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14934
February 4th, 2010 17:00
Invalid Product Key After Factory Restore
I had to restore my sister's Dell Inspiron Mini 10 to factory settings. When it restarted it asked for the product key for the operating system, I put it in just like the sticker on the bottom of the laptop says and it just keeps saying its invalid. I've tired it a dozen times and I know I'm putting it in correctly. I don't have another product key, there are no restore discs because there is no disc drive and I'm not sure where to go from here.
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ejn63
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February 4th, 2010 17:00
If you used a Dell OEM Windows CD you would not have been asked for the key - what disc did you use? The OEM key won't work with anything other than an OEM Dell disc.
lbf777
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February 4th, 2010 18:00
If you restored from a partitioned drive that was used as a backup then that might occur
Usually you can skip entering the product key and then when Windows is installed it will require you to activate it
activate by internet then probably it wiil fail
it will offer the option to use the phone to call a toll free number
call the number and enter the code it shows on your screen
then hopefully you will get a computerized operater who you will need to enter in responses
reply that the windows is for one computer and being installed due to hardware failure
then it will give you a code to enter into windows
I have done this on XP Pro and XP Media Center and should be similar on vista
WIndows 7 no clue yet since I am poor LOL
Good Luck
LBF
kduck23
3 Posts
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February 6th, 2010 18:00
I didn't us a disc, there is no disc drive in the Mini.
kduck23
3 Posts
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February 6th, 2010 18:00
It askes for the product key at start up and the only options it gives me are to put in the product key (which it says is invalid) or to shut it down. There is no getting past it.
BELL BOY
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February 6th, 2010 19:00
kduck23
That’s very strange indeed, & you don’t mention the preinstalled OS, is it XP or Vista?
Dell PC Restore is combination keys for XP or the F8 key for Vista
Did you follow the correct Dell PC Restore procedure?
Either way I’d strongly advise the owner of Inspiron Mini 10 request Windows CD/DVD
If the registered owner of computer & in USA, then click here to request Dell OEM disc(s)
If outside the USA then you need to contact your local region Dell Support
You can then purchase a USB cable connected CD-ROM drive to manually install Windows if PC Restore image is ever lost or damaged