You need to follow the procedure for a clean reinstallation of Windows XP. To find the reinstall guide, downloads and other information for your system, hover your mouse cursor over the Product Support button (upper left of this page), and select Reinstall Guide (or Downloads or whatever). Then enter your service tag number and operating system, and you'll find all the information you need.
I've noticed my PC's performace is slowing, so I wanted to wipe the HD and do a clean install, however... When I try to use the restoration disk supplied by Dell, I get an error that says I have a newer version of Windows installed, and it refuses to let me do anything to the drive. I'm currently using XP Pro, upgraded to SP2, and the restoration disk version is SP1a. My PC is a Dimension 4600. Any suggestions?
Thanks in advance for taking the time to read this thread and respond.
I suspect you are not booting to the Windows XP disc and using the FDISK utility to delete the current partition. You should follow this
Windows XP Reinstall Guide carefully. Make sure you follow the prompts for a clean installation, not a repair.
I took a look at the reinstall guide. It says to reset your settings to factory defaults by using Symantec/Dell System Restore for PCs shipped after 7-15-04, however mine was shipped before then, and apparently, there weren't any other instructions for how to accomplish this. Would you recommend that I just uninstall the service pack and try again to wipe the drive?
Prior to installing, remember to disconnect all external peripherals from the computer, except the keyboard, monitor and mouse.
While installing,
delete all existing partitions (Paragraph 5) when you are prompted, then remake and format them (Paragraphs 6 & 7), following by installing XP.
You will have to reload the drivers and applications, etc, that should be on the CDs sent with the computer, starting with the chipset driver.
After the installation, you will need to download and install the MicroSoft Critical Updates, plus any other updates you deem necessary, also remember to enable the firewall and install the AV software before going online.
Printing a copy of these instructions, as a reference while installing XP could also be a help.
Thanks, everyone, for your input, but I think I need to clarify. I know how to do this with full version Windows, however, Dell supplied me only with a restoration disk. I'm not trying to 'repair', because I don't have the option... I've attempted to follow the steps in the Dell Product Support section... I've confirmed that the CD-ROM drive is first in the boot sequence and is fully operational. I have the restoration disk in the drive on start up, yet it is still booting to the HD. Could there be a malfunction with the disk? I'd never even opened it until today.
The disc you have is a full Windows XP disc, not a "restore" disc such as those provided by HP and Gateway. Use the links in Bev's and my post above and you should have no trouble.
osprey4
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April 12th, 2005 15:00
okwhatever:
You need to follow the procedure for a clean reinstallation of Windows XP. To find the reinstall guide, downloads and other information for your system, hover your mouse cursor over the Product Support button (upper left of this page), and select Reinstall Guide (or Downloads or whatever). Then enter your service tag number and operating system, and you'll find all the information you need.
B4runo
1.1K Posts
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April 12th, 2005 15:00
okwhatever:
You should consider re-posting your software issue at the Software - Windows XP forum, http://forums.us.dell.com/supportforums/board?board.id=sw_winxp .
Good luck,
B4runo
osprey4
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April 12th, 2005 17:00
okwhatever
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April 12th, 2005 17:00
Thanks, Osprey...
I took a look at the reinstall guide. It says to reset your settings to factory defaults by using Symantec/Dell System Restore for PCs shipped after 7-15-04, however mine was shipped before then, and apparently, there weren't any other instructions for how to accomplish this. Would you recommend that I just uninstall the service pack and try again to wipe the drive?
shesagordie
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April 12th, 2005 19:00
First, you make the CD/ROM/DVD the first boot device. Procedures for configuring a Dimension series system to boot to the CD/DVD drive.
http://support.dell.com/support/topics/global.aspx/support/kb/en/document?dn=TT1032262
After this you can use the following instructions.
http://www.winsupersite.com/showcase/windowsxp_sg_clean.asp
To find the Dell reinstall guide, that's specific to your system, go here
While installing, delete all existing partitions (Paragraph 5) when you are prompted, then remake and format
them (Paragraphs 6 & 7), following by installing XP.
You will have to reload the drivers and applications, etc, that should be on the CDs sent with the computer, starting with the chipset driver.
After the installation, you will need to download and install the MicroSoft Critical Updates, plus any other updates you deem necessary, also remember to enable the firewall and install the AV software before going online.
Printing a copy of these instructions, as a reference while installing XP could also be a help.
Bev.
okwhatever
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April 12th, 2005 22:00
osprey4
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34.2K Posts
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April 12th, 2005 23:00