XP reinstall problems

Question

Ok, some questions: I have a Lattitude D620 with XP Pro on it. I purchased it used from ebay and it didn't come with the restore discs. I needed to re-install the OS. The hard drive should have the windows restore image on it (it's a 60gb hard drive and only showing 55gb, which would be about right for a dell imaged hard drive -- I haven't confirmed that the partition is there though). However, I cannot activate the restore function upon boot up (ctrl +F11 doesn't work). I have the XP key that goes with the system (sticker is still on the bottom). So I thought that I could use another XP pro disc that I had and just use the XP key that belongs to the system. However this did not work, it kept saying the key was invalid. Searching the forums, it sounds like I may have an XP Pro retail disc when I really needed an XP Pro OEM disc. Is this the case?   I'm trying to get the restore discs from Dell, however, I'm working my way through red tape in terms of transfer of ownership to me first, which is proving difficult in trying to track down the correct info to give them (in addition to taking up lots of time).   So main questions: 1) How do I get the Hard Drive Image Restore function to work again (which avoids this whole problem of needing the discs and whatnot)? 2) What type of XP Pro disc is needed (besides the Dell Win XP disc) to work with the windows license that cames with the system?   Thanks   edit to add -- for reference since some people have this problem or their warranty running out, according to the Dell website, this system is still under warranty too... albeit not to me.  Message Edited by cozmic16 on 09-24-2008 12:45 PM

AcromentTech · Answer

Windows XP CDs provided by Dell for reinstalling Windows will only work on Dell computers with Dell/Microsoft OEM software Keys.

That said - you may have an easier time getting a CD from a friend (or perhaps your IT guy) to re-install the OS on your system. Any DELL Windows XP Pro re-install CD will work (Win XP PRO, Win XP PRO W/SP1, Win XP PRO W/SP2).

This is also true for Windows XP Home editions.

RoHe · Answer

I don't think you'd see the full 60 GB even if the (formatted) drive was totally empty, so the fact you see 55 GB may not mean that you have a PC Restore partition. And it might be Dell's diagnostics partition rather than PC Restore partition.

Dell doesn't offer "restore" CDs. Dell's OEM disk only installs XP and nothing else. After installing XP, you'll have to install all the hardware drivers, and any software that Dell may have provided with this system. Be a good idea to download all the right drivers and burn them on a CD before you start the reformat/reinstall.

Ron

cozmic16 · Answer

'Restore CD' might have been the wrong word.  I think you're right though about the partition, I don't think it's there, because even after making sure the MBR was repaired the Ctrl + F11 still didn't work.  Luckily, I think I have a lead on the Dell OEM disk that I need.  I know that it just re-installs the OS, and then you have to get the drivers.  It's what I just did (except that the XP on there is currently unlicensed because it didn't like my key).  I have access to multiple computers so that I can get all the drivers on the fly if need be.  Thanks.

Larry R · Answer

Just doing a quick bit of math, and the 55Gb you are seeing is the correct size. 60,000,000,000 bytes == 55.88Gb.

The problem is the naming system used by the hard drive marketting, where 60 billion bytes is listed as 60 gigabytes, when the computer calculates the numbers differently (1024 bytes per kilobyte, 1024 kb per Mb, 1024 Mb per Gb).

RoHe · Answer

dbtmellis: What you did is not legal and discussing an illegal act on DCF is likely to get your post removed, and perhaps get you banned from further participation in these forums. ;)   Ron

dbtmellis · Answer

AcromentTech,I once did a Windows Xp Reinstall for a friend of mine with my Dell Windows XP Disk (purple label) on a Gateway computer. No problems at all, it still running almost 2 years later.

Windows General

Was this post helpful?