To reinstall Windows, you need the following items:

Dell™ Operating System CD

Drivers and Utilities media

NOTE: The Drivers and Utilities media contains drivers that were installed during assembly of the computer. Use the Drivers and Utilities media to load any required drivers. Depending on the region from where you ordered your computer, or whether you requested the CDs or DVDs, the Drivers and Utilities media and Operating System CD may not ship with your system.

Reinstalling Windows XP or Windows Vista

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.

NOTICE: The Operating System CD provides options for reinstalling Windows Operating System. The options will overwrite files and possibly affect programs installed on your hard drive. Therefore, do not reinstall Windows unless a Dell technical support representative instructs you to do so.

NOTE: It is highly recommended that you attempt to perform a Windows Vista system restore first and then, if necessary, a Dell OS restore (to take it back to as-shipped condition), before attempting a complete OS reinstallation. Complete reinstallation of the operating system is a complex task.

1Save and close any open files and exit any open programs.

2Insert the Operating System CD. Click Exit if the Install Windows Vista message appears.

3Restart the computer. Press <F12> immediately after the DELL™ logo appears.

If the operating system logo appears, wait until you see the Windows desktop, and then shut down the computer and try again.

NOTE: The next steps change the boot sequence for one time only. On the next start-up, the computer boots according to the devices specified in the system setup program.

4When the boot device list appears, highlight CD/DVD/CD-RW Drive and press <Enter>.

5Press any key to Boot from CD-ROM.

6Follow the instructions on the screen to complete the installation.

Troubleshooting Tools

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Dell 531S owner manual Reinstalling Windows XP or Windows Vista