Reload OS from non-Dell / OEM CD?

you cannot legally use the Dell Key with a non Dell disk.

EDIT:  Oops, Hrova got in ahead of me.

Dell will provide one backup set for free per computer. The replaced disks include the OS that was originally installed on your computer, the only difference may be the disk they send will likely have the latest Service Pack - if you had XP SP1, they will most likely send a disk with XP SP3....

https://support.dell.com/support/topics/global.aspx/support/dellcare/en/backupcd_form

When you get these disks, you may want to copy the OS disk, just for a backup of the backup....

Good luck with things....

You can use an OEM CD with the CD key, the drivers will be the main issue(if you are lucky your internet will work) so you can go to the dell website and install the drivers needed

(I suggest downloading them a head of time and burning them to a CD/DVD)

Your CD key should be written underneath your laptop

you cannot legally use the Dell Key with a non Dell disk.

In what sense? I'm not moving the OS to a different system, rather just reinstalling it onto the Dell laptop I own and am licensed to run the OS on. Nor am I trying to "upgrade" the OS, say from XP Home to XP Pro.

Does a non-Dell disk reject the product key?

Thanks and regards.

I'll chime in while you await Dave's reply...

Many OEM disks are tied to the brand (or even specific model) computer it came with. If the OEM disk is a Dell, it will work seamlessly.

If the OEM disk is another brand, it may not install at all, since some OEM's check the BIOS before installing to make sure it is being installed on the 'right' machine.

When I ordered Dell's disks, they came with two days, and like I said, it was FREE.

Yes a non dell disk will require you to enter the key to activate it and it will be rejected. Dell's keys are tied to Dell disks only. Most OEM disks and even the retail ones are tied to computer they are installed on and not transferable from one computer to another.

Speaking from experience you CAN enter the CD-KEY with an OEM DVD(Provided that the versions match i.e. Home Premium with Home Premium), the CD-KEY is from Microsoft and not Dell's. The only reason that you have to activate it is because Dell pre-activates  the key and copies the file to the computer via the install process. I prefer and recommend installing it via a OEM CD(if you know what you are doing), because it doesn't install all the ***-ware that is bundled in the Dell CD/DVD

Yes a non dell disk will require you to enter the key to activate it and it will be rejected. Dell's keys are tied to Dell disks only. Most OEM disks and even the retail ones are tied to computer they are installed on and not transferable from one computer to another.

"I prefer and recommend installing it via a OEM CD(if you know what you are doing), because it doesn't install all the ***-ware that is bundled in the Dell CD/DVD"

The Dell CD/DVD is an OEM Cd...

Yours is the second post I've seen recently to imply that the Dell reinstall cd has additional software / services that install when you install Windows. That is not the case.

It installs the OS. About the only difference is that the Dell cd checks the BIOS to make sure it is a Dell computer it is being installed to and that no cd-key input (not sure of the exact terms for that) is required.

Hrova is correct.  The only other difference I am aware of is that for some systems the Windows disk will include SATA drivers (e.g., a system without IDE drives, but running XP) slipstreamed into the disk so you don't need a floppy drive to load the OS.

It installs the drivers for it's pieces and installs other software (like for me it installs Dell Control point, Dell.UCM)

Sorry for not using the proper terms I mean an original Windows CD (thats the main difference between the two)