used pc

[jinxy]

Hey all, I have a chance to buy a Dell E520 used for $75. It has a DVD-
rom, a DVD-rewriter, a 160Gb Samsung hdd, 2 x 512mb ddr2 with a
Pentium 4 processor.The number on the mobo is E210822. It starts up
and runs, but someone has tried to put Vista Home basic on it. It say
that it is build 6000, then it loads vista and says"this copy is not
genuine" and offers a short list of option.l am not able to get into
the start menu, only "use your pc with limited functions" .Half of the
COA sticker is still on the tower ( was the rest torn off on
purpose?) I would like to buy this pc but I don't want to buy a vista
license and I am not trolling for a product key.I could dismantle it
for the parts alone and get my $75 back in no time, or I could always
reformat and install XP, but will I run into any headaches with Dell
specific drivers? I don't want to make this a project, but I could use
a cheap back-up pc. I would like to hear your opinions. If you have
some time to spare please offer any guidance or suggestions you may
have.
Thanks
-J

 

[peter]

If you go to the Dell website see if you can find XP drivers for that
machine
if you can install XP and your up and running.

on the other hand maybe the machine came with a hidden "restore" partition
and again the Dell website should be able to tell you what keys to push upon
boot up to access that partition and reinstall back to 1st bought new state.

peter

 

[jinxy]

If you go to the Dell website see if you can find XP drivers for that
machine
if you can install XP and your up and running.

on the other hand maybe the machine came with a hidden "restore" partition
and again the Dell website should be able to tell you what keys to push upon
boot up to access that partition and reinstall back to 1st bought new state.

peter

--
If you find a posting or message from me offensive,inappropriate
or disruptive,please ignore it.
If you dont know how to ignore a posting complain
to me and I will be only too happy to demonstrate






- Show quoted text -

I managed to start up in safe mode. I was able to access the PC
restore in system tool. I started the Dell restore, was asked if I was
sure I was about to re-format drive and lose all exsisting data,
clicked OK, reformatting begins and then an error, no number no
nothing just a red X and the word ERROR. Is this because it's in
safemode? I am starting to think that this pirated copy of Vista is
going to screw the deal. I also used siw to obtain the product key
only to find it is one that is floating around the web. I did manage
to find the other half of the COA sticker stuck to the rear foot of
the tower, tried activating with that product key and still no joy.
Why wont it activate windows from that sticker? Back to the grindstone
for some answers I go.
-J

 

[NT]

I managed to start up in safe mode. I was able to access the PC
restore in system tool. I started the Dell restore, was asked if I was
sure I was about to re-format drive and lose all exsisting data,
clicked OK, reformatting begins and then an error, no number no
nothing just a red X and the word ERROR. Is this because it's in
safemode? I am starting to think that this pirated copy of Vista is
going to screw the deal. I also used siw to obtain the product key
only to find it is one that is floating around the web. I did manage
to find the other half of the COA sticker stuck to the rear foot of
the tower, tried activating with that product key and still no joy.
Why wont it activate windows from that sticker? Back to the grindstone
for some answers I go.
-J

You're lucky it wont let you install vista. Use a more sensible OS


NT

 

[Peter]

(e-mail address removed)>, (e-mail address removed)
says...

I did manage
to find the other half of the COA sticker stuck to the rear foot of
the tower, tried activating with that product key and still no joy.
Why wont it activate windows from that sticker? Back to the grindstone
for some answers I go.
-J

Possibly the version of windows that you are trying to activate does not
match up with that product key. I take it it's XP you have running, but
is it an OEM version?

 

[peter]

That's not the same thing as the "Restore Partition" which is accessed upon
boot
by means of an F key...
Have you gone to the Dell website??

peter

 

[jinxy]

You could try using the [F2] key while in POST to see if you can get
into the CMOS setup. Most Dells have a page in setup with a
manufacturing tag number which you use on the DELL site to get into the
support for the particular machine. There you will find drivers for all
operating systems that are supported for that line.

The ripped COA may be an indication that the machine was in an
environment using a corporate license, which is not transferable, and
where the previous owners did what MS would like all corporate
licenseses to do.

