Hi M7418,

You should be able to use the disc as mentioned in the above link. As far as the drivers are concerned, you can download it from our support site. Here is the link http://dell.to/NAkL1p . You can download and save it on a flash drive. Please ensure that you install all the drivers in the correct order. Please refer to the link on How to Download and Install Drivers in the Correct Order http://dell.to/X1IKGu

Please reply if you have any questions.

If the 25 digit product key on the COA is intact you can also use downloadable retail media and phone activation to Microsoft.

For full instructions see my Windows Reinstallation Guide/A Clean Install of Windows Vista:

http://en.community.dell.com/support-forums/software-os/f/3524/t/19480753.aspx

This guide will instruct you through the full installation process.

Thanks for the replies. I noticed that some Dell Reinstallation DVDs have SP1 on them and some do not mention it. Does anyone know if the Optiplex 740 had SP1 on it when it came out?

SP1 was released February 22, 2011.  Check the dates on your order/system from your Service Tag on support.dell.com.  Dell would NOT have immediately started shipping systems with SP1, but it should give you a rough idea.

Is that release date for Vista Business or Windows 7? I entered my service tag on Dell's website, and it showed a ship date of January 2008.

If you are purchasing a Reinstallation DVD it is best to get one with Service Pack 1 or 2 (ones with SP2 are rare) otherwise you should install the Standalone Service Pack 1 and 2 Updates immediately after installation of Windows Vista. Service Pack 1 is major and Service Pack 2 is minor but you should install both along with Internet Explorer 9 and Microsoft Security Essentials (unless you are using some other anti-virus). This is further explained in Windows Reinstallation Guide. The download links for the Service Packs are here:

Note you may slipstream Service Pack 1 using vlite and burn a new Reinstallation DVD or alternatively make a Reinstallation USB. Again this is further explained in Windows Reinstallation Guide (page 295).

Ha ha ... I assumed Windows 7 (Vista was so long ago :)).

Vista SP1 was released February 4, 2008, so there is no way yours would have shipped with SP1.  Still best to get as high a Service Pack for the install as possible ... it will save you an hour or two of update download/installation.  Any SP disk should work for you.

I would get the Dell Vista Business SP1 disc, but I'm not sure the key on my desktop would work with it since the computer came out before SP1. I'm probably stuck getting the older disc and downloading SP1.

Both discs will work and you will not need to input the key if installed via the Dell BIOS. If the correct Dell BIOS is detected the DVD will input a Dell System locked Reinstallation key and automatically activate.

I have used a Vista Home Basic DVD with Service Pack 1 on a Dell Inspiron 6400 which was shipped before Service Pack 1 and the result was the same.