Hi,

I would like to know if you are installing the operating system from Dell supplied Operating System disc or Microsoft retail disc.

Dell supplied disk, labeled "Reinstallation DVD Windows 7 Professional 32 bit".  At the bottom is part number 8X4PY.

Dell supplied disk, labeled "Reinstallation DVD Windows 7 Professional 32 bit".  At the bottom is part number 8X4PY.

family-geek

Is the above, the same windows version that was factory installed?

Bev.

If the product key you're entering is from your Dell's COA, it won't work. (Presumably it's for XP or Vista.)

You need to buy a new Windows license. If you're in the U.S., Newegg has 7 Pro on sale for $125, including free shipping. (Use promo code EMCPBPA32 at checkout.)

From here:

http://ftp.dell.com/published/Pages/optiplex-330.html

There are no Dell provided Windows 7 drivers, therefore Dell never sold this system with Windows 7. This means there are no markers within the system BIOS for Windows 7 and Windows 7 will fail to activate from a Dell Windows 7 Reinstallation DVD. If you want to run Windows 7 on this machine you require a separate license.

Please review the following and determine the version of Windows from the COA:

http://dellwindowsreinstallationguide.com/a-clean-install-of-windows/the-oem-or-retail-license/

If you need Windows Vista Reinstallation media see here:

http://dellwindowsreinstallationguide.com/download-microsoft-windows-and-office/download-microsoft-windows/download-vista-sp1-iso/

It should be noted that it will run Windows 7 flawlessly with a retail license using the system drivers here:

http://dellwindowsreinstallationguide.com/driver-sets/optiplex-desktops/optiplex-330-windows-7-64-bit/

This system will activate with a Dell Windows Vista Reinstallation DVD (likely Vista Business) or a Dell Windows XP Reinstallation DVD.

You wrote:
> There are no Dell provided Windows 7 drivers, therefore Dell never sold this system with Windows 7.   This means there are no markers within the system BIOS for Windows 7 and Windows 7 will fail to activate from a Dell Windows 7 Reinstallation DVD.

Sorry, you are incorrect.

There are Dell provided drivers for Win 7 on a Optiplex 330 and  I have the latest BIOS, A11.

Look here: www.dell.com/support/home/us/en/04/product-support/servicetag/CPXSGF1/drivers

The OptiPlex 330 is an old model, and it was not sold with Windows 7; thus it will neither automatically activate a Dell-branded Windows 7 install, nor can it be activated with the COA product key.

The only way to activate Windows 7 on this model is with a valid Windows 7 product key. Such a key can be either bought directly from Microsoft or purchased through a third-party vendor.

You wrote: > There are no Dell provided Windows 7 drivers, therefore Dell never sold this system with Windows 7.   This means there are no markers within the system BIOS for Windows 7 and Windows 7 will fail to activate from a Dell Windows 7 Reinstallation DVD. Sorry, you are incorrect. There are Dell provided drivers for Win 7 on a Optiplex 330 and  I have the latest BIOS, A11. Look here: www.dell.com/support/home/us/en/04/product-support/servicetag/CPXSGF1/drivers

There are some Windows 7 32 Bit drivers but not a full compliment, no chipset drivers listed for instance.

Anyway as mentioned Dell didn't sell the system with Windows 7 so the DVD won't activate via this systems BIOS.