How to Replace HDD – Dell 8900 XPS?

Topic

New Reply

How to Replace HDD – Dell 8900 XPS?  The original 256k HDD was recently trashed by a virus.  I am replacing it with a new 512k HDD. How do I do it?

Reply | Quote

Replies

Service Manual for Dell XPS 8900. See page 39.

Reply | Quote

weewillie3 wrote:

I am replacing it with a new 512k HDD

512k or 512GB ?

Hope you have an image backup of your system with data before the virus has struck, to restore from.

Reply | Quote

THANKS GUYS!!!

I have no clean backup that I trust (MY BAD!) so can anyone point me in the direction of step-by-step instructions on how to get started loading the new SSD – yes it was my boot drive!

Reply | Quote

Just trying to clarify where you are now, and exactly what you are trying to do…

Have you physically installed the new hard drive? Initially it appeared that you were asking instructions to do that.

Are you trying to rescue any data from your old hard drive?

Did you have any programs installed on the old hard drive that require a product key to activate?

Dell Windows Backup Media and Recovery Options offers the choice of using Dell specific recovery media, if you did not create a recovery media when you first set up your computer.

You don’t mention what operating system you were running…

Non-techy Win 10 Pro and Linux Mint experimenter

Reply | Quote

WOW!  You ask all the Right questions so let me have a go at the answers:

The new drive is installed and the box is ready to go with no cables attached at this point.

The old drive was corrupted by a virus that got through Norton.

I made note of product keys before shutting it down.  I don’t trust anything on that drive and have already smashed it with a hammer!

I want to reinstall Windows 10 and then I will go out and download all the other programs to be sure I have clean copies.

At this point, I just don’t know where and how to start the building process and am looking for step-by-step instructions (trusted). Can you point me in the right direction?

Thanks sooooo much for responding!!!

 

Reply | Quote

There is a service code on your Dell. If you go the the Dell support site, you can enter the service code and it will provide you with the hardware drivers for the OEM equipment. That is also where I got the Service manual linked above.

Dell may also be able to supply you with disks/USB drive containing the factory loadset based on the service code. I suspect there may be a charge.
The other option is to download from MS the ISO for your Version and Edition of Windows. In that case the license key you have should provide for activation.

1 user thanked author for this post.

Elly

Reply | Quote

Do you want to use the Dell installation media, with their specific customization? Go to How to Download and Use the Dell OS Recovery Image in Microsoft Windows .

You could also use Microsoft’s Media Creation Tool, if you do not want any of Dell’s customization.

Both pages have step by step instructions.

Then, follow PKCano’s instructions.

Reading through Setting up Windows 10 for the first time may also be helpful.

Non-techy Win 10 Pro and Linux Mint experimenter

Reply | Quote

Thanks Elly – fantastic answer!!!

Reply | Quote

weewillie3 wrote:

Thanks Elly – fantastic answer!!!

You will have to create a dvd\usb boot media . After downloading Windows 10 ISO file create the boot media with Rufus

1 user thanked author for this post.

Elly

Reply | Quote