Dell OEM of XP Home - reinstalled XP but product code won't work

[jamesmgregg68]

I experienced this awhile back when I reinstalled XP Home on my ex's
laptop, and now I'm experiencing it on mine...

We both bought Dell Inspiron 600m's with XP Home bundled.

Her laptop got a bad virus, so we decided to do a fresh reinstall of
XP.
The first one went smoothly.
Happened again 6 months later - another reinstall.
This time, when she went to activate the product code, it said it was
invalid. We read it from the bottom of the unit 3 times, to no avail.

Finally call Dell tech support - after 30 minutes and a conference call
with Microsoft, we get this answer:

"Dell would give you a new product code, but Microsoft stopped giving
us any new ones."

!!!!
So here we have a legal, licensed copy of XP, but we're basically being
told we have to buy a new copy.
Microsoft FINALLY gave her a new code, but it was a battle.

Now, I'm getting the same problem, and very much NOT looking forward to
battling Microsoft to let me use the OS I legally purchased from them
through Dell.

Any similar stories, work-arounds?

Thanks!!

 

[Carey Frisch [MVP]]

If you reinstall Windows XP using the Dell Reinstallation CD
that came with your Dell computer, you will not be prompted
to insert the Dell Product Key nor to activate. I believe you are
not using the Dell Reinstallation CD supplied with your Dell PC.

--
Carey Frisch
Microsoft MVP
Windows - Shell/User
Microsoft Community Newsgroups
news://msnews.microsoft.com/

---------------------------------------------------------------------------­----------------

:

| I experienced this awhile back when I reinstalled XP Home on my ex's
| laptop, and now I'm experiencing it on mine...
|
| We both bought Dell Inspiron 600m's with XP Home bundled.
|
| Her laptop got a bad virus, so we decided to do a fresh reinstall of
| XP.
| The first one went smoothly.
| Happened again 6 months later - another reinstall.
| This time, when she went to activate the product code, it said it was
| invalid. We read it from the bottom of the unit 3 times, to no avail.
|
| Finally call Dell tech support - after 30 minutes and a conference call
| with Microsoft, we get this answer:
|
| "Dell would give you a new product code, but Microsoft stopped giving
| us any new ones."
|
| !!!!
| So here we have a legal, licensed copy of XP, but we're basically being
| told we have to buy a new copy.
| Microsoft FINALLY gave her a new code, but it was a battle.
|
| Now, I'm getting the same problem, and very much NOT looking forward to
| battling Microsoft to let me use the OS I legally purchased from them
| through Dell.
|
| Any similar stories, work-arounds?
|
| Thanks!!

 

[jamesmgregg68]

Carey - thanks for the reply.

You're incorrect - I am using the "reinstallation" CD provided to me by
Dell for reinstalling WinXP Home. It was still fresh in the package
since this is the first time I've needed it.
The product code sticker is on the bottom of the laptop as placed there
by Dell, rather than on the package itself.
I was asked for it at the initial re-install of Windows and typed it
in, and now that it's fully installed I'm getting the little "key" icon
and "30 days left for activation" message in my system tray.

This is now the 3rd time I've reinstalled WinXP on a Dell laptop using
the reinstallation CD, and all 3 times I was prompted to activate
Windows by typing in the product code.
The last 2 times (on my machine, and a year ago on my ex's machine) I
was told the product code was invalid. As I mentioned above, Dell's
tech support blamed it on Microsoft not providing more product codes,
and my ex finally got one from Microsoft, now it looks like I have to
have the same fight.

 

[Carey Frisch [MVP]]

You'll need to "activate by phone" to obtain a
new activation code....takes about 5 minutes.

How to activate Windows XP
http://support.microsoft.com/kb/307890/en-us

--
Carey Frisch
Microsoft MVP
Windows - Shell/User
Microsoft Community Newsgroups
news://msnews.microsoft.com/

---------------------------------------------------------------------------­----------------

:

| Carey - thanks for the reply.
|
| You're incorrect - I am using the "reinstallation" CD provided to me by
| Dell for reinstalling WinXP Home. It was still fresh in the package
| since this is the first time I've needed it.
| The product code sticker is on the bottom of the laptop as placed there
| by Dell, rather than on the package itself.
| I was asked for it at the initial re-install of Windows and typed it
| in, and now that it's fully installed I'm getting the little "key" icon
| and "30 days left for activation" message in my system tray.
|
| This is now the 3rd time I've reinstalled WinXP on a Dell laptop using
| the reinstallation CD, and all 3 times I was prompted to activate
| Windows by typing in the product code.
| The last 2 times (on my machine, and a year ago on my ex's machine) I
| was told the product code was invalid. As I mentioned above, Dell's
| tech support blamed it on Microsoft not providing more product codes,
| and my ex finally got one from Microsoft, now it looks like I have to
| have the same fight.

 

[revharyo]

Haven't read the thread in super detail, but when I run "Belarc
Advisor" it gives me a XP key that is different than the one on the
bottom of my HP laptop. I'm not sure which one I'd use for a reinstall.
I guess I'd try both.

 

[Guest]

You need to use the Product Key affixed to your PC.
The Product Key you found using Belarc revealed the
one-time Product Key used by HP to install it's customized
version of Windows XP at the factory. That Product Key
can no longer be used.

 

[Bob I]

If I recall correctly there were a bunch of Dell CD that got mislabeled
a while back. The CD was really a PRO and got labeled as Home. If you
got one of those, have Dell replace the CD with a Home one.

 

[DanS]

You'll need to "activate by phone" to obtain a
new activation code....takes about 5 minutes.

How to activate Windows XP
http://support.microsoft.com/kb/307890/en-us

I did a re-install of a family members XP Home. He didn't even have the
recovery CD, so I just installed from a different XPH OEM CD using the code
on the sticker on the case.

Online activation failed, and I had to call. I was on the phone for not
more than 5 minutes and everything was good to go. The M$ rep gave me no
problem what-so-ever.....which was kind of shocking actually.

 

[jamesmgregg68]

I called the activation number - the automated system couldn't verify,
but the live rep that came on did. You were right, took very little
time, piece of cake, thanks!