Reformat Dell Dimension PC, potential issues?

[spork891]

I was wondering if I would run into serious issues were I to try and format the HDD of a Dell Dimension 8200 and install a fresh copy of WinXP instead of using the recovery disk (which I don't have.)

[glc]

You will need either the Dell resource CD or downloaded drivers, a search at support.dell.com using your service tag number will get you to the right page. A generic XP will install just fine, just don't delete the diagnostic partition.

[spork891]

Well, I have a CD containing all drivers, so I'm going to go ahead with the reformat. Thank you!

[suitcase]

I did it to my old PIII 1gb dimension 4100 using XP home. It went great. But I used my XP disc thats on my main pc and couldn't activate it. When I tried the same thing with ME, it was a nightmare. All kind of problems. But now I have a pc without all the Dell crap on it.

[rightcoast]

I don't want to break any fourm rules, I hope I'm not. (I read them, and don't remember anything forbidding answering this as long as Spork has a valid key) This seems to be a safe answer.

That is probably an OEM installation. If you reinstall with an OEM CD (SP1 most likely) You can just input your key when it prompt's you and then activate over the internet. If your sticker fell off, find your out your key before you wipe the drive.

[spork891]

I had a valid key, so no worries. Everything went quite smoothly! I obtained a DELL OEM version of winXP which was probably a great help.

[RenamonXP]

I thought about reformating my computer as well.. Ive done so much to my computers operating system modifications and little things that I cant remember them all and frankly why fix it if it aint broke?!