Reinstalling Microsoft Windows Xp - Dell OptiPlex 745c Quick Reference Manual

Reinstalling Microsoft Windows XP

Getting Started
NOTE:
The procedures in this document were written for the Windows default view in Windows XP Home Edition, so
the steps will differ if you set your Dell computer to the Windows Classic view or are using Windows XP Professional.
If you are considering reinstalling the Windows XP operating system to correct a problem with a newly
installed driver, first try using Windows XP Device Driver Rollback.
1 Click the Start button and click Control Panel.
2 Under Pick a Category, click Performance and Maintenance.
3 Click System.
4 In the System Properties window, click the Hardware tab.
5 Click Device Manager.
6 Right-click the device for which the new driver was installed and click Properties.
7 Click the Drivers tab.
8 Click Roll Back Driver.
If Device Driver Rollback does not resolve the problem, then use System Restore to return your operating
system to the operating state it was in before you installed the new device driver (see "Using Microsoft
Windows XP System Restore" on page 28).
NOTE:
The Drivers and Utilities CD contains drivers that were installed during assembly of the computer. Use the
Drivers Utilities CD to load any required drivers, including the drivers required if your computer has a RAID controller.
Reinstalling Windows XP
NOTICE:
You must use Windows XP Service Pack 1 or later when you reinstall Windows XP.
NOTICE:
Before performing the installation, back up all data files on your primary hard drive. For conventional
hard drive configurations, the primary hard drive is the first drive detected by the computer.
To reinstall Windows XP , you need the following items:
• Dell Operating System CD
• Dell Drivers and Utilities CD
To reinstall Windows XP , perform all the steps in the following sections in the order in which they are listed.
The reinstallation process can take 1 to 2 hours to complete. After you reinstall the operating system, you
must also reinstall the device drivers, virus protection program, and other software.
NOTICE:
The Operating System CD provides options for reinstalling Windows XP. The options can overwrite files
and possibly affect programs installed on your hard drive. Therefore, do not reinstall Windows XP unless a Dell
technical support representative instructs you to do so.
NOTICE:
To prevent conflicts with Windows XP, disable any virus protection software installed on your computer
before you reinstall Windows XP. See the documentation that came with the software for instructions.
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Quick Reference Guide