I have been to the Dell site , and have followed the instructions:
Restore the computer's software to original condition. 1. As the
computer starts, press <F8> on the keyboard until the Advanced Boot
Options menu appears on the screen. Press the <Down Arrow> on the
keyboard to select "Repair Your Computer" on the Advanced Boot Options
menu, and then press <Enter>. I am not getting "repair your computer"
option. I do get the standard safemode, with or with networking and a
couple of other non-applicable choices. WTF? I tried XP instructions,
only this time, at the Dell splash screen , hold <ctrl> and then press
F11 , release both at the same time, still nothing. I am going to try
to find out if this pc is stolen. If it is legit, I will contact Dell
for a recovery or restore disk and go from there. Keep any ideas
coming, if you would.
Thanks again for your time and patience.
-J

 

[GlowingBlueMist]

You could try using the [F2] key while in POST to see if you can get
into the CMOS setup. Most Dells have a page in setup with a
manufacturing tag number which you use on the DELL site to get into
the support for the particular machine. There you will find drivers
for all operating systems that are supported for that line.

The ripped COA may be an indication that the machine was in an
environment using a corporate license, which is not transferable, and
where the previous owners did what MS would like all corporate
licenseses to do.

I have been to the Dell site , and have followed the instructions:
Restore the computer's software to original condition. 1. As the
computer starts, press <F8> on the keyboard until the Advanced Boot
Options menu appears on the screen. Press the <Down Arrow> on the
keyboard to select "Repair Your Computer" on the Advanced Boot Options
menu, and then press <Enter>. I am not getting "repair your computer"
option. I do get the standard safemode, with or with networking and a
couple of other non-applicable choices. WTF? I tried XP instructions,
only this time, at the Dell splash screen , hold <ctrl> and then press
F11 , release both at the same time, still nothing. I am going to try
to find out if this pc is stolen. If it is legit, I will contact Dell
for a recovery or restore disk and go from there. Keep any ideas
coming, if you would.
Thanks again for your time and patience.
-J

Download a copy of EASEAUS Partition Master Home Edition from this link:
http://www.partition-tool.com/personal.htm
It is free for home use. Use it to see if a recovery or second partition
even exists on the current hard drive. If not then someone has reformatted
the entire drive or installed a replacement hard drive. In either case a
recovery or new OS CD are your only options.

It would not be the first time someone has installed a replacement hard
drive only to find out they no longer have a recovery partition to rebuild
the system from or reformatted the drive to try and hide where they acquired
it from.

Good luck, if the partition is not on the hard drive just tell dell you had
to replace the CD so they send you a complete recovery CD and not just a
boot CD expecting to you use the recovery partition.

 

[jinxy]

You could try using the [F2] key while in POST to see if you can get
into the CMOS setup. Most Dells have a page in setup with a
manufacturing tag number which you use on the DELL site to get into
the support for the particular machine. There you will find drivers
for all operating systems that are supported for that line.
The ripped COA may be an indication that the machine was in an
environment using a corporate license, which is not transferable, and
where the previous owners did what MS would like all corporate
licenseses to do.

I have been to the Dell site , and have followed the instructions:
Restore the computer's software to original condition. 1. As the
computer starts, press <F8> on the keyboard until the Advanced Boot
Options menu appears on the screen. Press the <Down Arrow> on the
keyboard to select "Repair Your Computer" on the Advanced Boot Options
menu, and then press <Enter>. I am not getting "repair your computer"
option. I do get the standard safemode, with or with networking and a
couple of other non-applicable choices. WTF? I tried XP instructions,
only this time, at the Dell splash screen , hold <ctrl> and then press
F11 , release both at the same time, still nothing. I am going to try
to find out if this pc is stolen. If it is legit, I will contact Dell
for a recovery or restore disk and go from there. Keep any ideas
coming, if you would.
Thanks again for your time and patience.
-J

Download a copy of  EASEAUS Partition Master Home Edition from this link:http://www.partition-tool.com/personal.htm
It is free for home use.  Use it to see if a recovery or second partition
even exists on the current hard drive.  If not then someone has reformatted
the entire drive or installed a replacement hard drive.  In either casea
recovery or new OS CD are your only options.

It would not be the first time someone has installed a replacement hard
drive only to find out they no longer have a recovery partition to rebuild
the system from or reformatted the drive to try and hide where they acquired
it from.

Good luck, if the partition is not on the hard drive just tell dell you had
to replace the CD so they send you a complete recovery CD and not just a
boot CD expecting to you use the recovery partition.- Hide quoted text -

- Show quoted text -

The recovery partition shows up on the hd, but I can only try to run
it in safemode.I keep getting an error. If the error had a number I
would have a starting point, but no such luck.
-J

 

[GlowingBlueMist]

You could try using the [F2] key while in POST to see if you can
get into the CMOS setup. Most Dells have a page in setup with a
manufacturing tag number which you use on the DELL site to get into
the support for the particular machine. There you will find drivers
for all operating systems that are supported for that line.

