I have been called upon to help a friend, a brand newbie to the PC/ Internet world and sort out their interim PC issues.

They were given:
NEC laptop, ( Screen has been removed !)
Model : Versa E400
Value: $40.00
Using cable to connect to another Monitor.

The Dial-Up Modem works, but constantly drops out. ( we have tried on 2 separate physical phone lines to test these drop outs).
I suspect at one time or another the PC was dropped and may have done some internal physical damage to the Modem, this will be checked by a repair person I know.

It's current OS needs to removed and the HD definitely cleaned, ( Format C:)
The reason, the current OS is corrupt and I don't have the original Windows XP OEM to fix it either.
When on-line, nothing seems to work, cannot surf, cannot use the mouse and cannot get any sound or sound drivers to respond.

If the Modem and any other physical issues are OK, then we want to re-insatall Windows XP Pro and go through the motions with a fresh OS.


My question/s is/are,
if Format C: this laptop with absolutely no original hardware driver disks, will that laptop still work after a new instalation of XP Pro OS ?
Will the XP Pro OEM CD have all the nesescary hardware drivers for that model laptop ? ( Versa E400)

Is there a correct way to Format C: this model laptop and not have any major ireversable problems when no original driver disks are available ?

Would is be easier to simply pay $35.00 and have the whole job done by the experts who do these things for a living, if I have never Format C: a laptop before ?

Thanks, assistance/advice much appreciated.

I would first check here: http://www.necus.com/support/ for any driver downloads that you might need for your product. But these would only be able to be installed after reformatting the machine anyway.

If you are sure you have backed up all personal information needed on this laptop then go for it. If it fails you can still take it into a shop for a service.

Before you do this however, I would go into device manager and check what devices show up in there so you can compare this list when you re-install xp.

This machine sounds like a bit of a wreck to me (no offense), what will you use a laptop that has no screen for? It's hardly portable, but I understand if it was free!

Check you have the correct Certificate of Authenticity number (should be a label on the underside of the machine) and you should be fine re-installing the OS.

StuMegu

Thanks, I have shown this person the forum and how it works, how to post a question, go to sleep, not to panic and wait the next day for a reply !
:eek:

The Laptop uses a screen connected externally, it was not intended to be portable, just something cheap and ( free and if you like the internet, then go the next step to get online for the very first time.

Thanks for the reply,

Cheers