Activation after reinstall

[bdog]

While helping a friend with her Dell computer I decided to reinstall
Windows XP Home edition. Every think went well and after reformatting the
drive I have installed all the drivers, etc. However, there was never a
notice to activate after the install. Is this normal on a Dell?

TIA

bdog

 

[Uncle Grumpy]

While helping a friend with her Dell computer I decided to reinstall
Windows XP Home edition. Every think went well and after reformatting the
drive I have installed all the drivers, etc. However, there was never a
notice to activate after the install. Is this normal on a Dell?

It's normal on all computers if the OS hasn't been re-installed within
the last 120 days.

 

[BigJim]

that is normal, you don't have to activate dell oem. Just remember that xp
disk is only good on the dell computer. It checks the bios for confirmation
before installing/

 

[Alias]

It's normal on all computers if the OS hasn't been re-installed within
the last 120 days.

With a Dell, it makes no difference. You ALWAYS have to activate after a
reinstall except with branded OEMs.

Alias

 

[Rock]

While helping a friend with her Dell computer I decided to reinstall
Windows XP Home edition. Every think went well and after reformatting the
drive I have installed all the drivers, etc. However, there was never a
notice to activate after the install. Is this normal on a Dell?

Dell, as with other major OEM's, when using a Dell installation CD or
recovery CD, on a Dell machine, is pre-activated. Had you used a generic
OEM XP CD and the product key on the sticker attached to the computer, that
would have required activation, most likely by phone.