That's what I thought. But it is still asking me for one. And the winxp I reinstalled was from a dell cd. It says windows will quit working in 30 days if I don't activate it. (and the code on the side of the pc doesn't seem to work).
The computer is out of warranty so I can't ask dell about it. But since it's a Dell oem copy, I don't think I can ask Microsoft about it either. Can I call them anyway, or is there a way to get around this since it should have not asked for the activation key? And for that matter, the pc is older, could it have been sold before Dell started to put activation keys built in?
Message Edited by fillbertpdji on 10-14-2005 10:39 PM
Message Edited by fillbertpdji on 10-14-2005 10:41 PM
A Dell OEM Windows XP reinstallation CD should will normally be preactivated when it is installed, and should not prompt for a COA number. It should also not prompt you to enter that number when XP is being installed. The 25-character key on the sticker on the computer case is the one which is assigned to that computer.
"And for that matter, the pc is older, could it have been sold before Dell started to put activation keys built in?" This sentence worries me. All Dell home PCs that have/had Windows XP preinstalled should not require activation. Therefore I ask this question, was Windows XP the original OS on the machine?
Product Key and Activation are two different things. If you are getting an Activation notice the Product Key worked. Why not humor MS and click on the little bubble in lower right corner and follow the instructions. You've done good.
I just called microsoft and told them it wasn't giving me it. She gave me an activation #, and the activation screen is gone now. So the problem is solved. I still don't know why it even asked me, it's a dell system and dell installation cd, but I was so caught up in giving her my numbers and entering the code, I didn't ask her. I guess I'll wait till the next time this system crashes. At least it's working now.
Okay, I guess that's why it didn't work then. It says "product key" on the sticker. Where would I find "activation" for this? Or for that matter, since it's a dell, did it even come with one?
Next question, I guess I shouldn't have even gotten the activation message (which the key to activate it is still in the bottom right corner and my attempts have failed, I have 27 days left to activate it), should I have installed it differently? Is there a dell writeup on the proper way to install it?
(I didn't format the drive, just got rid of the viruses and spyware and reinstalled windows from scratch, cause there is some data on there that I didn't want to get rid of). I'm not sure how old it is, but it's a dell dimension 2400, pentium 4, 2.2Ghz, 128mb ram. It's not real old, but I think they have much updated systems now.
if it was a proper oem win xp cd that went with the dell computer, you shouldn't need to activate windows on the computer, however, i have been asked to activate windows before after installing win xp with an oem cd, but i just ignore it, and it doesn't ask me again, and if i click "activate", it says that it is already activated..
since it was a dirty install, there is no telling.. maybe someone installed win xp on the computer before using a different disk..
In the past, if I used Dell's Restore CD to restore (reinstall), then it put the factory image back on, and did not need to be activated.
If I used the actual WinXP CD to format (so far I've always gotten an actual XP (Dell-branded) CD also), and install windowsXP, then I did need to input the Product ID. However, the number on the sticker on the case always worked.
fillbertpdji
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October 15th, 2005 02:00
Message Edited by fillbertpdji on 10-14-2005 10:39 PM
Message Edited by fillbertpdji on 10-14-2005 10:41 PM
Denny Denham
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October 15th, 2005 02:00
A Dell OEM Windows XP reinstallation CD should will normally be preactivated when it is installed, and should not prompt for a COA number. It should also not prompt you to enter that number when XP is being installed. The 25-character key on the sticker on the computer case is the one which is assigned to that computer.
msgale
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October 15th, 2005 05:00
arthr
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October 15th, 2005 10:00
fillbertpdji
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October 15th, 2005 13:00
fillbertpdji
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October 15th, 2005 13:00
Okay, I guess that's why it didn't work then. It says "product key" on the sticker. Where would I find "activation" for this? Or for that matter, since it's a dell, did it even come with one?
Next question, I guess I shouldn't have even gotten the activation message (which the key to activate it is still in the bottom right corner and my attempts have failed, I have 27 days left to activate it), should I have installed it differently? Is there a dell writeup on the proper way to install it?
(I didn't format the drive, just got rid of the viruses and spyware and reinstalled windows from scratch, cause there is some data on there that I didn't want to get rid of). I'm not sure how old it is, but it's a dell dimension 2400, pentium 4, 2.2Ghz, 128mb ram. It's not real old, but I think they have much updated systems now.
redwolfe_98
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October 15th, 2005 15:00
RedDog295
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October 15th, 2005 18:00
Just a general 'for what it's worth':
In the past, if I used Dell's Restore CD to restore (reinstall), then it put the factory image back on, and did not need to be activated.
If I used the actual WinXP CD to format (so far I've always gotten an actual XP (Dell-branded) CD also), and install windowsXP, then I did need to input the Product ID. However, the number on the sticker on the case always worked.