Clean Install

I have a friends old DELL INSPIRON 1200 Laptop and she doesn't have the Disks that came with it. I have an old XP Home disk that has SP1a. Since there is a product key under the laptop can I use it with this disk?

Thanks in advance

 

i have a Dell Dimension 4700 desktop and needed to do a clean reinstall, but didn't have the disc. i called Dell with the service tag and they sent me XP Home with SP2 for less than $20.00 USD. i inherited my pc from my son and told them so. it wasn't a problem. not sure where the service tag (it's on the side of the tower in a desktop) on the laptop is, but Dell's site can tell you where to find it.

be sure and download all basic/required drivers, plus the exact instructions for doing the clean reinstall AND installing the drivers in the correct order. you need to save the drivers on some type of removable media (flashdrive, re-writable cd, external usb drive). if you search with the service tag, it will tell you exactly what was installed on the laptop when it was shipped.

you will lose any "trial" software but you can compensate with great alternatives. for example, free OpenOffice (openoffice.org) for any Microsoft products; free Foxit pdf reader (foxitsoftware.com) for Adobe (actually recommend Foxit because it's only 3mb; Adobe is over 200mb).

once you're back online you can get all the rest of the most current drivers you need and any other updates/programs. if you need more help, or more specific help, post back with your questions.

 

If it is a Microsoft OEM disc (not retail, not from a PC manufacturer), you can. Since MS no longer activates OEM licenses online you will need to phone it in. If not, go with cake's advice.

 

On the disc it says, 'for distribution with a new PC only'. So I guess it is OEM disc.

 

my original key is taped to the side of my tower and they specifically told me not to use it with the install cd they sent me; they said it didn't need one. i'm thinking it was embedded.

even if you have the OEM, you can still call and get a Windows XP Home install cd. the original cd was only sort of available (buried somewhere in my son's storage unit) so i just told them i didn't have it any more (was lost, which was basically true).

you will need the name & address of the original purchaser (mine was easy; it was me because i'd purchased the pc as a Christmas present for him). if your friend was the purchaser, use that info (you won't need any sort of password) and let them know she got a new one & you inherited hers. they'll take your name & address to send the install cd to.

this is exactly what i did, so i know it works. or have your friend call if you're worried about anything like a former address she may have forgotten about. she'll remember if asked.