Formatting and Backing Up
Here is a checklist.
- BackUp your emails.
- Your desktop items
- Your favourites
- Work Files / My Documents / My Received Files
Partitioning always comes in handy as when you format, you can choose to only format your local c: drive. A single harddisk can be partitioned so it holds c: , d: or more drives. I’d always keep my documents in another drive eg d: as if anything happens to the Operating System (Windows), it doesn’t damage my data files.
Install XP from a Dell Disk (Original)
You can install windows XP with a spare dell disk. Please ensure you have a valid product key (which is found on the side of your desktop machine or under your laptop). The product key looks like xxxxx-xxxxx-xxxxx-xxxxx-xxxxx (with alpha numerics).
You can install windows XP on any brand of laptop or pcs using a dell XP CD. Just go thru normal installation and after installation, it will prompt you for activation.
At this point, click on activate using phone, then a button “change product key” will appear. You may use the original product key here. Then click back and activate online. Now your XP is authentic and original.