OEM Activation

[Guest]

I have a DELL laptop which has a Windows XP Pro Product key on the bottom of
it (The official Microsoft OEM Sticker)

I want to install a clean copy of Windows on it, instead of using the
restore CD which includes a load of junk I am not interested in..

I have a Windows XP Pro OEM cd that came with another PC. I thought that if
I install Windows from that CD but use the key on the bottom of the laptop,
everthing would be fine but when I activate I am told that I have mis-typed
the key...

Presumably the restore cd uses Dell's own volume license, but surely the OEM
key on the bottom of the laptop is also valid for the machine to which it
attached..?

Thanks

NH

 

[peter]

Your problem is that you are using comp. manufact X version which most
likely is tied to the X machine.
If you had a store bought XP Pro OEM version the procedure should work.
peter

 

[John John]

The OEM key on the bottom of the laptop is valid only to the Dell
supplied OEM version. Dell OEM versions of Windows are BIOS locked and
their product keys are valid only for those BIOS locked Windows
versions. If you bought a generic OEM copy then use the key that came
with that copy. Alternatively call Dell and ask them if they can supply
you with a real Operating System disk to replace the restore cd.

John

 

[Guest]

The problem is a more fundamental one than that- many OEM keys are actually
"dud banknotes" -They are not valid numbers, and in fact aren't the number
that the OEM used to install the software, either.

IMHO it's time Trading Standards took an interest in this practice. Anyone
else intentionally selling dud money/tickets/licences/vouchers would soon
find themselves in a room with one small, high window.

As for media, you may find an i386 folder on the HD containing the setup
files. But, this may still not accept the keynumber.

---------

John said: "The OEM key on the bottom of the laptop is valid only to the Dell
supplied OEM version. Dell OEM versions of Windows are BIOS locked and
their product keys are valid only for those BIOS locked Windows
versions."

 

[John John]

The key on the laptop will be valid for the Dell supplied Windows disks.
I don't know where you got your information but all computers sold
with legitimate OEM Windows operating systems have valid product keys
included with the sale.

John

 

[Guest]

I don't know where you got your information but all computers sold
with legitimate OEM Windows operating systems have valid product keys
included with the sale.

From the workbench, the only reliable place.

MS have admitted that such keys will not activate unless you call and plead
your case. However, some will not even work for Setup.