restoring to dell original

[erinsmith]

I bought a dell inspiron 6000 a little over a year ago, and at the time I formated it and installed a fresh copy of windows xp pro on it to get rid of the trash dell puts on it.

Anyways, I am selling the laptop and would like to restore it to the original OS that the laptop came with so I can install the OS on my new laptop. I didnt make a recovery cd originally, so I think I need to find somewhere online that has it for download. I tried searching but no luck.

Any help is appreciated

 

[corkyg]

I think your best bet is to call Dell. The 6000 is apparently a model for which recovery CDs were not shipped with the laptop. Here is another's experience: (From the Dell Forum)

"It looks like Dell has been shipping laptops since July without this utility, but didn't update the support information. If you look at the online article below, you'll see a note about the utility only being provided with laptops up until July 2005. You apparently cannot download this utility off the Dell web site.

http://support.dell.com/support/topics/...c=us&cs=RC968571&DN=1092188&l=en&s=hea

I called Dell's hardware warranty support and they set up a new case # for this. They initially told me about the OS recovery utility and said it should be under "Programs --> Dell Accessories". When I told them it was missing, they immediately shipped me out the CDs free of charge, including the WIndows XP MCE DVD, the software/drivers CD, and a powerlink cyberDVD CD. It's being overnighted and should arrive tomorrow.

So, I suggest you do the same. I think they're really, really pushing the PC restore feature and don't want people re-installing the OS from scratch. But they seem open to shipping the CD's upon request."

 

[bacillus]

if you didn't delete the hidden restore partition then it may be possible to restore its function otherwise you are screwed.

 

[csmaster2005]

Neither one of those options are possible I think.
Corkyg: the feature that makes the recovery cd, I believe, must have the original OS installed in order for it to make a recovery of that one, but please correct me if I'm wrong.

Bacillus: At the time it didnt cross my mind that I'd sell he laptop anytime soon (I wasnt thinking I'd get another one anytime), and so I deleted that partition.

Anymore ideas?
thanks

 

[corkyg]

Originally posted by: csmaster2005
Neither one of those options are possible I think.
Corkyg: the feature that makes the recovery cd, I believe, must have the original OS installed in order for it to make a recovery of that one, but please correct me if I'm wrong.

That is not true for laptops I have worked with - don't know about Dell. Most are designed for use with a total HDD failure and replacement.

 

[csmaster2005]

ok so can you please explain to me what I need to do? Also, I am erinsmith, I did not realize I was logged in on a different username

 

[pkme2]

Call Dell, they have been very responsivesive to the needs of Dell customers. Explain your situation and they might surprise you with a free restore disk. Can't hurt to check this oiut.
Last AT thread I read similar to this, the ATer had really good news to report from Dell. Good luck too.

 

[jfunk]

Yeah, just call them. They WILL provide you with an OS install CD if you push them. If they are giving you a hard time, just tell them the HD died and you had to buy a new one. Recovery partition doesn't do you any good on a dead HD.

j