dell lattitude D410 - no disk drive to load software

Discussion in 'Hardware' started by 5string, Apr 27, 2011.

  1. 5string

    5string Private E-2

    subject laptop was bought used yesterday. i didn't realize when i was looking at it (before purchase) that it didn't have a cd/dvd drive. i now find myself asking the question, what if it crashes and i have to reinstall windows (7). i'm guessing i could download win 7 from dell or microsoft. would i be charged for this download ? ?
    any help app
    5string
    ps this might not be the right forum to post on, but the post didn't really seem to fit any of the others
     
    5string, Apr 27, 2011
    #1
  2. Phantom

    Phantom Brigadier Britches

    Yeah, 'prolly better of in the hardware forum.
    Looks like you will be looking at purchasing some form of external DVD drive for your laptop, as they are pretty much essential nowadays.
     
    Phantom, Apr 27, 2011
    #2
  3. DavidGP

    DavidGP MajorGeeks Forum Administrator - Grand Pooh-Bah Staff Member

    Moved to Hardware forum

    Hi

    When you are mentioning Disk Drive do you mean the actual hardware disk drive a CD/DVD goes into or as you mention a download from Microsoft is it the actual Windows DVD you want?

    If your Dell D410 is the default machine then it comes with a CD ROM drive but not by default a DVD drive and to re-install Windows 7 you'd need a DVD drive, however DELLs come with a backup recovery partition, so have a read of your manual to check on this as this recovery partition will be the route you can get the machine back to factory install.

    If you can give us your service tag number we can check what actually came with that machine.
     
    Last edited: Apr 27, 2011
    DavidGP, Apr 27, 2011
    #3
  4. plodr

    plodr MajorGeek Super Extraordinaire Moderator Staff Member

    I've never ordered from this site so before you buy anything, ask or google the name and see if it is a good site or a poor one.
    Code:
    http://recovery-disks.com/dell/latitude/dell-latitude-d410.html
    These are the disks for your Latitude D410 to restore to factory settings.
     
    plodr, Apr 27, 2011
    #4
  5. 5string

    5string Private E-2

    thanks 4 the website, plodr - i'll check it out
    i probably didn't make myself clear (i'm good at that) so i'll start from square 1

    this dell latitude D410 that i just bought has no cd/dvd drive (it does have some sort of docking port). my question is: how would i load (reinstall) software? if i had to reinstall the win 7 OS, could i download it from dell or microsoft - would the download be free are cost $$ ?

    as far as the service tag no - it doesn't appear on the bottom of the case.
    i've been to the dell website, they've scanned the laptop and arent able to come up with a S Tag no. shouldn't this service tag no be in the software, maybe system information or something like that ?

    THANKS ALL
    5string
     
    5string, Apr 27, 2011
    #5
  6. plodr

    plodr MajorGeek Super Extraordinaire Moderator Staff Member

    Sorry, I've never owned a laptop with a docking port. On my eeepc, with no optical drive, I attach an external DVD drive and can re-install linux from that.
    If your BIOS has the ability to boot from a USB drive, then an external DVD drive would work. Windows 7 comes on a DVD, whole all previous versions of windows came on CDs. So to re-install Windows 7, you'd need at least a DVD drive.

    Microsoft NEVER has any version of windows available for download. Since the OS is the property of Microsoft, Dell would not offer it for download either.

    I see this computer was new in 2005. You might not want a restore disk because it did not come with Windows 7. You'd be restoring to Windows XP Pro.

    No, the service tag is pasted on the side of my towers and I suspect on a laptop it would have been pasted on the bottom.
     
    plodr, Apr 28, 2011
    #6
  7. Puppywunder58

    Puppywunder58 Master Sergeant

    Or, it could be in the BIOS if the OP can access that.
     
    Puppywunder58, Apr 28, 2011
    #7
  8. plodr

    plodr MajorGeek Super Extraordinaire Moderator Staff Member

    I'd have thought a Dell scan of the computer would have turned up the tag if it were located in the BIOS.
     
    plodr, Apr 28, 2011
    #8
  9. sach2

    sach2 Major Geek Extraordinaire

    I believe SIW will give you your Service Tag number in the left pane under Hardware>System Summary then in the right pane the Serial Number should be your Dell Service Tag number.
     
    sach2, Apr 28, 2011
    #9

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