Look on your Dell case and there will be a 25 digit Microsoft tag. As long as you can read those numbers you do not need to buy Windows XP.

Borrow (or perhaps you have a copy for the computer you are using) a CD and slip it in the drawer as the confuser starts. Follow along with the install but when it asks for the 25 digit code YOU MUST use the one attached to the computer case. That is totally legal and does not mess up the CD and it's owner.

Once Windows is installed grab safety programs in a hurry.

Then visit the Dell site and type in the service tag number you will find on the bottom of your computer. You can then download and install all the needed drivers for sound LAN, motherboard and what ever else is needed.

Then go for Windows updates. Start with Service Pack 3 then go for the other updates and there are now over 100 of them to install.

Help reinstalling windows.or other approach?

original thread, sorry I had missed your original I linked it here so the info is available.

for your drivers I would suggest checking out this program it is highly recommended on many of the forums.

Double Driver

owbist: thanks for response. Unfortunately, I'm still not clear about two points. Because of the double posting, I'm not certain that you saw my point about my computer tag being for xp home ed. BUT my current installed version is xp pro and Speccy says the 'serial number' is a different identically formatted 25 character number. I also had to load some microsoft stuff that needed to have a verified system and it passed the verification! SO: were you specifically telling me not to use the new number, or just didn't know about it, which could still mean I shouldn't use the new number.

Two: if I am to use the case tag, do I need to get/borrow 'xp home ed' disk, and 'xp pro' if i use the new number. AND what about these things called reinstall disks. are they the same thing as regular windows disks (perhaps they are specific to dell?).

ravencagun: I can see how the driver copy routine might save a pile of time. thanks.

Chas you can use what ever version of Windows you like and that will run on that computer. What I am saying is trhat if you use the 25 digit code stuck to the base of the computer you do not negate the disc you used and it is still available for another computer - or legal still for who ever has it already installed. Dell and all computer manufacturers tie the operating system serial number to a specific motherboard, this is why using the numbers on the base always works.

I suggested using the Dell site for drivers because you will have the tag number which makes life easier. If you feel using the link Ravencajun provided then indeed go for it. What ever works works, your choice entirely.

I hope that answers you queries, let us know how you go.

Are you suggesting you have already installed the Pro version? Just curious here.

owbist: I think i understand your point about the case tag. However I am still wondering if you read my original post that is linked via ravencajun?

you asked: 'Are you suggesting you have already installed the Pro version? Just curious here'

and part of my original post (that already mentioned the case tag etc.) was:

'I gather that I could use the windows tag number on the back of the laptop, to authorize the recovery disk. However, I see that the tag is for win xp Home edition and my tech guy loaded win xp pro and I see that it is a different number shown on Speccy serial number. I guess he has a licence or cleverness, because microsoft recognises my system as a legal windows system. While I probably don't care all that much, would I lose xp Pro if I used the old number, or can I use the new number (I suppose I can?). I suppose in either case I would lose the service packs and have to get them from the internet??'

So: to rephrase, I do have a tech support person who I have used in the past. He works out of his house and he is the most respected tech guy in this rural county. He has sold me two old used computers of similar vintage in the last couple of years. I assume that he gets them from people upgrading to newer units. He 'reloaded' (i assume)winxp pro on both of them and put office 2003 on as well. And before you ask; he is sometimes hard to reach; a little expensive; and I have already put him out some by not deciding soon, then changing my mind about accepting the first laptop he sold me. I already feel slightly in debt to him and would prefer to learn how to do this stuff myself anyway.

While this thread has essentially been about my laptop, unfortunately I am having more problems with the desktop dell dimension 4600. I had mentioned that it was acting up, it has run ckdisk on its own a couple times recently (successfully recovering orphaned items BOTH times) and today my Acronics (weekly, I think) backup routine said that the last backup failed. So, I am going to turn my attention to the desktop drive. Of course the approaches are similar.

I am not going to step on O's recommendations and directions as too often "too many cooks spoil the soup". However, I find it disconcerting that both your laptop and your desktop are having problems simultaneously. I am wondering if you have a maintenance protocol, installed software, malware, or something else that are in common with both systems and causing concerns. The odds of two systems failing electronically or physically in unison are extremely high.

