Do I have to use Rocovery disk to install windows?

[Joseph]

Hi,

This is my situation atm.
The laptop dvd drive is broken. I bought an external cd rom only to find out that the recovery disks are dvd (stupid me).

So my question is:
1. Can I just install Windows using WinXP cd? Would it stuff up the lappy in any way?

2. Can i put the hdd in a dell laptop and run the toshiba recovery cd? Would that stuff up my dell?

Thanks,
Joe

[Surge]

Just use your WinXP disk, it will work fine. When you've installed, you'll need to load the drivers and whatever other software you want contained on the recovery DVD. If you have a DVD-ROM and burner in a desktop I would just burn the drivers to a CD so you can use it in the lappy. I think it's better doing it this way, as reinstalling off the recovery disk usually bloats your system with a crapload of useless stuff anyway.

Your second idea could work, although I haven't tried doing it that way before. It won't harm your Dell laptop so you may as well give it a shot.

[beeker]

There is a small possibility that the Windows Certificate of Authenticity key might not work with a non Restore Disk install.