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Backup CD Question

post #1 of 26
2/9/06 at 2:37am
Thread Starter 
Well I didn't order the CD with my e1705 duo... so i was wondering I have the win xp pro CD that came with my XPS that was stolen. When I choose to scratch install this thing over again in a couple of months can I use that CD or will I have to call up dell and hassle them for it?
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post #2 of 26
2/9/06 at 5:19am
Actually, that's a good question...I have the same question myself!

I have Windows XP Pro, but my 9400 came with XP MCE....am I able to use the key from MCE to install XP Pro on my machine? I didn't get the CD with my lappy either, unfortunately.
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post #3 of 26
2/9/06 at 9:53am
the MCE keys are different than the XP Pro keys. but if the keys are embedded into the DELL disks or BIOS as one post had mentioned then you may not have an issue if 1: the key is embedded into the DELL Disk (if you have a disk from dell) or 2: the Bios holds keys for XP Home, XP MCE, and XP Pro all versions. I have never heard of the Bios holding keys before so I am leary ofthis one. I would assume the keys are embedded into the CD's.


I am not aware of this at alll. In my i5100, it came with Home edition, I installed XP Pro from my personal disks and I had to use my own key.

Dell has changed their configs since the Ancient 5100 so this is really a good axample.

NOTE: I also did not order a cd with my first (cancelled) order of my E1705 and Customer Care wanted me to spend 139.00 for it. I tried to explain that I already bought the license with the PC and that I just needed the backup CD and they told me they do NOT sell that after the PC Purchase. ANyone else had a similiar issue?

I made sure to order it with my new Config.
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post #4 of 26
2/9/06 at 10:01am
That is really weird. It says right on the order form $10.

Something weird happened with my backup CD as well. On the order form it said $10, and on the invoice it says $7.42.
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post #5 of 26
2/9/06 at 10:09am
yes the initial order form with the PC it is 10.00, if you try to order it after the PC purchase they will not send it to you for 10.00. they want 139.00

what they are doing is selling you another Licensed copy of Windows.

you buy a LICENSE when you get the PC w/ an OS. the disk means absolutely nothing! but as we all know, its hard to do a CLEAN install without it!

After the PC purchase if you try to get one from customer care, they want to sell you another LICENCE + the CD. you dont need that. unless you want to install MCE on another machine.

I hope this clears it up.
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post #6 of 26
2/9/06 at 10:11am
Is the backup CD an actual Windows MCE CD? I thought it would just be another crappy OEM install image with all the crappy crap that OEMs slap on their crappy OS images.
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post #7 of 26
2/9/06 at 10:14am
it depends really. Dell can if they wanted to, make the image full of crap but in the past they have NOT done that. its been just a DELL branded OEM labeled copy of the OS itself, no crapware. Crapware came on a different disk.

Here's to hopin'
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post #8 of 26
2/9/06 at 5:27pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by bluefish
Is the backup CD an actual Windows MCE CD? I thought it would just be another crappy OEM install image with all the crappy crap that OEMs slap on their crappy OS images.

I have the same question. Can anyone confirm one way or the other?

Thanks

Ben
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post #9 of 26
2/9/06 at 6:03pm
I formatted and installed mce 2005 via the disk dell sent me (I got it free, all I did was just ask them to send me it)

It does do some weird config at startup, and also doesnt ask for the cd key, if your doing a fresh install via boot.
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post #10 of 26
2/9/06 at 6:41pm
thanx for the info
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post #11 of 26
2/9/06 at 7:26pm
I had a few problems with Dell throughout my order but they were very good to me. I got a free DJ Ditty and also shipping charges have been refunded, but while I was on the phone for the shipping charges I requested the MCE OEM CD and she said she'll get that order placed....making me think....how much?....so of course I asked and she said no charge man I LOVE DELL! So if you give them some sort of complaint about how the lappie came with all sorts of crap and it's hardly functional and blah blah blah whatever they'll hook you up.
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post #12 of 26
2/9/06 at 7:51pm
I have a question. I ordered asked for a CD when I ordered my laptop. When it came, I saw a red OS CD with Dell's name on it. Usually Microsoft XP CDs come in the actual XP cover. Is this red CD the same thing? I want to do a clean install without all the bloatware. I don't know whether this red CD has all the crapware on the OS that came with the system. I have an 80 GB hard drive, and it says I have 59 GB on my system!
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post #13 of 26
2/9/06 at 7:58pm
The red CD should be a clean OEM copy of XP maybe says "For reinstalling the OS" It should not have all of the crapware on it that is all with the restore partition on your hard drive.
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post #14 of 26
2/10/06 at 12:58am
your 59 gb is prob due to the SYS partition for the restore process... it takes up alot of space... another reason to get the cd's... you can kill that partition off and recover the usable storage.
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post #15 of 26
2/10/06 at 1:05am
So for sure eliminate that partition....this works best?
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post #16 of 26
2/10/06 at 11:30am
if your gonna have the CD's and do a CLEAN install, and provided you have all the drivers you need...

then why keep that SYS partition around taking up all your storage? The only thing it is good for is to reload the OS quickly WITH all the crapware.

IMHO, KILL the restoration partition, Definately. But just make sure you have all the drivers and such!

good luck
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post #17 of 26
2/10/06 at 7:32pm
I'm planning to do a reformat on my computer to get rid of all this junkware. I also have a CD that has all the drivers. Some people were saying to go the Dell website, download those drivers, save them on a CD, and then use that after the OS is put in place. Is all this necessary? One more thing, after installing the OS onto the system using the red CD, do I just put in the Driver CD and let it install? Noobie here, thanks for all the help.
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post #18 of 26
2/11/06 at 1:02am
bump, i need to know this because i'm going to do a reformat in a couple of minutes.
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post #19 of 26
2/11/06 at 1:35am
.....
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post #20 of 26
2/11/06 at 2:01am
All of the drivers you downloaded should be self-extracting and you need to click each individually and you'll then be asked if you want to extract to such and such folder and you click yes and it'll extract the file and start the installation process for that driver. Repeat the steps for each driver some may require a restart. I hope that helps.
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