantec PC Restore utility won't work, but still resides on your computer, a Dell customer has figured out some ways to get it to work again. Note - If you removed this partition, it is not recoverable, cannot be downloaded from the internet, and cannot be shipped from Dell. Click here for ways to fix Symantec PC Restore. Users have also reported that the partition can be restored with Ghost 2003, and Ghost 9 using the '03 capabilities of it. If you boot to the Ghost 9 CD, select Advanced Recovery Taks, select Utilities, then Restore Legacy IMage it should work - but you want to verify the image before attempting the restore. It's in a folder called IMG.

Systems that shipped beginning in early 2005 may ship without Windows XP. There SHOULD be (but sometimes isn't) a utility on your computer to run and create the Windows XP CD. This is a RUN ONCE utility. Click here for instructions to create your Windows XP CD. Some users have reported needing to reboot a few times to get this utility to show up on the menu. You can also call Dell and request a CD and wait for it to ship.

Should you wish to create an Pro CD containing SP2, simply create a slipstreamed disk via the instructions on the Windows Service Pack forum and all over the internet.

rickmktg · Answer

@MDTerp429 wrote:

Thanks for your reply.

Basically, I just want the Dell Support (which i already downloaded), QuickSet (already downloaded), and also any unique changes to the OS provided by DELL. For example, when I right click "My Computer" and select properties, instead of seeing the WinXP logo in the bottom left corner, I see "DELL" and there is a tab that I can click for support information specific to my DELL laptop. I want to go the route that will provide these features in the install, but but not any of the bundled software (AOL, Earthlink, Wordperfect, Jasc Photo Shop, Norton, etc). I'm just not sure if these features are specific to the DELL OS CD or if they will be implemented when I install the Dell Support Tool...

I think I'll just make the backup CD using the backup utility, do a clean install, and see what happens. If I can't seem to finagle what I want, then I can always go back to factory settings...

Once you try to install Pro or Home, the Symantec PC Restore is disabled, so you cannot go back to factory settings.

MDTerp429 · Answer

Thanks for your reply. I have searched the forums, I guess I just didn't quite find the answer to my question, thus I posted here. In any event, I believe you have answered my basic question, that the OS CD will be tied to the BIOS. I already downloaded the Dell Support and QuickSet tools, and the dell media experience is being shipped to me. I believe I am all set to do what I intend.

Thanks to everyone for the support.

MDTerp429 · Answer

Well, basically. I know how to do a clean install of an OS. I know what XP looks like using an M$ purchased version. However, this being my first DELL machine, I notice some subtle differences. For example, when I look at the "General" information provided in Control Panel -> System, I see DELL in the lower right hand corner (instead of the XP logo) and a button that allows me to click for Support Information. I want to clean install XP. I have downloaded all drivers from the website in case I need them. I just wasn't sure if the capabilities, such as that described with the Support button (and any other DELL unique features I haven't encountered yet) were something that I would get solely by using an OS CD created using the disc creation utility (or a disc mailed from DELL), or if the support features were something that would be added when I install the Dell Support Tool. I suppose I should have asked that question right out, but my brain was telling me that it was part of the OS, not the DELL support tool. My brain tells me that the DELL Support Tool is the little "E" i see in my sytem tray that allows for among other things, updating drivers the same way I went and downloaded them from web.

Further, i downloaded the BIOS upgrade (in case I needed it). In the event of installing XP from my XP Pro CD, i wasn't sure exactly how the OS being (or not being) tied to the BIOS would affect things.

Perhaps this was a case of not asking the right question. You are right, the question i asked about being able to partition, etc, has been answered multiple times. I did indeed read about the utility to create the XP cd, and I did initiate a search. However, I did not click "Advanced", so perhaps this why i never found these posts. Plus, you are right, I did misunderstand what the XP disc creation utility was making (not image of drive allowing me to return to factory settings).

What I wanted to know was more along the lines of how do I get, among other things, the contents provided in C:\dell in on my system after clean installing XP so that I can easily find the information specific to my 9300 for support information. I wasn't sure if that came as part of the OS (ie needing to use the DELL XP disc) or it it was there from installing DELL Support Tool. Further, I wasn't sure if using my XP Pro disc would enable the QuickSet program to work, since the OS would not be tied to the BIOS. My understanding is if, for example, I wanted the power button to do something other then power down the laptop, i would need to edit the BIOS. Now, QuickSet I presume provides the interface to control this from windows, rather then having to go into the BIOS. That is just an example, but my point is that I wasn't sure if such a feature would work if I had XP Pro version not tied to the BIOS.

Pardon my long post, just an attempt to explain myself and clarify my original question. I should have asked it properly in the first place, but I was trying to be concise.

