Use your Windows CD

[Kashia]

Okay I have all these CDs here and I don't know which one
to use!!!! I have two for Drivers and Utilities, one for
Operating System reinstallation CD microsoft windows xp
home edition, one for backup dell installed programs!!!
Please HELP!! Thanks in advance
>-----Original Message-----
>Basically, just log off all other programs and insert
your
>Windows CD. Follow the prompts. Unless your hard drive
was
>configured in a certain way, this will "take you back to
>square one." Go for it. Then go download the critical
>updates from Windows Updates.
>.
>

[Alex Nichol]

Kashia wrote:

>Okay I have all these CDs here and I don't know which one=20
>to use!!!! I have two for Drivers and Utilities, one for=20
>Operating System reinstallation CD microsoft windows xp=20
>home edition,=20

You want the Operating system reinstall one. The manual that came with
the machine should have more detailed instructions on how to use it, but
basically:

Power on and hit the key that 'enters setup'. This is likely to be DEL
(delete) but again make sure in the manual. In the Setup, there may be
a 'Boot page'. in which case look for the CD on that and use the numeric
pad + key to put it at the top; or there may be an entry on a 'BIOS
settings' page for Boot Order - use Pa\geDn to cycle it round to CD-Rom;
C:. . . Either way then hit ESC, and with the CD ready in the drive
take Exit and save settings. It will reboot, and probably ask you to
hit a key to confirm that Yes you do want to boot from that.

I would expect that there will then be a list of options - including a
complete reinstallation, use the arrow keys to select, and carry on.

You will need the 25 character 'Product key' like
GHL8K-VC76H- etc=20
which should be on a label on the back of the machine. DO NOT START
until you are sure of this.


--=20
Alex Nichol MS MVP (Windows Technologies)
Bournemouth, U.K.