DELL DIMENSION E521 + Windows 7

Question

Hello all - this is my first post!

I have a Dell Dimension e521 which came with Windows XP Professional pre-installed (genuine key and all).

I bought this machine second-hand with no hard drives or Operating System/Driver discs. At first I tried using a couple of genuine oem Windows XP Home Edition activation keys I had lying around which work flawlessly on other physical machines or virtual machines. I also had an untouched oem disc of XP Professional, which, despite my genuine key, didn't work.

When I tried to install XP Home OEM on a freshly arrived sata hard drive which I purchased off of eBay (I wiped it first with activekilldisk/dbandiskwipe) I could not get past the product key-window during XP-installation even though the same disc and same key had been used flawlessly on my Dell Inspiron 6000 laptop, among other scenarios (wiped clean). I also used the same XP Home oem disc combined with the inspiron key and this worked.

I finally gave up, called Dell Sweden, told them I was not the original owner of the machine, that I had bought it as is and second-hand and they agreed to send me the original DELL Windows XP Operating System Disc for a small fee. When I used this Dell disc combined with the Product Key labeled on the computer case, it all worked!!

SO, to the question at hand; I want to buy a genuine OEM-edition of Windows 7 Home Premium x64, stick the Product Key label onto the top of the Dell case and install this instead of Windows XP Professional. Will I be able to do this or will Windows 7, like XP before it, halt at the product key/activation step?

On a sidenote: As a pre-caution should the original Dell XP-disc get scratched or damaged I recently created a cloned image-file with IMGBurn and wrote the image to disc as a backup. Will my cloned copy be accepted or can the machine tell it's not the original?

Thanks!

theflash1932 · Accepted Answer

Oh, I also meant to mention ... you said you were trying to install with XP Home discs (at least some of them), but you said your license was for XP Professional ... Pro requires a Pro key and Home requires a Home key, as they are not interchangeable, nor is a "higher" key good for a lower version (Pro key will not work on Home).

"I don't really understand why the Dell key does not work with a non-branded Windows XP Professional iso-disc. Is the Dell machine locked by both the original key and original media? Say, original disc destroyed before making a copy/image."

XP was VERY picky with its keys. Everything had to match - channel (VL, Retail, OEM), and each was keyed to accept certain keys. Dell media would not work on other brands (not 100%, but in general), HP media would not work on other brands (which still holds true). The OEM key always and only belongs to the system with which it was SOLD, and you had to have just the right media to use it. Branded OEM disks would self/auto activate using a generic OEM SLP key embedded in the installation CD. Generic OEM does not have that feature without the system builder using the builder/deployment toolkit to set it up.

a) yes, you can use a copy of the installation disk - have done this many times (thankfully I no longer worry about XP)

b) yes, you can do a clean install of Windows 7 regardless of the media type you get; Microsoft intended for you to use the Retail in your situation, not OEM - that's all I was saying there.

"Another thing with the Retail version - I only need 7 for one specific machine, not 3"

Not sure I follow that one ...

theflash1932 · Answer

You keep referring to 'OEM' media but failed to say if it was generic/Microsoft media or if it is a Dell-branded OEM disc ... it makes a difference for XP, which is why the Dell media worked when the other (probably not Dell-branded) did not. Technically, Microsoft wrote the license for Windows 7 such that the OEM version of the media should NOT be used in your scenario, being reserve strictly for system builders, building AND selling a new machine - not for hobbyist (self-builder) users.  However, many people save the money and get the OEM version over the Retail version anyway, so that may not be such a big deal, as long as you realize that your scenario technically would call for the Retail version. You WILL need to activate Windows 7, regardless of what type of media you use.  The only reason that Dell media does not require the Product Key is for simplicity for both buyers and manufacturers of mass-produced computers to be able to use the license on the PC's.  You can use an ISO-burned copy of the original Dell disc for future reinstalls.   Also, as a sidenote, Windows V,7 differ from XP ... matched OEM media will still activate without needing to enter the Product Key, but there is more flexibility with activation - you can install using Retail or generic OEM media and activate with the OEM key.  Windows 8 is different still from both previous scenarios, in that the key is embedded in the BIOS which the Dell installation media pulls/verifies during the install.

jlufanatic · Answer

Sorry about that! Two licenses are branded Fujitsu SIemens so now that you mention it it sort of explains itself. I also have two Microsoft Generic licenses for XP Home Edition. Probably used the wrong ones with the Dell.

I don't really understand why the Dell key does not work with a non-branded Windows XP Professional iso-disc. Is the Dell machine locked by both the original key and original media? Say, original disc destroyed before making a copy/image.

Bottom line is - As long as I can a) use a backup copy of my Dell XP-disc for future use with this machine

and

b) Perform a clean/fresh Windows 7 install regardless of Retail or Generic OEM. Another thing with the Retail version - I only need 7 for one specific machine, not 3 :)

rdunnill · Answer

SO, to the question at hand; I want to buy a genuine OEM-edition of Windows 7 Home Premium x64, stick the Product Key label onto the top of the Dell case and install this instead of Windows XP Professional. Will I be able to do this or will Windows 7, like XP before it, halt at the product key/activation step?

You can download a Windows 7 install ISO, install it and use it for 30 days without activating. In the meantime, you can buy a copy from somewhere and once it's in your possession, use its product key to activate the earlier install.

jlufanatic · Answer

That I had completely forgotten about! THanks alot!

jlufanatic · Answer

Thanks! I had completely forgotten about that!

jlufanatic · Answer

Sorry, I used the XP Home keys with the XP Home Discs and the only XP Professional key I have is the one delivered with the Dell machine. I did try different XP Professional discs, though. Pure iso's.

Hehe, what I meant to say was - As far as I remember, the retail version allows me to install with the same key for up to 3 or so machines. The OEM version is for 1 machine only. Hence, retail in my case = overkill. But, yes, I see your point about the average buyer getting Retail.

theflash1932 · Answer

Retail can probably be purchased as a 3-pack (and Microsoft was at one time doing a deal for a 3-PC license for UPGRADES), but in general, they are sold individually.  (OEM is the same - they are sold individually or in 'packs' of 3, 10, 20, etc.)

Windows General

DELL DIMENSION E521 + Windows 7

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