Computer Help Needed: FREE?

[SandrA9810]

You can often find Dell OEM discs on Ebay for cheap, some with or without keys. If you use a Dell reinstall disc on a Dell computer, it often times won't ask you for the serial key, because it's embedded in the computer. But you should find a Microsoft sticker on the computer, with a serial key on it.

If you already have a serial key (it'll also tell you which version of Windows is on the computer), all you need is the disc. Finding the disc is a lot cheaper than with a serial key.

Pop the disc in the computer and restart from there.

If you have another Dell computer, you can often create a restore disc from the computer itself. I don't know how exactly it's done, but it can be done for restoring purposes.

 

[Zalittle]

Before you install windows or another OS make sure you have enough RAM to run windows and multitask different programs without slowing down performance.

 

[Huff]

What is the exact model of Dell you have? I can look up what your options are with that model.

Many Dells have a recovery mode to completely wipe out the computers current contents and reinstall Windows from scratch. The methods to access this mode vary by model.

When booting and seeing the Dell logo before Windows begins to load try holding the CTRL key down and tapping F11 several times. With luck it will start the recovery mode. However, different models may use different key combinations for this so if you can find the model number the post it here.

If there is no recovery partition then you will need a copy of Windows XP. As others have noted look for a Microsoft Windows XP sticker somewhere on the computer that has a 25 character code in the form xxxx-xxxxx-xxxxx-xxxxx-xxxxx. If so Windows XP can be reinstalled legally if you can borrow someones XP install disks.

If you were here in AZ I'd offer to get it running but you're a ways away!

 

[Huff]

Before you install windows or another OS make sure you have enough RAM to run windows and multitask different programs without slowing down performance.

Windows XP was already installed on her PC so should be ok there. XP doesn't require nearly as much ram as Vista (memory hog!) or Windows 7.

 

[Zalittle]

Windows XP was already installed on her PC so should be ok there. XP doesn't require nearly as much ram as Vista (memory hog!) or Windows 7.

I understand there will be enough memory to run windows, but if it only has the minimum. It will bottleneck and performance will diminish.

 

[surfergirl602]

Hey there! My husband and I recently purchased a desktop computer (Dell) from a private school that closed their doors. Problem is, when I boot it up, I get the 'Welcome to Windows XP' screen and it wants me to put in my user name, password, and 'log on to'... I don't have this information as the school shut down- and it was not provided to us by the auctioneers either. Is there a way around this or to clear this whole log-on thing out so that it will simply boot up and go right to the desktop? Please help!! Thank You!!

Turn the computer on but before it loads (at black screen) hit CTRL + F11. That will restore it to factory settings.

 

[rock_doctor]

Try the recovery as suggested above my post and if you are lucky and the school did not disable the recovery partition (which they likely did) it will reinstall XP. If it works make a backup of the OS using the program supplied by Dell as part of the installed software. If it does not work then I would contact dell and see if you can buy a copy of the recovery disks for that computer. You already own a license for XP so there should be no problem. You can also see if by chance somebody on ebay has a set of recovery disks for sale. I would also ask around to people you know and see if anybody owns the same computer and will make you a copy of the disks. Once again you own a licensed copy of XP so this is perfectly legal. The problem with scanning though the machine with the rainbow tables (which will give you all of the passwords stored on the machine) means you can log onto the machine but it will be set up to work with the schools network as well as what ever other software they were running. That will be more trouble then it is worth to you. I would stay with XP and not convert it to anything else. It is not a big deal but you need to locate a copy of the original recovery disks for that model. Jump over to dells forum and see if anybody can get you a copy of the recovery disks. XP is so old you may find someone who will just send them to you for shipping costs. If all else fails borrow a copy of XP from a friend and install it but use the license that is on the machine. Sometimes the OEM license will work with a retail copy...sometimes not....

 

[ilovemk76]

Becareful whose advise you take. Some people are in trouble for selling illegal software and the company is going after them. Their 5 days must be about up.

 

[Huff]

Becareful whose advise you take. Some people are in trouble for selling illegal software and the company is going after them. Their 5 days must be about up.

If the computer has a valid license sticker on it she's good to go even if she just borrowed someones XP CD to install it.

 

[WebmasterAlex]

You probably don't have a legal copy of the software.

Microsoft's licenses sold to educational organizations are cheap - but non-transferable. Unless the private school bought a transferable copy of Windows, they can't sell the OS along with the hardware.

There is no free version of Windows available.

You will need to buy new software.

(I was a Microsoft Licensing Specialist in my previous role)

You are assuming that it is an Academic open license or some variation. A lot of schools have computers with OEM licenses in which case this would be completely legal, you can resell an OEM licensed computer with the operating system, you just can't transfer the license to a new computer

 

[Sadie22]

When you reboot, if you keep pressing the f8 button, if something is there, it will come up then.

Linux is an open source operating system.

http://www.ubuntu.com/

My son has to work this evening, if he had the time he could possibly walk you through it. I'm thinking after work though, he will be working on his final project for computer programming. I think it is due next week and they are still fixing all the bugs. Definitely taking longer than he thought it would, especially with four people working on it.--more than you wanted to know.

If you weren't in another state, I would think your son and my son were part of the same group.

 

[crisi]

You are assuming that it is an Academic open license or some variation. A lot of schools have computers with OEM licenses in which case this would be completely legal, you can resell an OEM licensed computer with the operating system, you just can't transfer the license to a new computer

Yes I am - though I did say probably. Because a school gets their licenses for about half of an OEM license - and there aren't a lot of reasons a private school would OEM their software. And because not knowing what kind of license is on there is not an excuse to pirate the software.