Reformatting a new laptop?

Question

I've just bought a new Dell Vostro 1700 but I see it's coming with Windows Vista. I have a Windows XP CD from my previous computer and would like to use this CD to reformat my new laptop to use Windows XP.

Where do I find out all the drivers I need to download to install onto my new reformatted laptop?

Also, will I lose any unique Dell features if I do this?

Answer 1

If the XP cd came with a previous computer that you bought, it's most likely an OEM version that will have programs specific to the manufactuer of that computer pre-installed, but you shouldn't have a problem installing it. You will be able to find all the drivers on Dell's website under the support section. As long as you install the correct drivers and Dell management software from that section you shouldn't lose any of the functionality.

Answer 2

Well your headache may come with Microsoft and not your Dell features.

You will be required to validate your copy of XP with Microsoft and if you've installed on another computer in "recent" times they will not validate it. You may have to call them to get it validated/approved.

The other issue may be if what you have is an OEM version of XP. Normally they only allow this to be installed on one computer and one only. That means that even if you remove if from the first computer you won't be able to install it on a second computer. Microsoft won't "validate" it, and it will quit working in 30 days.

An additional problem you have is that Vista won't let itself be replaced by XP because it recognizes XP as an "older" version of Windows. To accomplish this you have to remove the Vista boot up files (as a minimum). I personally, only know of one way to do this and my method will require XP to "format" the hard drive when you install it. Formatting will "erase" everything on your hard drive. The good news here is that it will get rid of all the trial and/or "crapware" on your hard drive.

Beyond reinstalling XP, you will have to reinstall all the Dell drivers, and any software that you want on your PC. You should have a disk that came with your pc that's titled Drivers & Utilities.

To purge the boot up files from your hard drive go to http://www.download.com and search for a program called Killdisk. Burn it on to a CD/DVD or a floppy if you have a floppy drive. It is a bootable program.

Put it in the CD drive and reboot the PC. Follow the onscreen prompts to fully "erase" the C drive.

REMEMBER - this will compromise everything on your hard drive and it will be inoperable until after you reinstall your copy of XP.

Let Killdisk run for about 30 minutes. This will let it have time to destroy all or part of the boot up files and the system will no longer boot up Vista. Once 30 minutes have expired, stop and/or cancel the Killdisk program.

Once Killdisk has stopped, put your XP cd in the disk drive and reboot the PC. The XP disk will run the setup files and you will be able to "format" the hard drive. I recommend that you "delete" all existing partitions when the software asks you if you want to delete them. Just select each partition one at a time and select delete.

Once that is done, XP will re-partition the hard drive and it will install XP. This will all take some time so be VERY patient.

Once XP is installed, use your Dell drives/utilities disk and reinstall ALL the drivers on the disk.

Reinstall any/all of your programs.

Reboot the PC.

Hope this helps.

Answer 3

Find the drivers here:

http://support.dell.com/support/downloads/driverslist.aspx?c=us&cs=04&l=en&s=bsd&ServiceTag=&SystemID=VOS_N_1700&os=WLH&osl=en&catid=&impid=

You shouldn't have any problems at all with XP on your laptop. Just make sure and install all the drivers and support software from the link.

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