Dell formatting

[izzymem]

Can a Dell PC be formatted just like a custom built one.

Custom built Pc's are well easy to format etc. Just pop in the CD and it boots from start with the options for formatting.

Is this process as easy on a Dell Pc. I ask because Dells are very commercial and i am not sure if they have any restrictions.

I jsut want to be able to format a Dell wit ha clean windows and no Dell incorporated software etc.

Can this be done?

[ursula62]

If you have a valid licensed Windows OS disk then yes, any PC can be built using this, even a Dell ;-)

I know, I installed Win XP on my Dell from a Microsoft (non OEM) disk. The dell recovery disk didn't work

[Ralph]

Sure, a Dell is "very similar" to a normal PC. Provided you have a Windows installation CD and not a restore CD, it's as easy as any other PC. If you have a restore CD, then you get back all the Dell software, although you may be able to use your Dell Windows serial number with a different Windows installation CD.

The reason I called them "very similar" is that Dell do have a tendency to use their own version of standard hardware. Since they have so much buying power, they can have their hardware built to their own specs, so if you replace a Dell power supply with a normal one for example, the Dell one may have a different pin layout, so causing smoke to come out of the motherboard 'cos bits of it get 12v rather than 1.5v. This means you have to go back to Dell to buy any bits, rather than run off to PC World.

[stevie21]

As great as Dell are, I'd shop around in case someone else can give you a bare bones system for less.
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