Latitude E6400 Owner's Lounge, Part 2

Replacing a hard drive in an E6400...

http://support.dell.com/support/edocs/systems/late6400/en/sm/html/hdd.htm#wp1180023

If it's a new unit, Dell typically ships re-installation media with the machine, but it's kind of a crap shot with refurbs. You can use a generic Windows installation disk and the key from the Dell's CoA, though.

Dunno about the "do this first" guides... I typically just do a clean install and that's that.

 

Use ABR to backup the Windows activation on the original HDD, setup your SSD, install Windows and use ABR to restore your Windows activation. I think the Dell OS discs still have some of the Dell stuff pre-installed so I would just use a Windows disc to get a clean install.

I believe using the key on Dell's CoA will require telephone activation. Using ABR is much easier and you can reinstall the OS as much as you want without having to call Microsoft to activate it.

ABR: http://directedge.us/content/abr-activation-backup-and-restore

 

creative used to make one, but seemed to discontinue it. and ive looked. want to point me in the direction of a card that supports 5.1? i do not want to buy it from a reseller, i want a well supported one that will be getting true win7 updates

 

Another option is to clone the existing HDD. This is easy if the HDD is the same size or smaller than the SSD and you can use Acronis True Image as described here.

However, with Windows 7 only a few days away, a clean install of Windows 7 might be the best way forward.

John

 

The Dell Windows installation disk is simply an OEM disk that doesn't need activation on Dell computers. There isn't any bloatware on it. You'll only need ABR or a telephone activation if you install Windows without a Dell installation CD.

 

Even though the HDD is only 80gb, the SSD I bought is even smaller at 60GB, so I'm not sure how that would work.

I hope dell or whoever is running the windows upgrade program has a quick turnaround - the SSD bought has a rebate I have to send in before the end of the month and I want to make sure it works before I send it i.

 

Casper can handle downsizing, but costs money.

Get an enclosure or eSATA adaptor and you can test the disk with various benchmarking programs.

John

 

Yes. I was referring to a Windows installation using a standard Vista disc. I don't know if Dell ships systems from the Outlet with Vista w/ SP2 discs now but when I received mine 2 months ago, it came with a Vista w/ SP1 disc. A clean install is still better IMO because you can install the latest drivers/DCP without worrying about uninstalling the old ones, etc which is where ABR comes in handy (assuming the user has a standard Vista w/ SP2 integrated disc).

 

clean install it. oh, and use win7.

 

I received my e6400 today - no windows media.

It does come with a windows vista business license with an XP downgrade. I'm wondering when I do get my win7 discs if I could use my windows XP pro install CD, put it on my SSD using the XP license number from the dell (I'm assuming there is one), and then do a clean install of windows 7 over that. Any reason that wouldn't work?