Dell Inspiron 531

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MasterBlack

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My friend found a Dell Inspiron 531 without a hard drive the other day and was wondering if the machine will still work with another hard drive.
 
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USAFRet

USAFRet

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Mar 16, 2013
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If everything else in it works, yes. For free, try to boot and install a Linux OS.
 
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MasterBlack

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He has some old 80gig harddrives with the old large connectors. Can they work in the Inspiron and be wiped to install Linux on them?
 
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USAFRet

USAFRet

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Go here (LinuxMint) or here (Ubuntu)
Download the relevant 32bit ISO
Burn the ISO to DVD
Put the PC together
Boot from the DVD, just as if you were installing Windows
Follow the prompts

You can also run those Linux variants as a LiveCD...nothing actually installed to the HD. Until you want to.
 
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M

MasterBlack

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I don't actually have a spare cd. Can I manage the USB way or is that something only newer computers can do?
 
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MasterBlack

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If I use the "Universal-USB-Installer" will I be able to format my usb back to normal after I am done?

 
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Kisianik

Kisianik

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Inspiron 531 is AMD based with AMD Athlon 64 X2 dual-core as the max.
IT has 4 SATA ports, there are no IDE ports (larger ports).
Do you have small (most likely bluish) sticker on the side of the case, if yes, this sticker contain product key - serial number for the Windows originally installed on this PC, this is free ride to OS, which you can get from Microsoft download page.
 
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MasterBlack

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Yep it has a key for vista. So pretty much free vista install on any harddrive?
 
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Kisianik

Kisianik

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Yes, free Vista, but only one option for 32 or 64 bit, whichever specified on sticker. Actually, you can install this serial on any Dell PC, however it is not going to work on non Dell PC, FYI. And remember you need SATA hard drive - according to your description you have old IDE hard drives!
 
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Kisianik

Kisianik

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Jan 24, 2013
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Yes, free Vista, but only one option for 32 or 64 bit, whichever specified on sticker. Actually, you can install this serial on any Dell PC, however it is not going to work on non Dell PC, FYI. And remember you need SATA hard drive - according to your description you have old IDE hard drives!
 
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