Old Laptop, New Harddrive and No Windows XP CD..Help!!

retenzo

Hi i recently bought a second hand laptop off ebay. After a day or so the harddrive failed so the seller agreed to send me a new harddrive....fair enough.. Now for the problems:
1) The seller is gone AWOL and i cant get in contact with him
2) There is nothing on the new harddrive he has sent me and i havent got a copy of windows xp to install onto the new harddrive. However there is an xp licence on the computer
3) The laptop is a dell lattitude and has no cd drive or floppy just a usb drive

Can anyone guide me in the right direction on what to do...is it possible to download xp off some site and enter my licence number and install from USB or will i have to bring it to a laptop repair shop or something....

Cheers

AlmightyCushion

You need to get your hands on a cd that is the exact same version of windows you have the license for (e.g. windows home/media centre/professional). You can use an external cd/dvd drive to install it. I think you can install of a usb stick but not 100%.

retenzo

Right and is there any way of getting a replacement disk off microsoft with my licence even though its probably registered to someone else?, or am i looking at just buying a new cd and licence?

Can anyone confirm if i do buy a new windows xp software that i can transfer it to a usb stick and run it from the stick?

Cheers

AlmightyCushion

Dell might be able to send you out one but it will probably cost a few euro. Don't buy another one as you already have a valid xp license. I'd be wary about downloading a version mainly because you don't what shít the person has put in it, it could be riddled with viruses/spyware.

MunsterCycling

And also it would violate the EULA to use a downloaded version of XP. As AC has said you need a cd with the same version of XP on it as your COA, the eBay seller did all they should have done, sending you XP installed on it would have been nice but then they would have had to sysprep the installation so it would work once installed in the new machine. Think you should count yourself lucky they gave you a new HDD tbh

MC

retenzo

cheers lads... now to tackle dell...

Tony H

What version of XP are you looking for ?, I might have an old dell one somewhere if you want it

ps if you are in a hurry to get an operating system going while you are waiting for an xp disk , you could install Ubuntu from a usb drive

IrishHomer

I had the very same issue recently and Dell sent me out new disks immediately for free by courier.

Cormic

IrishHomer wrote: »

I had the very same issue recently and Dell sent me out new disks immediately for free by courier.

I am very surprised by that. Although I believe at one stage they did not supply XP media in the box.

retenzo

good stuff..well I'm currently in oz but thanks for the offer for the disks..I emailed them my problem so should hear back off them tomorrow..cheers again

retenzo

Well lads,

Having manage to obtain a copy of windows xp and finding out how to load on by usb stick..it turns out none of the drivers were loaded on..i.e. graphics, network drives etc.....however the computer does let me boot xp and do everything else...does anyone know how to load these drivers nbearing in my i will have to do it from usb as ive no cd drive? Cheers

TerrorFirmer

Just download the drivers on a desktop computer (a net cafe, if you don't have a desktop as well) and throw them onto the USB. The drivers will all come in executable file so all you have to do is double click them from the drive and they'll install.

Main ones: Chipset, Video card, Wifi, Audio, Network. You'll get them all off the Dell site.

Triangle

Use the serial Tag on the Laptop to find the drivers you need for the laptop.

i.e.
On Dell's website enter in the service tag and it will show you a list of drivers available for your model.