Message Edited by MDTerp429 on 06-13-2005 11:28 AM

Message Edited by MDTerp429 on 06-13-2005 11:33 AM

MDTerp429 · Answer

Excellent. As said on G.I. Joe, 'knowing is half the battle.' Thanks for your time and patience.

rickmktg · Answer

@MDTerp429 wrote:

Well, basically. I know how to do a clean install of an OS. I know what XP looks like using an M$ purchased version. However, this being my first DELL machine, I notice some subtle differences. For example, when I look at the "General" information provided in Control Panel -> System, I see DELL in the lower right hand corner (instead of the XP logo) and a button that allows me to click for Support Information. I want to clean install XP. I have downloaded all drivers from the website in case I need them. I just wasn't sure if the capabilities, such as that described with the Support button (and any other DELL unique features I haven't encountered yet) were something that I would get solely by using an OS CD created using the disc creation utility (or a disc mailed from DELL), or if the support features were something that would be added when I install the Dell Support Tool. I suppose I should have asked that question right out, but my brain was telling me that it was part of the OS, not the DELL support tool. My brain tells me that the DELL Support Tool is the little "E" i see in my sytem tray that allows for among other things, updating drivers the same way I went and downloaded them from web.

Further, i downloaded the BIOS upgrade (in case I needed it). In the event of installing XP from my XP Pro CD, i wasn't sure exactly how the OS being (or not being) tied to the BIOS would affect things.

Perhaps this was a case of not asking the right question. You are right, the question i asked about being able to partition, etc, has been answered multiple times. I did indeed read about the utility to create the XP cd, and I did initiate a search. However, I did not click "Advanced", so perhaps this why i never found these posts. Plus, you are right, I did misunderstand what the XP disc creation utility was making (not image of drive allowing me to return to factory settings).

What I wanted to know was more along the lines of how do I get, among other things, the contents provided in C:\dell in on my system after clean installing XP so that I can easily find the information specific to my 9300 for support information. I wasn't sure if that came as part of the OS (ie needing to use the DELL XP disc) or it it was there from installing DELL Support Tool. Further, I wasn't sure if using my XP Pro disc would enable the QuickSet program to work, since the OS would not be tied to the BIOS. My understanding is if, for example, I wanted the power button to do something other then power down the laptop, i would need to edit the BIOS. Now, QuickSet I presume provides the interface to control this from windows, rather then having to go into the BIOS. That is just an example, but my point is that I wasn't sure if such a feature would work if I had XP Pro version not tied to the BIOS.

Pardon my long post, just an attempt to explain myself and clarify my original question. I should have asked it properly in the first place, but I was trying to be concise.

The bios tying ensures you cannot install the OS on a non-Dell computer, nothing more, nothing less.

The OS doesn't include any non-MS features that you are looking for, but you've identified where to get them from.

The downloads you've identified don't care whether you have Dell Home OEM or Dell Pro retail. No difference.

Hope that helps.

bill77056 · Answer

>>Should you wish to create an Pro CD containing SP2, simply ...<<

This thread probably addresses my concern. And I appreciate rickmktg's good advice.

AS I understand, Dell will not provide an OS CD (win xp pro sp2) for my 700m.

But, the OS CD made per Document FA 1091713 will give me a basic non-upgraded win xp pro OS that can be used to rebuid a new HD in the 700m as long as the BIOS remains Dell. Then the win xp service pack2 CD MS provided some months ago can be used to bring the OS to an updated level around mid-2004. And, hopefully, this OS can be further upgraded, if upgrades have been issued, from the MS site.

Is my understanding correct?

>>simply create a slipstream disk<<

I have the Windows XP Service Pack2 CD.

So, do I need to create the slipstream disk? What is a "slipstream disk" anyway?

Thanks...Bill

rickmktg · Answer

@bill77056 wrote:
>>Should you wish to create an Pro CD containing SP2, simply ...<<

This thread probably addresses my concern. And I appreciate rickmktg's good advice.

AS I understand, Dell will not provide an OS CD (win xp pro sp2) for my 700m.

But, the OS CD made per Document FA 1091713 will give me a basic non-upgraded win xp pro OS that can be used to rebuid a new HD in the 700m as long as the BIOS remains Dell. Then the win xp service pack2 CD MS provided some months ago can be used to bring the OS to an updated level around mid-2004. And, hopefully, this OS can be further upgraded, if upgrades have been issued, from the MS site.

Is my understanding correct?

>>simply create a slipstream disk<<

I have the Windows XP Service Pack2 CD.

So, do I need to create the slipstream disk? What is a "slipstream disk" anyway?

Thanks...Bill

The utility on your machine will make you an OS CD that is current from when your CD was shipped. Since the utility didn't exist before January, EVERY CD it makes will be Windows updated to SP2 or higher (i.e. more updates applied). It will match what is installed on your computer.

A slipstream disk combines an older version of software (i.e. Windows pre-SP2) with an update (i.e. the MS SP2 cd) to create a Windows disk that is updated through SP2.

Yes, you can then update your computer via the Windows Update site to make it current to today.

-Friendlyname- · Answer

In addition to Rick's good advice, you can save the Dell desktop background screen bitmark to a CD before yu do the clean install. You can then download this image from your CD into the background files stored on your desktop screen and video management, found by right clicking on the desktop. I know I wanted my Dell background back after a clean reinstall.

Good luck,

Jane

Windows General

Clean Install of XP

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