I would restore to the dell factory image, that way you don't have to worry about installing any programs/drivers.

Thanks mate! Do you know how can I get the step by step instructions about  this?

Sorry for the late reply, this link should work for you if you still need it.

 

http://support.dell.com/support/topics/global.aspx/support/dsn/en/document?journalid=6CE6F5AE896111DB935579E80FC7F26D&docid=DC47E7957E35BBC0E030A68F27280D16

yeah thanks! but it seems that i cant get it to work. is there a technique when pressing f8 during start up? i did this so many times but it doesnt work. even the pc restore which you will press i cant get it work as well. maybe there is a technique to initialize this

Try pressing F2 or F12 on the intial dell loading screen when the computer starts up and see if you can even get those to be recognized.

yeah its working on and but f8 or ctrl+f11 doesnt.

Well if ctrl+f11 isn't working but f12 is you'll probably have to reload windows from the cd. But, let me ask you this. After the initial dell logo screen is there another screen that is blank except for a blue bar across the top with www.dell.com in it? If so, the ability to use the pc restore is still there. Try holding down ctrl as soon as the computer turns on and tap on F11 continuously while it boots up, most importantly on that screen that I described.

 

If not, here's the long way to do it...

 

Start your computer and press F12 on the logo screen. Put in your windows disc. Press enter when you have "onboard or usb cd-rom drive". Then it will say press any key to boot from cd.... quickly press a key there, you only have a second or two. Then you will see a blue screen with a grey bar across the bottom that says setup is loading files....

 

From this point, here's a walkthrough that should help with some good screenshots. http://www.petri.co.il/install_windows_xp_pro.htm

 

If you have any questions about that please let me know.

I Have an XPS M1210 with Vista Home Premium pre installed at the factory. It will work only if the hidden partition still exist, if you did any reformating or partitioning before, this procedure will not work.

1. Restart you computer

2. Press F8 a few times at the Dell logo to access "Windows Advanced Boot Option

3. From Windows Advanced Boot Options

4. Select the option "Repair My Computer" . You will get a screen that says

5. "System Recovery Options" which will list all the User Accounts.

6. Once you click on the User Account you will get a

7. "Windows Recovery Environment" which will list the following options,

8. "System Repair, System Restore, Windows Complete PC Restore, Windows Memory Diag tool  

    Command Prompt Dell Factory Image Restore"

9. Select" Dell Factory Image Restore"

    from the list of option, then follow the on screen prompts.

 

Depending is the size of your hard drive, times will vary, mines is a 160 GIG and it took about 29 minutes.

DO NOT TURN OFF YOUR MACHINE WHILE THIS IS BEING DONE.

Remember, the drive has to have to original hidden partition, otherwise, it won't work.

No Guarantee, But it work on mines, do this at your own risk.