Regarding XP/MS Works: Reinstall Question

[smackedass]

Hello,

A customer of mine has Microsoft Works installed onto their Dell Dimension
4300S, running Windows XP HE.

The computer is totally bolloxed up, and may need a reformat/re-install.
There is a valid Windows XP Pruduct Key attached to the case. The original,
proprietary Dell installation disks, three (3) in all, are here, also.

The customer has provided me with the disks, Works Suite 2002, disks 1 thru
5. Only, the disks are in their individual envelopes, and there is no
"service" or "activation" tag provided, with the envelopes, or the disks
themselves.

Certainly, I am able to set the computer up, but how can I know, before I
begin to know, if the Works installation will prompt me to enter a valid
"service" or "validation" number? Sometimes, they do, as I recall,
sometimes, they don't.

I am not looking to sabotage Microsoft's validation scheme, I only want to
know if I begin the proprietary Dell OS and then Works re-install, am I
going to be beat for the code?

Can anyone point me in a direction?

Any responses will be much appreciated.

Sincerely,

smackedass

 

[Carey Frisch [MVP]]

The Dell provided OEM "Works Suite" is originally packaged
in an orange colored package with the Product Key affixed.
If your customer cannot find the original packaging, then
a call to Dell Support will be required in order to obtain
a replacement Product Key.

Welcome to Dell Support!
http://support.dell.com/support/index.aspx?c=us&cs=19&l=en&s=dhs

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

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

:

| Hello,
|
| A customer of mine has Microsoft Works installed onto their Dell Dimension
| 4300S, running Windows XP HE.
|
| The computer is totally bolloxed up, and may need a reformat/re-install.
| There is a valid Windows XP Pruduct Key attached to the case. The original,
| proprietary Dell installation disks, three (3) in all, are here, also.
|
| The customer has provided me with the disks, Works Suite 2002, disks 1 thru
| 5. Only, the disks are in their individual envelopes, and there is no
| "service" or "activation" tag provided, with the envelopes, or the disks
| themselves.
|
| Certainly, I am able to set the computer up, but how can I know, before I
| begin to know, if the Works installation will prompt me to enter a valid
| "service" or "validation" number? Sometimes, they do, as I recall,
| sometimes, they don't.
|
| I am not looking to sabotage Microsoft's validation scheme, I only want to
| know if I begin the proprietary Dell OS and then Works re-install, am I
| going to be beat for the code?
|
| Can anyone point me in a direction?
|
| Any responses will be much appreciated.
|
| Sincerely,
|
| smackedass

 

[smackedass]

Thank you!

 

[smackedass]

Thank you, to all who have responded.

You gave me lots of ideas, lots of things to think about, but most likely,
what is going to happen is that I'll follow the consensus, and just call
Dell! Even though that has its negative possibilities!

Sincerely,

smackedass