The warranty does NOT cover software and OS issues. This is Microsoft's area. Easiest thing to do in this case is to contact MS by phone and they would help you certify the OS.

What fix did you use?

I used a CDKey off the returned Alienware that this one replaced... And the entire reason this happened was because of a motherboard replacement so it is Alienware's fault and needs to be fixed by them. I am not goign to reformat because they did a hardware change that messed up my operating system because of how the CDKeys work.... There for it is their job to fix it not Microsoft's....

Sorry - Kirk D was right. Software is not covered unless you purchased a software warranty - and even then they would not have issued a new key.

A call to MS would have fixed this quite easily.....

I paid for the full 100% warranty and when they replaced the motherboard and knew this could be an issue it makes it their problem and I will not pay MS to fix it when I paid for my full warranty through Dell. End of story Dell Tech support messed up and they are responsible. Switching your motherboard out they should have reactivated windows right after before ever getting me my computer back. I know what my warranty covers and what they are legally bound to do.

I will not pay MS to fix it

A call to the MS phone activation line is not something they charge for.

Thanks for clarifying.  Usually MS Phone Activation is a pretty simple process.

Either way, ubnless you had a software warranty, it is not cvovered buy Dell. And, even if you DID have thatw arranty, I am guessing they would have simply walked you through a reinstall using a Dell OS reinstall disk.

years later no change people are great system stinks