The ripped COA may be an indication that the machine was in an
environment using a corporate license, which is not transferable,
and where the previous owners did what MS would like all corporate
licenseses to do.

I have been to the Dell site , and have followed the instructions:
Restore the computer's software to original condition. 1. As the
computer starts, press <F8> on the keyboard until the Advanced Boot
Options menu appears on the screen. Press the <Down Arrow> on the
keyboard to select "Repair Your Computer" on the Advanced Boot
Options menu, and then press <Enter>. I am not getting "repair your
computer" option. I do get the standard safemode, with or with
networking and a couple of other non-applicable choices. WTF? I
tried XP instructions, only this time, at the Dell splash screen ,
hold <ctrl> and then press F11 , release both at the same time,
still nothing. I am going to try to find out if this pc is stolen.
If it is legit, I will contact Dell for a recovery or restore disk
and go from there. Keep any ideas coming, if you would.
Thanks again for your time and patience.
-J

Download a copy of EASEAUS Partition Master Home Edition from this
link:http://www.partition-tool.com/personal.htm It is free for home
use. Use it to see if a recovery or second partition
even exists on the current hard drive. If not then someone has
reformatted
the entire drive or installed a replacement hard drive. In either
case a
recovery or new OS CD are your only options.

It would not be the first time someone has installed a replacement
hard
drive only to find out they no longer have a recovery partition to
rebuild
the system from or reformatted the drive to try and hide where they
acquired
it from.

Good luck, if the partition is not on the hard drive just tell dell
you had
to replace the CD so they send you a complete recovery CD and not
just a
boot CD expecting to you use the recovery partition.- Hide quoted
text -

- Show quoted text -

The recovery partition shows up on the hd, but I can only try to run
it in safemode.I keep getting an error. If the error had a number I
would have a starting point, but no such luck.
-J

I did see one mention of tapping the F11 key (only) while booting may bring
up the restore screen on some versions. Other than that I'd say it's time
to go for the CD from Dell. There are a few downloadable restore CD's for
around $10.00 on the web but one has to be very carefull to get a CD for the
right model Dell and OS.

 

[jinxy]

jinxy wrote:
You could try using the [F2] key while in POST to see if you can
get into the CMOS setup. Most Dells have a page in setup with a
manufacturing tag number which you use on the DELL site to get into
the support for the particular machine. There you will find drivers
for all operating systems that are supported for that line.
The ripped COA may be an indication that the machine was in an
environment using a corporate license, which is not transferable,
and where the previous owners did what MS would like all corporate
licenseses to do.
I have been to the Dell site , and have followed the instructions:
Restore the computer's software to original condition. 1. As the
computer starts, press <F8> on the keyboard until the Advanced Boot
Options menu appears on the screen. Press the <Down Arrow> on the
keyboard to select "Repair Your Computer" on the Advanced Boot
Options menu, and then press <Enter>. I am not getting "repair your
computer" option. I do get the standard safemode, with or with
networking and a couple of other non-applicable choices. WTF? I
tried XP instructions, only this time, at the Dell splash screen ,
hold <ctrl> and then press F11 , release both at the same time,
still nothing. I am going to try to find out if this pc is stolen.
If it is legit, I will contact Dell for a recovery or restore disk
and go from there. Keep any ideas coming, if you would.
Thanks again for your time and patience.
-J
Download a copy of EASEAUS Partition Master Home Edition from this
link:http://www.partition-tool.com/personal.htmIt is free for home
use. Use it to see if a recovery or second partition
even exists on the current hard drive. If not then someone has
reformatted
the entire drive or installed a replacement hard drive. In either
case a
recovery or new OS CD are your only options.
It would not be the first time someone has installed a replacement
hard
drive only to find out they no longer have a recovery partition to
rebuild
the system from or reformatted the drive to try and hide where they
acquired
it from.
Good luck, if the partition is not on the hard drive just tell dell
you had
to replace the CD so they send you a complete recovery CD and not
just a
boot CD expecting to you use the recovery partition.- Hide quoted
text -
- Show quoted text -

The recovery partition shows up on the hd, but I can only try to run
it in safemode.I keep getting an error. If the error had a number I
would have a starting point, but no such luck.
-J

I did see one mention of tapping the F11 key (only) while booting may bring
up the restore screen on some versions.  Other than that I'd say it's time
to go for the CD from Dell.  There are a few downloadable restore CD's for
around $10.00 on the web but one has to be very carefull to get a CD for the
right model Dell and OS.- Hide quoted text -

- Show quoted text -

Thanks for the heads up. I think I will give my brain a rest untill
Monday on this one.
-J