Reinstalling the Operating System
To reinstall Windows, you need the following items:
•Dell Operating System media
•Dell Drivers and Utilities media
Before you Begin
Reinstalling your Operating System from media will completely remove all data from your hard drive. It is important to make a full backup of any files, internet favorites, photos, documents, movies, music,
Reinstalling your Operating System from media will also require the user to reinstall all hardware drivers for their installed components. These drivers and software may be found on the provided media or under the Drivers and Downloads section of support.dell.com.
NOTE: The Dell Drivers and Utilities media contains drivers that were installed during the assembly of the computer. Use the Dell Drivers and Utilities media to load any required drivers. Depending on the region from which you ordered your computer, or whether you requested the media, the Dell Drivers and Utilities media and Operating System media may not ship with your computer.
Reinstalling your Operating System from media will also require the user to reinstall all software and applications including any productivity applications (Microsoft Office),
Reinstalling Windows XP
The reinstallation process can take 1 to 2 hours to complete. After you reinstall the operating system, you must also reinstall the device drivers, virus protection program, and other software.
CAUTION: The Operating System media provides options for reinstalling Windows XP. The options can overwrite files and possibly affect programs that are installed on your hard drive. Therefore, do not reinstall Windows XP unless a Dell technical support representative instructs you to do so.
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