Reinstalling OS on Inspiron

Leigh, Once you get all the OS & drivers installed, from the CD's that Dell = provided to you. And you have installed or turned on the firewall for = your laptop. You should the following.

1. Go to Windows Update and install all the updates for XP SP2. Do Not = install Hardware drivers, that may be offered by MS, but make a note of = what they are offering, including version #, such as video, modem, = network drivers, etc... a. If you have MS Office or Works Suite bundled software, it might = be good to install it now, then go to the MS Office site, and install = any updates that are available for those products.=20

2. If MS offered say a video upgrade, go to the Dell site and see what = video upgrade that they are offering, and install it. This goes for any = other drivers that are there.=20 a. You may want to check the manufacturer's website and see if there = is any updates for their hardware. But use common sense, if things are = working fine with your laptop, it might be better not upgrade, until you = really need it.

3. After installing any "bundled" software that came with the Dell CD's, = look for any upgrades-patches that might be available from Dell.

4. If you have some external hardware such as a printer, scanner, = digital camera, microphone, etc... You should check their sites, and see = if there are any upgrade drivers for their hardware, or updates-patches = for the software that originally came with it.

5. Go to the website of any software that you plan to reinstall on your = laptop, and see if that there are any upgrades for it, especially your = security type programs, such as antivirus, firewall, spyware, etc...

6. This may be the perfect time to review the software that you plan to = reinstall on your laptop. If it is a program the you really don't use = alot, or not at all. Consider not reinstalling it at this time, until = you really need it.

--=20

Rich-rerat

Greetings,

I am going to reinstall the OS on my Inspiron 6000. I have the Dell=20 Reinstallation CD Microsoft Windows XP Home Edition Service Pack 2 disk = and=20 the Dell Inspiron Drivers and Utilities disk that includes Device = drivers=20 and Diagnostics and Utilities.

After I install Windows XP with SP2 and the Drivers and Utilities disk = is=20 there any other drivers I need to install. In other words, will I need = to go=20 on to the Dell Support site and seek out any other downloads to install = so=20 that the system works correctly?

Thank you in advance for your comments, help, and insight.

Leigh