Dell Re-Installation Software on a USB Drive

[bjlolmaugh]

I just purchased a Dell Inspiron 17 5000 Laptop. When purchasing I specifically asked for the installation software in case the hard drive crashes.... NOT the recovery software. They sent it to me on a USB drive. If I start with a bare hard drive, will the bio recognize a USB device, or does it have to be on a CD Rom?

 

[USAFRet]

Can your machine boot from a USB?
Did they actually put the correct files on that USB?

Only way to tell is to try it.

Since this is a brand new machine, you might want to try it now, instead of 6 months from now when you really need it and find it doesn't work.

 

[bjlolmaugh]

Can your machine boot from a USB?
Did they actually put the correct files on that USB?

Only way to tell is to try it.

Since this is a brand new machine, you might want to try it now, instead of 6 months from now when you really need it and find it doesn't work.

The PC already has an operating system on it so I don't have a way to test it in it's current state. It has to be tested on a bare hard drive... of which I don't have.

Dell "might" be able to give me an answer to this question, but I cannot rely on their answers to being accurate.

I was just wondering if anyone knew if Bios actually contain USB drivers. In my experience with working with PCs, it's not possible... but that is on older systems.

 

[USAFRet]

Right. The drive already has the OS.
Dell sent you a USB 'Recovery drive'
Boot from that Recovery drive, and see if it actually overwrites whatever is currently on the hard drive, retunring it to the condition it came in.

See if the machine boots from that USB drive. You can abort the process at any time.