Refurbished D610 w/o O/S

Question

I just won a bid for a refurbished D610 Latitude on the DellAuction site, for a very attractive price; knowing that it does NOT have an operating system.  I plan to install Win XP Pro. (I've built MANY desktops before; so I have experience in installing initial O/S on a computer.) My question is: Is there any reason why I need to buy the FULL XP Pro product from Dell?  Or can I install XP Pro OEM ?(which I could get from Newegg, for example.)  I understand the restrictions with OEM (e.g., can never be transported to another machine; no tech support from MrSofty, etc.)   I just hate laying out $300 to Dell (or $280 to someone else) for the full/supported version.  (You'd think Dell would give me a deal, since I'm helping them reduce their inventory of lease-turn-ins.) Also, are there any pecularities to the Latitude architecture that would make the installation difficult/impossible; or cause operation problems (e.g., instability) if I did get OEM installed?  (My experience says 'No'; but then I've never messed with Dell laptop software before; and I know how proprietary companies can be!) Thanks!

Rebel9 · Answer

There is no reason why you can't use an OEM version. BUT, make sure that you download all of the available drivers for your computer and install them in this order.

mombodog · Answer

OEM from Newegg is fine.   Drivers for the D610 http://support.dell.com/support/downloads/driverslist.aspx?c=us&l=en&s=gen&ServiceTag=&SystemID=LAT_PNT_PM_D610&os=WW1&osl=en&catid=&impid=   Your Doc's http://support.dell.com/support/edocs/systems/latd610/en/index.htm   There should be no issues installing OEM XP on that model, if you run into any, post back.

gmstick · Answer

Thanks, Rebel9 and Mombodog, for the advice and the links!  Yea, I was concerned that Dell might have some kind of proprietary barrier (ever try to buy ink for some of their printers? -- you HAVE to buy it from Dell); but based on your experience, I should be OK.  (Forum's are awesome!) Best regards, gmstick

gmstick · Answer

Just a quick followup: I bought OEM from Newegg (delivered in ONE day -- Newegg ROCKS); and loaded without a hitch.

(Still negotiating with Dell Fin. Svcs, however, about the missing modem card.)

Anyone know which wifi card goes in this machine (D-610)? I've read there are two choices; one being an Intel Pro-something. Any good sources (besides Ebay?) (I will also look under Laptops/General Hardware)

Thanks!

mombodog · Answer

You can choose any wifi card you wish.

GreyMack · Answer

The miniPCI slot in a notebook is fairly standard for internal wifi, so the options are endless, but Dell would have installed whichever cards have corresponding drivers listed for download, which may indicate there were originally several different options for internal wifi.

You can check the original hardware configuration here.

http://support.dell.com/support/topics/global.aspx/support/my_systems_info/details?~ck=ln&~tab=2&c=us&l=en&lnki=0&s=gen

GM

Windows General

Refurbished D610 w/o O/S

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