Product Key on XP Reinstall?

ploo,

Are you being prompted to activate the installation? I ask because there have been reports (unconfirmed) that installing a Dell OEM copy of XP on a system other than the one it shipped with does not prompt for activation.

If you are being prompted, the procedure here will allow you to change the Product ID to the one reflected in the 25-character COA on the sticker on your computer before you activate.

Thirdrockfromsun,

Did you install XP from a CD other than the one that came with your computer? That's the issue I am unsure of. When reinstalling Windows with the original CD, you should not be prompted to activate again.

My system does not prompt me for activation, just insert the cd, and away I go.  Yours might be different though as Denney has stated.

Next time I will read the original post more carefully.   Sorry for that and good luck with the problem.

 

Message Edited by Thirdrockfromsun on 10-07-2004 09:49 PM

Denney,  I installed from the Dell's reinstallation CD that came with the system only....I have done this, god only knows how many times...Does this help ?

SR

Dell Dim 4400 ( Purchase June 2002 )
2.6 ghz (Upgraded from 1.7 ghz)
400 Mhz bus
768 Mb DDR 2100 Ram
Windows XP Home SP-2
ATI 9600XT Video 128 Mb
4.9 Video Driver
Roadrunner Cable modem
17 Inch Dell 1703 FP monitor
15 Inch NEC 1560 NX LCD
Dell sound bar for monitor
Nortons Internet Security 2005
Bios A06
250 watts mean average p/s ( 345 Watts Peak )

Message Edited by Thirdrockfromsun on 10-07-2004 07:45 PM

Thirdrockfromsun,

Did you use the original XP reinstallation CD that came with your Dell, or did you use a different XP reinstallation CD that came from another Dell, or did you use a completely different XP CD?

I used a reinstallation CD from another Dell and somehow it used the product key from that other machine without ever asking me to enter one.

No, I haven't been prompted to activate yet either, but I would rather my XP be registered under the product key that I paid for this this computer.

Also, it's been less than 24 hours since I reinstalled XP so I may still be in the "grace period" before activation is mandatory.

Furthermore, this installation of XP was done on a new replacement hard drive so XP should have no idea whether it's been installed before or not.

Let's figure this one out! I can't believe the product keys are stored on the Dell reinstallation CDs, I thought they were all pressed from one master copy!

 

Philip

Message Edited by ploo on 10-07-2004 06:16 PM

Thirdrockfromsun,

It doesn't help a great deal, because that is the behavior that should have taken place. Ploo installed from a different CD. It did not prompt him for a Product ID upon installation (which confirms other information I have seen). If he also reports that it was preactivated, that will be news to me.

ploo,

To verify that you are activated, go to Start|Run, enter oobe/msoobe /a and click OK. If you are advised that the copy of XP is already activated, I would do nothing. Microsoft's interest will not be compromised since you do in fact have a legitimate Windows XP license.

If you use one of the available programs to display the Product ID of the copy of XP on your system it will return the Product ID of the volume license Dell uses to isntall XP on all its systems. This will bear no resemblance to the Product ID on the sticker on your computer's case.

(If it is activated, please let me know. That would help to clarify what happens in a case such as yours.)

Denny,

Actually, so far I've not been prompted to activate the installation. Yes, I did use a Dell OEM copy of XP on a system other than the one that it shipped with.

Does that mean I won't run into trouble if I don't have to activate this installation?

My concern is that the product key embedded in the Inspiron 4100 (which just had the reinstall) is the same as the product key in my Inspiron 600m (whose CD I used to reinstall). The CD is XP Home SP1a in case it helps.

You make an interesting point; if I never had to activate this copy of XP, then my product key and unique hardware identifiers were never sent to Microsoft...

I may just follow that link you gave me, and explain the situation to a Microsoft tech and ask them what I should do.

 

As an aside: Recently I also installed XP using this Dell CD on a Sony laptop. Yes, it was the only copy of XP I had on hand. That time, it also somehow knew the product key from my Inspiron 600m even though I had never typed it in. However, I was able to change the product key to the legal one using keyfinder [www.magicaljellybean.com]. After changing the product key, I activated XP with Microsoft and had no problems. This time, keyfinder 1.41 does not allow me to change the product key. Any ideas?

 

Thank you so much for your time and help. I just don't want to invalidate the copy of XP on my 600m!

Philip

 

QUOTE:

ploo,

Are you being prompted to activate the installation? I ask because there have been reports (unconfirmed) that installing a Dell OEM copy of XP on a system other than the one it shipped with does not prompt for activation.

If you are being prompted, the procedure here will allow you to change the Product ID to the one reflected in the 25-character COA on the sticker on your computer before you activate.

Denny,

Indeed, this copy of XP is already activated. I'll take your word that neither installation of Windows will be compromised.

The Product ID displayed on this system is not a volume license ID, but rather the exact Product ID on the sticker of my other computer (600m) whose CD I used to reinstall XP. As this is the second time that this has happened, I must assume that somehow that specific Product ID is stored on the reinstallation CD from my 600m.

So to clarify, I used a Dell reinstallation CD from another computer to install XP on this computer (4100), and I never had to activate it. The product ID for this specific installation is the same product ID that came on the computer where the CDs came from (600m). This leads me to believe that somehow that specific product ID is stored on my reinstallation CD.

 

ploo,

To verify that you are activated, go to Start|Run, enter oobe/msoobe /a and click OK. If you are advised that the copy of XP is already activated, I would do nothing. Microsoft's interest will not be compromised since you do in fact have a legitimate Windows XP license.

If you use one of the available programs to display the Product ID of the copy of XP on your system it will return the Product ID of the volume license Dell uses to isntall XP on all its systems. This will bear no resemblance to the Product ID on the sticker on your computer's case.

(If it is activated, please let me know. That would help to clarify what happens in a case such as yours.)

ploo,

Thanks for the information. Dell has changed the way they set systems up. That program (and ViewKeyXP and Belarc Advisor and AIDA) shows the volume license COA on my computer and those of several others who purchased XP-equipped Dells at the same time I did.

Keyfinder 1.41 at www.magicaljellybean.com

Please note that this software can also change the product ID embedded in the registry, however it gets an error on my laptop!

ploo,

Thanks for the information. One remaining question, what did you use to view the product ID of XP on each of the computers? Dell may have changed the way they set them up since I purchased my XP system.

Message Edited by Denny Denham on 10-07-2004 07:26 PM

Pine,

I believe the CDs used for Site Licenses are different than the standard retail versions.  The CDs I've used at work do not ask for product keys, but the standard retail versions do.

Cliff