Can I wipe clean WinXP without the installation disk?

[KLC]

A cousin gave my sons an old laptop:

Dell Inspiron 2650
WinXP Home, SP2
Pentium 4M 1.7 ghz
512 mb ram

I'm pretty familiar with computers and I can't figure out half of what is going on with this machine. When you click on Start and select show all programs nothing, nothing happens. The computer doesn't freeze, it just doesn't show anything. Yet using Explorer you can see dozens of apps in the program files.

The software add/remove app in control panel shows only a handful of programs, far fewer than you can see in windows explorer. And some which are listed don't show up in Win Explorer program files. I can't uninstall any of them, they say I need the original disks.

Booting up gives several error messages from an old AV program about missing dll files, the AV is one of the programs I can't delete without the program disk.

Shutting down gives me several error messages that don't relate to any programs.

If I had the XP install disk I'd do a clean install and be on my way, but none of the original disks are available.

So, is there a cheap way to clean up XP without the installation disk? I just want to clean it up and then put on MS Office student edition and enable its Linksys wireless G card for our home network so my sons can use it for school and other things around the house. Installing an open source OS is not an option right now, we just want a clean XP system to run Word, Powerpoint and Internet Explorer.

Thanks for any help.

 

[masteryoda34]

You can probably order recovery discs from Dell. Not the best option but I'm not sure what else you would do if you don't have any XP discs.

 

[RebateMonger]

On many Dells, hitting Ctrl-F11 repeatedly during the power-on cycle will take you to the Dell System Restore partition, which has a program to wipe the PC and return it to the original facotry software installation.

But you should also call Dell and ask them to send you the Install and Driver CDs for that model. Often they'll do that for free and it only takes a couple of days.

 

[Blazer]

the HD manufacture provides a downloadable utilitly to run an extended test or to wipe clean the HD, the sys drivers should be downloaded as well, then use a xp home oem disk to reload.

 

[KLC]

Thanks everyone. I'll see if Dell can send me the disks and I'll try Crtl-F11.

Blazer, I'm trying to avoid spending money on this laptop, like buying a new copy of XP to install on it. With some of the current prices out there for new laptops I think spending much of anything on this machine is a waste of money. I do have an OEM copy of Vista Home, but I don't think it would run very well on it, would it?

 

[RebateMonger]

Put XP back on it. The processor is a bit too slow for Vista and the memory is too low. You'll be happier with XP.

 

[Blazer]

i did not suggest to buy xp but if the laptop has a product key sticker on it [which it should] you could borrow an xp cd to reload the laptop.

BUT: as stated you need to download the HD utility and run an extended test on the hard drive before attempting to reload the operating system.

afterwards IF the hd test passes and you decide to reload the os, have all the needed drivers downloaded for installation.

 

[KLC]

Ctrl-F11 doesn't work, it boots up normally. I've contacted Dell about new disks, they replied within 24 hrs. I've got to get the original purchase data from the cousin and then I can get the disks.

 

[RebateMonger]

Dell is usually pretty good about disks. As Blazer notes, it wouldn't hurt to run full memory and hard drive diagnostics on the PC before spending time installing software.

 

[Blazer]

Originally posted by: KLC
Ctrl-F11 doesn't work, it boots up normally. I've contacted Dell about new disks, they replied within 24 hrs. I've got to get the original purchase data from the cousin and then I can get the disks.

dell may not have disk available for a system older than 2-3 years.

the driver's & utilities for the system will be available for download though, the system should have a service tag # that will lead you to the correct downloads at dells site.

 

[dawp]

Originally posted by: blazer
i did not suggest to buy xp but if the laptop has a product key sticker on it [which it should] you could borrow an xp cd to reload the laptop.

BUT: as stated you need to download the HD utility and run an extended test on the hard drive before attempting to reload the operating system.

afterwards IF the hd test passes and you decide to reload the os, have all the needed drivers downloaded for installation.

If you can get a hold a a windows cd, there should be a license tag on the bottom, you should be able to install with that. I did this on a HP desktop that didn't have the disks. worked like a charm. And like stated earlier, if you know the HDD vendor, go to the website, download the utility and test the drive.


edit:

OR you could just get a linux distro and play with it on the laptop.

 

[hans030390]

As mentioned above, if the laptop still has a sticker on the back with the XP key, you can borrow a disk from someone...or just find a torrent of the disk that doesn't have a crack built in, and use that temporarily.

But most computers like that have recovery options you can boot into, assuming the previous owner(s) didn't completely format over that part of the HDD.

 

[dawp]

Originally posted by: hans030390
As mentioned above, if the laptop still has a sticker on the back with the XP key, you can borrow a disk from someone...or just find a torrent of the disk that doesn't have a crack built in, and use that temporarily.

But most computers like that have recovery options you can boot into, assuming the previous owner(s) didn't completely format over that part of the HDD.

tha'st what i would have done, why waste the disk space.

edit:

and mose have a utility that allows you to create the disks from the recovery partition.

 

[KLC]

Dell is sending me the disks, I just had to give them the service tag # and the name, address, phone # of the original purchaser. Thanks for all the help.