Hey, I'm looking to reformat my friend's Dell laptop. She doesn't have the red "Reinstallation CD" for her computer but she has that cd for a different Dell computer. The cd is for XP Home Edition with service pack 1 and her laptop that I would like to reformat is using XP Home as well. So, the cd matches up with her version of windows and I used a program to find out her windows key. I am 99% sure that I can just use this cd to reformat her hard drive and use the key I got from her computer to run everything. I can also get the drivers online from Dell.com. I just wanted to be absolutely sure that this other cd would work. I guess my question is, can I use any comparable reinstallation cd to reformat this computer as long as I have the drivers and the windows key? Thanks and sorry if this question has already been answered.

The short answer is probably not.

I have used dell installation discs for years to reformat and reinstall the operating system just as you have discribed. Nothing wrong in doing so. The draw back is that some dell installation discs are slipstreamed with the drivers that are designed for that one seies of computers (models). Installing the wrong drivers could cause havoc with the installation as XP is not driver friendly at all. Just make sure you have just the operating system installation disc and not a restore disc and you should be ok In The Matters Of Style, swim with the current; in matters of principle, Stand Like A Rock "People demand freedom of speech to make up for the freedom of thought which they avoid."

hey, thanks for the quick reply. The disc itself is dark red and says on it: "Reinstallation CD Microsoft Windows XP Home Edition Including Service Pack 1a" and on the left side it says "The software is already installed on your computer. Only use this CD to reinstall the software. Only use this CD to reinstall the operating system on a Dell computer. This CD is not for reinstallation of programs or drivers." I am fairly sure that this is an operating system installation disc and not a restore disk. I have used these discs in the past but only the ones that have come with that particular computer so I am a little wary to do this. I hope my description gives you an idea of what I'm working with here.

It should work fine as it is just an OEM copy of the M$ version of the installation disc. In The Matters Of Style, swim with the current; in matters of principle, Stand Like A Rock "People demand freedom of speech to make up for the freedom of thought which they avoid."

It should work fine. You won't be prompted to enter a License Key. Enter the Service Tag on Dell's website to obtain the proper drivers. I'd run Belarc Advisor before the reformat so you know exactly which components are installed, or you can look at the Original System Configuration on Dell's site as well. Life's more painless for the brainless.