Inspiron 6000

[SecretIkon]

don't know if this belongs here...but if it doesn't please move it to the correct one. thanks


well i just ordered my inspiron 6000 and it should be coming in a couple of days. i heard from several dell users here that they do another fresh install after they recieve theirs from dell because of the things dell install on it. does anyone also recommend doing a fresh format?

[Jeffbx]

YES - Dell puts all sorts of crap on there that you don't need. As soon as you get it, just boot it with the Windows CD, format the drive & do a fresh install. You may have to download the drivers if Dell didn't ship a driver CD (my 6000 didn't).

[bachviet]

My uncle's i6000 doesn't come with Windows CD so I don't know if yours come with it or not. If yours comes with Windows CD, just follow Jeff's instruction.

[rockets26]

Yeah I bought a 600m last week, and it didn't come with a windows CD. The "manual" said something about ctrl+F11 during bootup (I believe thats the combo) and that will walk you through a fresh install should you need it (When I say fresh install I mean with all the dell crap still on it.). I guess you are just SOL if your hard drive crashes as the recovery is on a separate partition on the hard drive.

[Devhux]

If you don't receive the recovery disc, call Dell and complain -- more than likely you should be able to convince them to mail you out a CD.

....and based on my XPS2, I definately would recommend a clean install.

[spigidygak]

Another vote on the real install >.> purchased a 600m on that last 750 off deal for a backup system for my dad. Jeez that thing was stuffed with junk. And of course they've gone the noncd route, putting a separate partition on the hard drive with the recovery files. Which I fear if you use will just reinstall all the crap. Haven't had time to call India yet for a real disc but will do so.

[SmokeyDP]

If you don't receive the recovery disc, call Dell and complain -- more than likely you should be able to convince them to mail you out a CD.

....and based on my XPS2, I definately would recommend a clean install.
A guy at work just got a dell laptop and they will NOT send you a recovery CD. They just give you instructions on how to make your own. I mean how much would it cost them to ship a damn CD with it? $1 at MOST!

[SecretIkon]

i should be getting the i6000 sometime next week.

a question about the real fresh install...should i delete the partition they created?

[SecretIkon]

question for those who purchased from dell...how long does it take to be in the boxing processes....i just cant wait for it to come... :)

[bachviet]

question for those who purchased from dell...how long does it take to be in the boxing processes....i just cant wait for it to come... :)
Two to three days

[SecretIkon]

been about 2 days...since the credit card didn't go through monday it went through tuesday morning...so i'm hoping to get it by friday...hoping but if not i can wait

[Jeffbx]

a question about the real fresh install...should i delete the partition they created?

If you have a Windows CD and feel comfortable building the machine & downloading the drivers yourself, then blow it away. Get back your 4GB or whatever the partition size is.

When I got my 6000 (heh - $450 from the Dell Refurb site) I actually swapped out that dog slow 4200RPM drive it shipped with & popped in a 60GB, 7200RPM. Made a WORLD of difference in the speed of the machine.

[SecretIkon]

is the harddrive a 5200 or a 7200...

[bachviet]

Most likely the hard drive is 4200RPM type unless you upgrade to 5400RPM or 7200RPM one.

[SecretIkon]

well i just got my i6000 today. so happy that i got it. so about the fresh install....do i need to buy a new copy of windows?

[SecretIkon]

i have a question about one of the softwares i need to download for the drivers. do i need to download Dell Notebook System Software? I already downloaded the ones needed such as, the network, chipset, sound, display, bios?, IDE, some applications...

is there another else i need?

[Jeffbx]

well i just got my i6000 today. so happy that i got it. so about the fresh install....do i need to buy a new copy of windows?

Gosh, no! You already paid for that with the machine purchase. The little Microsoft sticker on the bottom of the machine with the serial number is all you need.

Here's the description for the Dell Notebook System Software:


Notebook System Software (NSS) is a utility that provides critical updates and patches for your operating system. Install the NSS program to gain support for Dell 3.5-inch USB floppy drives, Intel Pentium-M processors, CD-ROM/CD-RW/DVD drives, Infrared (IR) communications, and USB devices. NSS is necessary for correct operation of your Dell portable computer, including the Dell D/Bay, D/Dock, D/Port, and D/View family of docking devices. NSS automatically detects your computer and operating system and installs the updates appropriate for your configuration.

I'm thinking you'll want to load that up.

[SecretIkon]

so is everything else i downloaded good? sorry this is my first time purchasing dell equipment and doing a fresh install on their systems.

[Jeffbx]

Here's how to tell for sure -

Go to your device manager (right click on My Computer, choose Manage, in the left pane choose Device Manager). This will list all of the hardware devices on your system. Look for any that have a red X or an exclaimation mark - those are hardware devices that are not installed correctly or do not have proper drivers. Any of those you'll need new drivers for.

[SecretIkon]

cool. thanks jeff you've been a big help. :)

[SecretIkon]

i finished a fresh install of windows. but i got this yellow question mark next to a PCI Device which is catagorized under Other Devices. Anyone know what is it? or what can it be.

[Grimm]

i finished a fresh install of windows. but i got this yellow question mark next to a PCI Device which is catagorized under Other Devices. Anyone know what is it? or what can it be.
Remove it and reboot. It is most likely a component that was not recognized because when it was first seen a supporting component didn't have a driver and it could not be identified. It should be regognized and the correct driver installed.

[SecretIkon]

sense i don't have a virus canner does anyone know of any suggestions? i know AVG is free and its good. But i'm thinking if i can get Norton back?

[jry1209]

I just received my new 6000 and want to do a fresh install. A few questions:

1. I have a copy of Windows XP SP2 currently installed on my main computer. Could I use this disc to do the fresh install using the notebook's windows serial number since they don't ship a disc?

2. By doing a fresh install, what types of drivers am I going to have to hunt down, and is their one source on Dell's site for all of them, or do I have to find them all seperately?

[SmokeyDP]

The only way you could use the CD you already have is if they are both the same edition(IE: Home vs. Profesional). If you go to Dells website there are instructions how how to MAKE the recovery CD from the files on your system. I am not farmiliar with this process though.

Go to Dell's support website and look for the driver downloads section. From there you should put in your model number and it will take you to a site with all the drivers. I usually just download the network ones, because once you do a fresh install and the network is up you can go to their website and download what Windows can't find on its own.

[jry1209]

Figures I would lose my Windows disk.

Question, does anyone have any experience creating an operating system CD with Dell now that they don't ship them?

http://support.dell.com/support/topics/global.aspx/support/kb/en/document?dn=1091713

Will the creation of this CD and using it provide a true fresh install without all the Dell installed crap? Or will it just be there again? I don't want to waste my time doing this if it won't truly get rid of all that stuff.