For just installing XP, your guide is fine, but it's not much on the "befores and afters" - especially your drivers.
Link to Dell's guide below, which is more specific on a few things: 1) If your PC is newer than mid-2004, the PC Restore feature is an easier alternative to reformatting from disk, 2) what you need to have ready ahead of time, and 3) what order to do things after installing XP (especially installing drivers - the order is important):
Also, if you have any applications that require a product key to reinstall or reactivate (Microsoft Office, some security software, etc.), make sure you have all the keys you need before you start.
My computer came with a drivers CD. I still have it. Or, at least, I think it's what I have. The CD is labeled DRIVERS AND UTILITIES. Drivers, Diagnostics and utilities, Online Documentation, and Modem on Hold are the four bullets under the Contents of the CD. Because I have this (if this is indeed the drivers CD), does that mean it contains all the drivers I need, and that I don't have to download any?
The 'Drivers & Utilities' CD certainly contains all the drivers you need to get up and running again.
But it's best to use the latest drivers available on the Dell website.
As advised above... you might want to download them, and copy them to an external source - i.e. a pendrive or CD/DVD, so you have them handy, when you eventually reformat the hard drive/install the OS.
I prefer using a pendrive myself, because it's quick and easy to delete the old ones/update the drivers, as/when newer drivers become available (which isn't very often, granted!).
But you could do the same with a re-writeable CD/DVD disc of course.
It would be an idea to make a note of the installation order too, so you can refer to it if needs be?
Create a new text document (call it (i.e.) 'Driver Installation Order')... copy/paste the installation order into it, save it, then copy it to the 'Drivers' CD/DVD, or folder on the pendrive as well.
You should also download/copy over XP SP3 as well - unless your XP disc already includes it?
All that assumes you don't have a 'Restore' partition?
If you don't... you might want to consider downloading the main programs you use as well... particularly whatever anti virus software you use :emotion-55:
Alexandra_P
3 Apprentice
•
2.6K Posts
0
January 17th, 2009 17:00
For just installing XP, your guide is fine, but it's not much on the "befores and afters" - especially your drivers.
Link to Dell's guide below, which is more specific on a few things: 1) If your PC is newer than mid-2004, the PC Restore feature is an easier alternative to reformatting from disk, 2) what you need to have ready ahead of time, and 3) what order to do things after installing XP (especially installing drivers - the order is important):
http://support.dell.com/support/topics/global.aspx/support/dsn/en/document?c=us&dl=false&l=en&s=gen&docid=45FAC9DF3456B193E040A68F5A285493&doclang=en&cs
Also, if you have any applications that require a product key to reinstall or reactivate (Microsoft Office, some security software, etc.), make sure you have all the keys you need before you start.
ElizabethRoss
6 Posts
0
January 17th, 2009 18:00
My computer came with a drivers CD. I still have it. Or, at least, I think it's what I have. The CD is labeled DRIVERS AND UTILITIES. Drivers, Diagnostics and utilities, Online Documentation, and Modem on Hold are the four bullets under the Contents of the CD. Because I have this (if this is indeed the drivers CD), does that mean it contains all the drivers I need, and that I don't have to download any?
TheRealFireblad
3 Apprentice
•
4.6K Posts
0
January 18th, 2009 08:00
The 'Drivers & Utilities' CD certainly contains all the drivers you need to get up and running again.
But it's best to use the latest drivers available on the Dell website.
As advised above... you might want to download them, and copy them to an external source - i.e. a pendrive or CD/DVD, so you have them handy, when you eventually reformat the hard drive/install the OS.
I prefer using a pendrive myself, because it's quick and easy to delete the old ones/update the drivers, as/when newer drivers become available (which isn't very often, granted!).
But you could do the same with a re-writeable CD/DVD disc of course.
It would be an idea to make a note of the installation order too, so you can refer to it if needs be?
Create a new text document (call it (i.e.) 'Driver Installation Order')... copy/paste the installation order into it, save it, then copy it to the 'Drivers' CD/DVD, or folder on the pendrive as well.
You should also download/copy over XP SP3 as well - unless your XP disc already includes it?
All that assumes you don't have a 'Restore' partition?
If you don't... you might want to consider downloading the main programs you use as well... particularly whatever anti virus software you use :emotion-55:
ElizabethRoss
6 Posts
0
January 18th, 2009 12:00
Alright. Well, thank you for all of your help. It's much appreciated. And I guess I'll go get started...