Hi, In the last 6 months I have bought a Dell Desktop PC and Dell Laptop. Both machines I got the Windows XP Home Product Key sticker on the machine but no cd. I have an OEM Home CD I bought for my last PC but have lost the product key sticker for it, so can I use that cd and the product key on the dell machines? With it being a dell system, would I need a Dell windows cd? Thanks Gareth
Yes and No. Yes, you can use any OEM CD to install the OEM version using your keys from Dell...but not the key from the sticker. What you'll need to do, is find the program called WinKey Finder, and use it to get the real key that was used to install Windows.
You can also use the Magic Jellybean Key finder. Just an alternative to find your XP install key. But I think Morph misunderstood your post. Both Dells have a sticker w/key, right? Then you can use any OEM and the key on the sticker to reinstall Windows. So, yes, you can install XP home from the OEM cd from another computer onto your Dells using the install key that is on the stickers on the Dells. Hope that made sense. ~Rich
why is dell not giving out cd any more? my friend has the same problem ...i think it is bs ...that u have to have internet for them to fix it
@akuma96 The majority of off the shelf branded systems are now exactly like that,but even tho there are no disks there is instead a recovery partition which houses xp,so lets say you get a virus and you need to reinstall xp,on restart if it's a HP machine (since i'm familiar with that model) i'd push f10 to give me recovery options or a complete reinstall and reformat so the dell is the same,you can see the partitions in computer management you'll have your main C drive plus 1 or two smaller partitions
On the contrary...I read it perfectly! Since I've been working on computers for quite some time now, I've had to be in contact with Dell's support techs many times...and even their Microsoft's contacts over the installation of Dell's OEM version of XP. The sticker is not the true XP key that was used to install XP on that machine. Play it safe...grab the key from within the registry as Double and I suggested (either program will work fine)...even though the sticker's key may allow you to install, it may not allow you to register or activate.
Just used WinKey Finder, and your right the key is different to the one on the sticker. How would I know if XP is on another partion, going into my computer c: drive is the only drive there (for hard drives). Never had to do this before, always formatted the drive partitioned it to how I need then install OS. Stupid Dell. Not got a virus but Laptop running mega slow, done all the usual, posted my hijack logs on here but all seemed fine. All scans adware, virus etc all coming back ok. Format seemed the quickest way of sorting it out, worked everytime before for home built systems. SO by using the key from WinKey Finder i should be ok using my XP Home SP2 cd (Not From Dell) to install back onto the Dell Laptop? Cheers Gareth
Comps with recovery partitions, usually have a boot menu during startup that will give you the option of booting to XP, or starting the recovery.
The new Dell's recovery system is activated by pressing CTRL+F11 (IIRC) when you see the blue dell.co.uk line at the top of the screen after the POST. It only takes a couple of minutes for the recovery to work and then you can go in and remove all the Dell bundled stuff.
Yep your right Ctrl + F11 works, will give that a go the weekend. So by doing that is it just like formatting and installing windows fresh or just replacing and deleting files it needs?
