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Installing fresh WinXP on a Dell system

P

Parn

Senior member
I just got a new Dell 4600 system. It came with winxp and MS office and such.

I want to install my own copy of winxp, since I have a corporate edition, and same goes for Office. I also want to fool around with partitions so it's not all in one partition.

Is it safe to install a fresh WinXP over whatever is in there? Of course I'll have to reinstall drivers and such, but that's no big deal. I would feel better getting rid of all the dell junk already installed on the computer.
 
You don't need to install your own. The winxp that comes with Dell doesn't require activation; it has volume license. It is safe to install though. I never have any problem with installing different operating systems on dell machine.
 
Originally posted by: Parn
I just got a new Dell 4600 system. It came with winxp and MS office and such.

I want to install my own copy of winxp, since I have a corporate edition, and same goes for Office. I also want to fool around with partitions so it's not all in one partition.

Is it safe to install a fresh WinXP over whatever is in there? Of course I'll have to reinstall drivers and such, but that's no big deal. I would feel better getting rid of all the dell junk already installed on the computer.
Click to expand...

If you have a corporate edition then you obviously work in IT or something at a compnay and should know this answer.
 
Thanks moonsite. I realize WinXP on dell is just as good, but I'd like to install only the programs that I need, and not have all the dell stuff on there.
 
Sure you can do it but don't just "install over whatever is in there." Delete the partition that is already there and repartition from scratch.
 
Yeah, whenever I reinstalled windows, I had the installer partition a 20gb partition for OS, and the rest for programs/storage. I guess I'll give it a try after I gather all my drivers.
 
You shouldn't need a lot of drivers that aren't on the XP install CD. I just bought a 400SC sans OS and the only drivers need were:

Onboard Soundcard
Chipset
Onboard Network card
Video Card

Windows loaded fine but the Network card and soundcard wouldn't work until I loaded the correct drivers so be sure and get at least the Network and Chipset drivers first hand. The others you can get once you can get online. Try out this link to Dell to find all the drivers for your specific machine. GP

http://support.dell.com/support/downloads/index.aspx?c=us&l=en&s=gen
 
Originally posted by: Parn
Thanks moonsite. I realize WinXP on dell is just as good, but I'd like to install only the programs that I need, and not have all the dell stuff on there.
Click to expand...

I think what he means is that if you reinstall using the WinXP CD that should've come with your Dell system, it'll be just as good as installing it using your "corporate" CD; you might get the Dell support or whatever software installed with it, but none of the other software that came preinstalled (such as office, etc.) will be there.

JW
 
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