He has to buy another part if he wants to use the drive. He's also facing issues with authentication. He writes:
I purchased a Dell Latitude XT several months ago. It shipped with Windows XP Tablet Edition and Windows Vista. Today I found myself trying to install Tablet XP from the installation DVD.
The XT does not include an internal CD/DVD drive. It's not a netbook but it is designed to be used as a tablet. The irony is that Dell did include a CD/DVD drive. It's not exactly an external drive- it requires a "Media Base" to use (a separate purchase). They couldn't simply include a cable.
I found a way to install Windows XP from an external hard drive here.
I already had an external hard drive install setup for Windows 7 so this looked simple. I followed steps 12-20 and everything seemed fine until I was presented with product key prompt. The "start here" book that the DVD was delivered with stated "The Certificate of Authenticity label has been removed by your PC manufacturer and should be attached to your PC." No such label was attached to the PC.
I spent the next two hours on the phone being bounced between Dell's Technical Support, Customer Care, a "Resolution Specialist," and eventually a technician. Customer Care had originally diverted me to Microsoft who quickly informed me that Dell would need to provide the product code for OEM software. Total time on the phone with Dell: over two hours. Total time on the phone with Microsoft: about ten minutes.
The technician basically told me I had to use the DVD to install XP. Apparently the product code is embedded on the system board or something.
Dell sold me a computer with an external CD/DVD drive that I can only use after spending more money. They included a DVD with documentation stating that the Certificate of Authenticity label is on the computer even though it isn't. I found a way to work around the first hurdle they put in front of me but I'm stuck on the second. I'm hoping a Consumerist reader could help me out here.
Any advice for David?
(Photo: Ron Dauphin)
]]>I'm pretty sure you don't need to go to eBay. Instead, you can call Dell and order part# RD955. Or if you want to spend $10 more for a black one part# 8X944. (I'm nearly positive that these are the same, with only cosmetic differences.)
Of course, if you're already spending $50, why not get a DVD drive with a non-proprietary cable on it? Newegg has about a dozen of them for less than $50. Of course, if you can get Dell to give it to you free (which might be easier if you have the part number)...
]]>Yes, I'm absolutely certain I bought it from Dell.
]]>Yes there is a special port. If Dell had provided a cable to connect the drive to it I would be all set.
Even if that is the case, I would *still* like to have the product key to the software I own. Granted, I am not installing it the way Dell intended me to but the documentation shipped with the software states that the product key should be attached to the PC. It is not.
]]>@Android8675: XP Tablet because I have been unable to run a certain program (Lookout Direct and NI Logos) with XP mode yet.
]]>You can install Windows 7 very easily from a flash drive (Microsoft even has a tool available to copy over the files and make the drive bootable), but XP is a huge pain in the butt to set up a flash drive install on.
Speaking of Windows 7, with it out on the market, why in world would you want to install XP on ANY computer now?
]]>@shepd:
Augh. I reds gud.
Key should be able to be dug from the system though. Every laptop I've handled has had the sticker though. Fumbled up job at the factory or a happy worker with a free lisence I'd say.
]]>Yes it is USB, but there is only 1 usb port it can plug into due to power requirements. It's a USB+Power port, Dell tablets DO have this port... I'm looking right at it right now.
]]>I feel like I've bought a printer or two over the years without a USB cable. Same excuse, I bet.
]]>Whiny. Little. B*****s. Prolly all democrats, too.
]]>@ShadowFalls: You don't need to have a coa on a system to have a licensed version of Windows on it.
]]>Although some of the ways of extracting a key from the DVD will work as well, this may be simpler.
]]>However, the sticker is basically your proof and your backup. If there was no sticker the OS was sold illegally (exaggerating, but you know what I mean).
God XP Tablet Edition? really? Why not just go Windows 7 Pro or Ultimate? XP Mode = win.
]]>@pecan 3.14159265: You can order any Latitude with XP media along with Vista (or 7) it's known as a "downgrade bonus"
]]>Exactly correct right there. If you don't have the COA on the computer, you don't have a license to use Windows on it. Seems like it would be a good idea to step this right up to the top now.
]]>It's a matter of inserting the digital license which can be done from a command line prompt then inserting the OEM CD Key.
