Clean Install / OS Partition (Will Validation Key Delete?)

Hey guys,

Have an XPS L502X, looking to do a clean install with my Dell Windows installation DVD. I've seen the clean install threads, my question is somewhat different.

I want to do 2 partitions, one for the OS, the other for data. In doing so I'm thinking I will delete the current OS partition / re-create it, however, would doing that delete any valuable information? (ie: Windows genuine key)? In addition, could I go one step further and format the entire drive, and still install my authentic copy with the DVD?

Any help is extremely appreciated,

Camaren

 

Nope, just give it the activation key on the bottom of the laptop and you'll be okay.

 

Yes, it will work without requiring you to input a product key. Dell OS reinstallation CD/DVDs for XP/Vista/7 are tied to the Dell bios, not anything on the hard disk. You can even replace the hard disk with a new, blank disk and do a clean install from CD/DVD without any problem.

One word of warning: Dell reinstallation CD/DVDs do not include Dell device drivers, so before nuking your existing installation, go through Device Manager and write down the descriptions for your audio, video, lan/wlan, and modem devices. You can download drivers from the Dell website, but sometimes there are multiple choices and it helps to know which devices you have.

Using a separate data partition is a good practice. After installing Windows, reconfigure it to point Documents, Pictures, Music, Favorites, Desktop, etc. to your data partition instead of the C: partition.

Partition your hard disk before letting Setup start the installation. If you use Setup to partition your disk, then restart Setup before continuing on to the OS installation step. The reason for this is Vista and Win7 default to creating a small SRP ("System Reserved Partition") separate from the OS partition, which can be a hassle if you eventually want to make backup images of your OS for disaster recovery. But if you give Setup a pre-partitioned disk it will install on whatever partition you give it without creating a SRP.

 

There are other ways of getting thedrivers you will need after a clean OS install. Under the root of your current C drive there is a foldef call"Dell" it has all the driver for the current install. back that up to a USB drive or burn to a DVD. Also you could just got to the Dell website and download all the updated drivers for your model and save/burn backup to a USB drive to have after a clean OS install. But if you are using the Dell restore DVD to do the clean install then it will have all the driver you need to restore to the "out of the box" condition. Hope this helps

 

If by *restore DVD* you mean a backup DVD the user burns, that might be true. However, the OP stated he has a "Dell Windows installation DVD", which I took to mean an OS *installation* DVD provided by Dell. I haven't examined every Dell installation DVD, but of the handful I have examined none have included the Dell-branded drivers available from the Dell website.

My point is there are sometimes multiple choices. Even if he downloads them all, he would still need to know which one to install. For example, for the OP's L502X the Dell website lists two possible video drivers (Intel and nVidia) and three possible Wifi adapter drivers. It can save a lot of trial-and-error if he knows beforehand which particular devices he has.