Want to do OEM reintall, but don't have CD's

[Jim]

I bought a slightly used Dell, with an OEM XP Pro installed. I wasn't given
a reinstall disk, or any OS media. Is it possible to do a reinstall with
borrowed media, and just reactivate using the code from the original install?
Or am I forced to purchase another copy of the OS?

By the way, are the reinstall capabilities for OEM versions the same as for
retail? I've read that to get a clean registry from an OEM reinstall you
must format the drive again, but that with a retail version there's no need
to reformat. Does anyone know the veracity of that? What about with a
reinstall disk?

Thanks in advance for any help!

Jim

[Jim Macklin]

Contact the seller and have them supply you with the media
that always comes with a Dell. Dell ships a restore disk
and a full install disk as well as CDs for all installed
software. Without those CDs, you bought a collection of
hardware at a very high price. If the seller you bought
from is the original buyer and has the media, they are
required to include the media when they sell the computer.
If they lost it, you should be able to have them arrange for
replacements from Dell. You have a legal right to cancel
the sale and get your money back if they can't supply you
with the CDs (the full set).

The cost to you to buy retail replacements for the OS and
applications that came with the computer is more than the
cost of buying a new computer from Dell.


--
The people think the Constitution protects their rights;
But government sees it as an obstacle to be overcome.


"Jim" > wrote in message
...
|I bought a slightly used Dell, with an OEM XP Pro
installed. I wasn't given
| a reinstall disk, or any OS media. Is it possible to do a
reinstall with
| borrowed media, and just reactivate using the code from
the original install?
| Or am I forced to purchase another copy of the OS?
|
| By the way, are the reinstall capabilities for OEM
versions the same as for
| retail? I've read that to get a clean registry from an
OEM reinstall you
| must format the drive again, but that with a retail
version there's no need
| to reformat. Does anyone know the veracity of that? What
about with a
| reinstall disk?
|
| Thanks in advance for any help!
|
| Jim

[Michael Stevens]

Jim wrote:
> I bought a slightly used Dell, with an OEM XP Pro installed. I
> wasn't given a reinstall disk, or any OS media. Is it possible to do
> a reinstall with borrowed media, and just reactivate using the code
> from the original install? Or am I forced to purchase another copy of
> the OS?
>
> By the way, are the reinstall capabilities for OEM versions the same
> as for retail? I've read that to get a clean registry from an OEM
> reinstall you must format the drive again, but that with a retail
> version there's no need to reformat. Does anyone know the veracity
> of that? What about with a reinstall disk?
>
> Thanks in advance for any help!
>
> Jim

This is what you should have gotten in the supplied link.
You got duped by the seller. Contact them and inform them they have the
obligation to supply you with the software they have no right to use. Since
they have no rights to the software, they have no reason to deny you your
request. They may not be aware of this, so break it to them diplomatically
Click on the link below, or copy and paste the link into the address box
if using the web based newsgroup.
Sell or transfer XP to new computer.
http://michaelstevenstech.com/xpfaq.html#how2
--
Michael Stevens MS-MVP XP

http://michaelstevenstech.com
For a better newsgroup experience. Setup a newsreader.
http://michaelstevenstech.com/outlookexpressnewreader.htm

[Alex Nichol]

Jim wrote:

>I bought a slightly used Dell, with an OEM XP Pro installed. I wasn't given
>a reinstall disk, or any OS media. Is it possible to do a reinstall with
>borrowed media, and just reactivate using the code from the original install?
> Or am I forced to purchase another copy of the OS?

In that case the sale did not properly transfer the system along with
the machine. Get back at the vendor. You could use another CD
*provided* it was for that series of Dell (Dell might help - I don't
know, as you have the key to use on the label on the machine)


--
Alex Nichol MS MVP (Windows Technologies)
Bournemouth, U.K. (remove the D8 bit)