]]>Won't work, he doesn't have a product key. :(
]]>@MrEvil: Really? I wonder why I have difficulties between Dell models with Dell media then, hmm... not that we use the Dell media anymore - we use our own images thankfully. Ah well, thanks for the info though :)
]]>Does the machine have a SD reader?
Get a cheap card, visit eeeguides.com and you're set. That's how I installed XP Pro on my Eee.
]]>The problem you have is that OEM versions check for a System Tattoo that is in the BIOS, it then compares that with the hardware in that machine (HD Size, RAM, Grpahics card etc) if the machine has the Tattoo and the hardware doesnt match original config in some cases you cant even install using the original CD that came with the system. My HP is this way. I replaced the 300 Gig HD with a 500 Gig and was no longer able to install from my recovery CD(ok it let me install but as soon as it tried to load the GUI it checked the system hardware and bombed). So for me I had to reinstall the 300, Recover the system, ACTIVATE XP, then image the drive over to the 500. IF I recall right I have the option of sending the machine back to HP for them to verify and update the Tattoo with the new hardware for a fee ( [forums13.itrc.hp.com] ) and then my recover media will work but why bother. Soon I will be installing Win 7 upgrade on it and it will no longer be an issue.
Its sad that only the honest people suffer. I had a machine once that would BSOD every time WGA ran too, turned out to be a freak hardware compatibility issue (was a Dell desktop) and there was no fix ever made for it.
]]>I had to go download drivers from the Logitech website, to get the keyboard and mouse to work with the comptuer that they came with. What a hassle just to use a brand new computer.
]]>@drizzt380: Exactly. F u angryneo. If you don't know who the jackass is, it's YOU!
]]>@CompyPaq: According to Dell.com, the XT tablet only comes with Vista. Maybe he meant XT Tablet Edition, not XP.
]]>And his COA should be underneath the battery. Dell started hiding them in battery compartments and under access panels to improve the appearance of the Latitudes (and to prevent the COA from wearing off from frequent use on a customer's lap.
]]>@robdew2: It seems to me that the OP did not necessarily have a need for an external drive, but that Dell threw one in because it was required. The external drive happens to be Dell's proprietary software and did not use USB.
]]>@Rachacha: One more thing, if the laptop came with a Drive bay (D-Bay as Dell calls it) for the DVD drive, with a connector that looks like 2 USB ports stacked on top of one another, you need to use the Powered USB port which appears to be located next to the ethernet jack.
]]>Does the XT have a hidden partition on the hard drive that has all of the necessary files to reformat and reinstall the OS?
Check under the battery for the COA
]]>1. Get yourself access to a desktop or other computer with both a DVD reader and a USB port. One of these shouldn't be too hard to find at work, home or school.
2. Get access to or buy a 4 gig USB drive ($12 at your local Wal-Mart).
3. See [www.intowindows.com] and follow instructions.
]]>Regarding 'angryneo' and his "Guess who sounds like a whiny, little b****?" comment... um, you? How is it unreasonable that Dell sells an accessory for a product that includes all necessary equipment to work? Sheesh....
]]>Is he sure he bought it from Dell?
]]>@AirIntake: Agreed. However the media is usually tied to a certain product or product line, so not any Dell media will work in any machine, if I recall.
If the machine came with Vista Tablet was the XP Tablet the downgrade option from Dell or was it a separate purchase from Dell OEM or a third-party reseller? Where he purchased the media is where the product key would have to come from. Else, MS should be able to help out - they have helped me in the past recover product keys.
Also I am going to venture a guess that the "external" drive was really a removable internal drive?
]]>The other companies, HP, Gateway, for example, are hit n miss, sometimes they send out the right thing, other times they send out junk that makes one steam.
]]>Just use an external DVD player/recorder. Borrow one form a friend, if you don't have one.
The tablet has USB 2.0 ports, I'm sure. So use those to connect the external. Also, make sure the BIOS is set to boot from USB, so the USB DVD/CD gets attention before the hard drive, and then can be used to install.
]]>The technical details about the specific equipment are missing. This doesn't add up.
]]>I'd return the dell external drive and buy a cheap one on ebay.
]]>