Re: Purchased used Dell Latitiude 640 w/o CDs

In news:66844481-5609-4EAB-B0A2-8859F98CAC66@xxxxxxxxxxxxx,
Jim <Jim@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx> typed:

> Hi just bought a used laptop off ebay and wrote to the seller
> to see
> if the Resource CDs and other installation CDs are with it.
> They are
> not


I hope you paid a very low price for it. Without the CDs, you
essentially bought a laptop without any software. You don't have
legitimate licenses for any of the software, and you have no
ability to reinstall or or to change any installable options.

Moreover, if I bought a used computer, the first thing I would do
with it would be to reinstall the operating system and all the
applications cleanly. You have no idea how the computer has been
maintained, what has been installed incorrectly, what is missing,
what viruses and spyware there may be, etc. I wouldn't want to
live with somebody else's mistakes and problems, possibility of
kiddie porn, etc., and I wouldn't recommend that anyone else do
either.



> but all programs are in good working order and are up to
> date....so he says.


"So he says" are the operative words here. I wouldn't want to
depend on what he says.


> Whereas my son is taking this off to college,
> what is the best way to perpare for possible problems with XP
> that
> would require a installation CD. I have ordered a Dell Resource
> CD
> for the computer for $10 from Dell but I do not know if XP pro
> is on
> it.


Again, if it were me, I would buy a WIndows XP CD from Dell, and
all the application programs that he needs at college (not
necessarily from Dell). I'd then format the drive and reinstall
everything. Make copies of all the installation CDs for backup,
keep the copies, and give your son the originals to take with him
if he needs to do any reinstallation or make any changes while at
school.

--
Ken Blake - Microsoft MVP Windows: Shell/User
Please reply to the newsgroup


.

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