System Restore CDs

[Vakril]

are system restore cds generic, or are they linked to the computer/laptop they come with, ie product keys?

I recently bought a used Dell latitude D600 offline and so did my girlfriend. I got a system restore CD with it, and she didnt. The laptops look exactly alike and have the exact specs and even drivers (my freshly restored harddrive vs. her harddrive still "fresh" from the previous owner).

I'm finding out that there could be other issues involved -the DVD player being only a CD/DVD reader but not for DVD/CD-Rs etc, possibly the driver missing, or i read from another buyer that it could be dead.

So I guess im asking, does anyone know if i could use my system restore CD on her laptop, or will there be issues? Has anyone done this before? It was a sealed manufaturers System restore CD that came with that laptop speficically (or so i was lead to believe).

Thanx all!

[rcvalencia09]

The restore CDs. Does it say Operating System on it. Yes you can use that as long as your going to use it with a Dell system. Those are preactivated copies. but you cant install it on non-Dell system.

[Vakril]

Yes it does from top to bottom:

Operating System
Already installed on your computer
Reinstallation CD
Microsoft Windows XP Professional Service Pack 2

The software is already installed on your computer. Only use this CD to reinstall the operating system on a Dell computer

Everything else on there is legal crap
And they're both dell laptops, exactly the same one.

Thanx alot

[rcvalencia09]

Originally Posted by Vakril Only use this CD to reinstall the operating system on a Dell computer

If you notice it said only use on a Dell System. You can use that. Ive done that before. I used to work as a Tech Support for Dell.

[glc]

You can legally use any Dell reinstallation CD on any Dell computer as long as it's the SAME version of Windows that the product key sticker is for. Note that it's windows ONLY - no drivers or preinstalled software is on it. You need the Dell Resource CD for that model computer to get drivers - or you can download them.

Definition of SAME version.......

XP Home -or-
XP Pro -or-
XP MCE.

Service pack level does not matter.