Reinstalling xp on dell pc

DCFC79

Ive been asked to reinstall xp on a dell machine, theres obviously the drivers i would need to get, should i find the drivers first then get a copy of them ?

shadowdragon

yeah would make life a lot easier, thats if you can get the drivers for it. I dont know how Dell do it, have you no recovery CDs?

If the machine is still working grab the info from device manager (name of graphics card, sound card networking cards, modems ect)

DCFC79

shadowdragon wrote: »

yeah would make life a lot easier, thats if you can get the drivers for it. I dont know how Dell do it, have you no recovery CDs?

If the machine is still working grab the info from device manager (name of graphics card, sound card networking cards, modems ect)

no cds or anything, i dont even know what model it is but i will do once i get it, ok thanks, ill take a look at device manager once i get my hands on it,

Garetha

You can backup the existing drivers and then use that when you re-install
I've just Googled 'backup drivers' and found this one: http://www.freedownloadmanager.org/downloads/Driver_Magician_Lite_39037_p/

I chose this one as it's freeware - but someone on here may know of a better one.

Dell machines have a Dell ID code - which you can look up on their website to find out the original spec. They will also have downloads of the latest drivers.

DCFC79

Garetha wrote: »

You can backup the existing drivers and then use that when you re-install
I've just Googled 'backup drivers' and found this one: http://www.freedownloadmanager.org/downloads/Driver_Magician_Lite_39037_p/

I chose this one as it's freeware - but someone on here may know of a better one.

Dell machines have a Dell ID code - which you can look up on their website to find out the original spec. They will also have downloads of the latest drivers.

is the ID code actually somewhere easy to find in the pc

Debt_Free_Chick

DCFC79 wrote: »

is the ID code actually somewhere easy to find in the pc

It's normally on the back. Easy to spot - white plastic label with a bar code and then the Service Tag/Express Service Code.

Go to the Dell site, Support and enter the Service Tag. You will then be presented with PC-specific service solutions, including the drivers you need.

The Service Tag is unique to the PC/Laptop so you can be sure you'll be getting the drivers for that PC .... provided the hardware hasn't been replaced/upgraded If it has, then you'll need to download the drivers for the additional/replacement hardware separately, directly from the manufacturer's site.

HTH

Garetha

DCFC79 wrote: »

is the ID code actually somewhere easy to find in the pc

If you can't find the System Service Tag on the computer (mine is 7 alphanumerics) run BelarcAdvisor http://www.belarc.com/free_download.html

It will also list all the hardware, software and software keys. (essential if you don't have them by other means)

nomoneytoday

Read the tag in the bios. Go to dells website, and download the network and gfx drivers. Stick them on a USB stick or cdr.

Install from the backup partition or discs. Run the drivers for network and graphics, then go back to dell's www on your "new" machine and get the remainder of the drivers required

chunter

Control F11 at Boot time gives you the option to restore most Dell's to the condition it was in when it came out of the box (software wise anyway.)
No need to worry about backing up drivers if this option is available. (except extra stuff like printers and webcams).

Note that this will wipe everything from your computer.

DCFC79

chunter wrote: »

Control F11 at Boot time gives you the option to restore most Dell's to the condition it was in when it came out of the box (software wise anyway.)
No need to worry about backing up drivers if this option is available. (except extra stuff like printers and webcams).

Note that this will wipe everything from your computer.

yep im aware of what reinstalling does, ive done it on my own pc but as this other tower is a dell i wasnt sure if it would be the same as what ive done previously or if there was anything i should look out for