David, I would contact Dell. They might mail you a restore CD, the original that came with the laptop. ------------------------ Peter - http://szaro.net ------------------------ -----Original Message----- From: David Bruce Jr. [mailto:davidbrucejr@xxxxxxxxxxxx] Sent: Thursday, December 29, 2005 7:50 PM To: computertalkshop@xxxxxxxxxxxxx Subject: [CTS] Re: dell laptop reload question thanks Hal it won't boot into XP I get a registry file error something about not loading the hive it loops into a memory dump cant get past that screen it looks like I can get what ever I loose in the format here: http://support.dell.com/support/downloads/devices.aspx?c=us&l=en&s=gen&Syste mID=LAT_PNT_P3C_C600&os=WNT5&osl=EN# I'm afraid though... what if I boot to 98 boot disk and loose the CD rom. I've never worked on a laptop before, will 98 boot disk give me access to the CD rom? thanks David ----- Original Message ----- From: Hal To: computertalkshop@xxxxxxxxxxxxx Sent: Thursday, December 29, 2005 7:40 PM Subject: [CTS] Re: dell laptop reload question Lots of questions. You don't have to put Win98 on it first. During the installation it will ask for the CD to verify you are upgrading. I've never seen a 'hidden' folder on a Dell. You do not have to format the HD before installing Win XP. It will be formated during the installation. Strongly suggest you format it using NTFS. What do you want to reload that was on the Dell before? Programs? You can if you have a copy and can install it on XP. Be sure you have enough memory; XP requires substantially more than Win2K. Hal On 12/29/2005 6:50 PM, David Bruce Jr. duly noted: Hi guys, long time no post. Merry Christmas to all. I think this is my first post since moving out of my Dad's apartment. I've been given a dell laptop, it has XP on it, no recovery disk. The copy of XP crashed, I think I need to reload windows... I only have a upgrade copy so I'd have to put win98 on it first... My question is this- do dell's have a hidden folder on thier hard drives, if I format the disk, will I be hatein' life? Can I redownload what ever is lost from dell? It's a Dell Latitude, originally came w/ win2000 thanks David Bruce Jr. Frederick MD www.effortlessconfidence.com ** YOUR HELP IS URGENTLY NEEDED ** DONATE to Hurricane Katrina victims: http://www.redcross.org/ DONATE Housing (Spare room, shelter) http://www.hurricanehousing.org/ --------------------------------------------------------------------------- Computer Talk Shop http://www.computertalkshop.com Un-subscribe/Vacation, http://www.computertalkshop.com/list_options.htm List HowTo: http://www.computertalkshop.com/faq.htm To join Computer Talk Shop's off topic list, please goto: http://computertalkshop.com/other_cts_lists.htm --------------------------------------------------------------------------- -- Hal Brown email: hdbrown@xxxxxxxxx Home: 937.864.7523 Work: 937.286.4941 http://daytonlodge147.org No virus found in this incoming message. Checked by AVG Free Edition. Version: 7.1.371 / Virus Database: 267.14.9/216 - Release Date: 12/29/2005 ** YOUR HELP IS URGENTLY NEEDED ** DONATE to Hurricane Katrina victims: http://www.redcross.org/ DONATE Housing (Spare room, shelter) http://www.hurricanehousing.org/ --------------------------------------------------------------------------- Computer Talk Shop http://www.computertalkshop.com Un-subscribe/Vacation, http://www.computertalkshop.com/list_options.htm List HowTo: http://www.computertalkshop.com/faq.htm To join Computer Talk Shop's off topic list, please goto: http://computertalkshop.com/other_cts_lists.htm --------------------------------------------------------------------------- ** YOUR HELP IS URGENTLY NEEDED ** DONATE to Hurricane Katrina victims: http://www.redcross.org/ DONATE Housing (Spare room, shelter) http://www.hurricanehousing.org/ --------------------------------------------------------------------------- Computer Talk Shop http://www.computertalkshop.com Un-subscribe/Vacation, http://www.computertalkshop.com/list_options.htm List HowTo: http://www.computertalkshop.com/faq.htm To join Computer Talk Shop's off topic list, please goto: http://computertalkshop.com/other_cts_lists.htm ---------------------------------------------------------------------------