Can someone advise how to remove & install s/w on a used DELL Inspiron 3200 without internet access?

Question

The laptop has a 3GB hard drive, and 1.8 has been consumed by 11,000 files. The former owner installed Windows XP, however deleted all Microsoft Office programs while leaving several game programs. I was not given any CDs with the laptop. How can I clear all the non essential programs and files off quickly? Should I format the hard drive? If yes, how do I do that without the "key code" for Windows XP that was installed already? Can I use the Windows XP installation CD that came with my DELL desktop? How much of the 3 GB memory should Windows XP use? How much memory will Microsoft Word and Excel require?

Answer 1

if you format your drive you lose everything .Usualy the DVD that comes with your desktop is a restore DVD and might not be recognized by your laptop since they kinda put something in the restore dvd boot sector so it cant be used on another puter .Good luck

Answer 2

You can try removing all the non-essential stuff by removing it in the Add/Remove Programs utility from Control panel (Safe but not really fast). Formating and re-installing the OS would sovle the problem but may take a considerable amout of time as well.

You can get a replacement Key from Microsoft for $10 - sorry I dont have the number to call.

You may wish to use a OS that you have an activation key for i.e. 2000 or 2003.

You can download at considerable virus risk a Keygen, which creates a XP activation key (this is a risky proposition and may not work).

Note: a 3GB HD is a very small HD by todays standards and you will run into space issues in the near future.

Answer 3

Formatting your laptop would be a good way to get rid of everything you dont want/need and start from scratch with a clean install. If you have the keycode for the the WinXP CD that came with your desktop, yes, you can can use it. However, to be honest, I would look into getting a new hard drive. 3gb is nothing these days, and WinXP is likely to use at least half of that.

Answer 4

Make sure there are no legal problems in installing the same copy of "Windows" on two computers (see your licence).
If it's OK, insert the installation CD in it's drive on the laptop, restart it, enter the BIOS setup program, set the CD-ROM as the primary booting device, save the settings and restart the computer.
After the computer booted from the CD, format the hard-drive and start the "Windows" setup program.
If, in the installation process, you are asked to restart the computer, restart it but, before booting, enter the BIOS setup program and set the hard drive as the primary booting device, save the settings and restart the computer.

Answer 5

Ahh, have you ever tried vista? because the service %. a million? or have you ever in basic terms been talked out of it by employing some "knowledgeable" pals? whats up in case you don't like it it really is high quality, yet vista IS a significantly better os than xp, extra sturdy, a lot extra take care of than xp or mac, the infinite assessments have proved that. yet in any case, all you need to do is take the hardchronic out, hook it as a lot as a pc, and reformat the hardchronic in that laptop's operating gadget. this can erase the laptopchronic for sure, then all you'll ought to do is stick the hardchronic again into the laptop, and re deploy xp, there should not be any extra bsod's. yet I strongly encourage you to attempt vista once extra, provide it a weak. vista is in basic terms 2 years previous, xp is arising on 10 YEARS! Use vista for some extra months then get abode windows 7, this way you do not ought to save on setting up your os each and every of the time. desire this facilitates