using Product Keys and installing XP SP1

[Guest]

Hello,

I have a dell laptop whose disk just broke. I have purchased a new Hard
Disk and installed it. This laptop was originally sold with windows XP home
edition, but I have two unused windows XP professional licenses from previous
laptops (that are not using the license...).

Am I allowed to use these product keys with my dell?

Second question: I've already tried to put in these product activation keys
into the requested box during installation (a winXP Pro SP1 installation
disk) and the product keys are rejected! These are valid licenses, so I'm
confused. How can I install windows again, since Dell did not provide me
with a CDrom of the software?

thanks for your help,
Martin

 

[David B.]

No you are not, the XP licenses that shipped with your laptops are very
likely OEM, you are not allowed to use them on any machine other than the
one they shipped with.
The OEM keys will not work with anything other than an OEM installation CD,
if your using a retail copy bought from a store the keys will not work.
You will need to contact Dell for reinstallation media, or get your hands on
a Microsoft XP Home OEM CD to reinstall with the product key on the bottom
of the laptop.

 

[Ken Blake, MVP]

Hello,

I have a dell laptop whose disk just broke. I have purchased a new Hard
Disk and installed it. This laptop was originally sold with windows XP home
edition, but I have two unused windows XP professional licenses from previous
laptops (that are not using the license...).

Am I allowed to use these product keys with my dell?

Are those retail licenses (product keys) or OEM? If they are retail,
yes you are. If they are OEM (for example, if they came with the
laptops), no you are not.

The biggest disadvantage of an OEM license is that it is tied to the
first computer it's installed on. It can never legally be moved to
another computer, sold, or given away.

Second question: I've already tried to put in these product activation keys
into the requested box during installation (a winXP Pro SP1 installation
disk) and the product keys are rejected!

Are you trying to use an OEM key with a retail license? You can't do
that. The keys must match the CD with respect to Edition (Home vs.
Professional, etc.) Full vs. Upgrade, and Retail vs. OEM.

These are valid licenses, so I'm
confused. How can I install windows again, since Dell did not provide me
with a CDrom of the software?

You should ask Dell that question. The answer often varies from OEM to
OEM, and sometimes even from model to model or year to year.

 

[Nepatsfan]

in message

Hello,

I have a dell laptop whose disk just broke. I have purchased
a new Hard
Disk and installed it. This laptop was originally sold with
windows XP home
edition, but I have two unused windows XP professional
licenses from previous
laptops (that are not using the license...).

Am I allowed to use these product keys with my dell?

Second question: I've already tried to put in these product
activation keys
into the requested box during installation (a winXP Pro SP1
installation
disk) and the product keys are rejected! These are valid
licenses, so I'm
confused. How can I install windows again, since Dell did
not provide me
with a CDrom of the software?

thanks for your help,
Martin

Request Backup Discs
https://support.dell.com/support/topics/global.aspx/support/dellcare/en/backupcd_form

Good luck

Nepatsfan

 

[Guest]

Are those retail licenses (product keys) or OEM? If they are retail,
yes you are. If they are OEM (for example, if they came with the
laptops), no you are not.

The biggest disadvantage of an OEM license is that it is tied to the
first computer it's installed on. It can never legally be moved to
another computer, sold, or given away.

Ah, they are OEM licenses. That's too bad.

Are you trying to use an OEM key with a retail license? You can't do
that. The keys must match the CD with respect to Edition (Home vs.
Professional, etc.) Full vs. Upgrade, and Retail vs. OEM.

Yes, I suppose I am trying to use an OEM key with a retail license.

I'll try to contact dell. Maybe this just became an Ubuntu Linux laptop...

mh