DA

So your tech guy loaded XP Pro, no big deal as long as you were given the XP Pro CD. Using the existing license just saves money, your money.

and would prefer to learn how to do this stuff myself anyway.
You can do all this stuff yourself, it is a matter of reading and/or asking then having the faith in yourself to move forward. Asking at places like this or Googling your problem will give you the answers, you do the tasks needed. The biggest issue is knowing when to hit the 'Cancel' button and walk away when things overwhelm, frustration can be the biggest enemy.

I went to the original thread to answer but see it is for this laptop so let us stay here and ignore the other thread.

If you want to revert to XP Home you will need to borrow a CD from someone. Make sure they understand you intend to use the key provided on the base of the laptop and not their key.

However if you have XP Pro installed and the tech provided the CD as he should you can run a repair install instead to overcome any issues you may have.

Right now you need to ignore the Roxio program and even remove it using the Add/Remove feature. When you have the computer running properly use this link to verify that you have all the other programs need for Roxio to run properly.

List for us all the problems you believe you ave with this laptop.

Damccoy, actually I didn't say that i had any problems with the laptop. It wouldn't load roxio creator2011 and roxio support suggests that i reload windows, but I suspect that this is likely a roxio problem since many other people have almost identical problems. Roxio user group via roxio believe the system is just too old/slow not duel core etc. and that is the problem. So I was just planning to forget roxio. In fact, an old copy of Nero 7 just arrieved as I am typing this.

However I still thought it might be good to get a bigger hard drive, and at that point, windows might be reloaded and IF there were some old conflicts running around, they would be resolved. In other words I might be killing two birds with one stone.

0wbist: you said:
'However if you have XP Pro installed and the tech provided the CD as he should you can run a repair install instead to overcome any issues you may have.'

It is good to know that my tech guy SHOULD have provided me with a CD, but he didn't; neither for the home edition or the pro either for either computer. and as I stated several times, I don't have any.

Since this may be my tech's lapse, I will pester him a little to see if i can get a cd from him. I think that I saw that they were available on line and even directly from dell for $10 or $15.

and re roxio: yes I will probably remove creator for the 5th time, I have become an expert. And now that I have nero, I may have to remove creator just to have room to check nero out.

I understand better now. Thank you. Lost some perspective between two threads. An overpowering application demanding on an underpowered system can absolutely lead to frustrations and concerns.

The most recent versions of Roxio are powerful and do tend to be demanding to the resources. I at times bring work product home to take advantage of my Roxio 2009 with my system as the work environment is lagging and their version of Roxio leaves a lot of performance to be desired.

Roxio is much like Adobe Reader as it configures deep into the O/S. On the occasions when I have worked on systems other than my own, and it was determined that Roxio had to be removed I used REVO at the Advanced setting. Also, during the removal process I allowed it to remove all located orphaned files and registry entries.

In the case of Roxio, this is one of the few times I also utilize CCleaner's Registry Tool so as to double check the registry for leftovers. I only remove any listed entries that can be identified as Roxio, Sonic, or Sonic Solutions. I have never had a concern.

Keep in mind if you decide to do this too, REVO has no backup, and CC does have one that will be offered through the process.

DA

I think that I saw that they were available on line and even directly from dell for $10 or $15.
You do not want one from 'online' at that price as it likely pirated. However if you get get the real thing from Dell at that price you are in excellent shape.

Damccoy: thanks for the roxio info. I haven't used ccleaner yet although I have noted it being suggested often. I guess I may need it. I tried to load the nero 7ultra, and it claimed to load in under 4 minutes, but nothing was there. I will be bugging the Nero guys awhile too.

owbist: I did get a brief message from my tech guy who said "my install disks are customized for our shop*. I can provide you one if you want to tackle it." The way he phrased it made me think it is some generic disk that does it all. (perhaps not?). Any idea if it would be easier or far less easy than hoped for? After that I did ask what he would charge to migrate my DESKTOP data to another drive (just to know), but he hasn't gotten back to me.

*My tech IS my kind of guy. His shop is his bedroom. It is crammed wall to wall (except for the guitars)with computer stuff.

If you want to migrate just your data you can do that yourself for peanuts.
Right click Start
right click My Documents
click Properties and one of the tabs (General I think) will give you the amount of space used by files in your My Documents folder. If less than the capacity of a DVD you can copy and paste to a DVD. If more then you could use a thumb drive and copy as much as the thumb drive holds, paste to the other computer. Wipe the thumb drive and repeat as often as necessary