Carey Frisch [MVP] wrote:
Although it is not recommended, you would need an older pre-SP2 Dell
Reinstallation CD and then proceed with a repair install.

A bit of back-peddaling now, eh Carey?

Please be aware
that you will sacrifice any Dell support for Windows XP in the future since
you are altering the O/S with an older O/S.

I don't believe that is true. The XP OEM EULA provides for the use of a
previous version of Windows all the way back to Windows 98. The OEM is
still responsible to support the OS under the terms of the OEM EULA. A
difference in SP levels is trivial by comparison.


Also, you cannot use a Windows XP "retail version" CD with the Dell Product
Key.
The trick is finding an older pre-SP2 Dell Reinstallation CD to use for the
repair procedure.


A Dell OEM CD will not install on a non-Dell computer because it is
BIOS-locked. The opposite is not necessarily true and I've done it in
several cases. Try it and see; the proof is in the putting.

Steve