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@whiteturbo wrote:

I have three dell 2400 desktops and i need to format one of them and i do not know which dell restore disk goes with each one. My question is if i just use one of the disk and i have to activate it can i use the product id number on the side of my dell computer and will MS accept this? Are all the  I want to be sure as i do not want to get into any trouble with MS or DELL

Thank You

Jack

 

All are the same IF they are the same version.  Check them. Use the most recent, ideally Dell Reinstallation XP Service Pack 2. 

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@louiemctool wrote:

First, determine what kind of disc(s) you have.  A System Restore disc is NOT the same as an Operating System disc.  The OS disc simply contains the version of Windows your PC came with.  The Restore disc is basically a "snapshot" of the state of your PC's software environment when the disc(s) were made.  Any extra software that was preinstalled is contained within the System Restore disc.  You could use either, but not both at the same time, since they'd simply write over each other.

 

Since Dell has never made a system restore disk, this is not an issue...

 

As far a legality goes, the OS discs that came with your PC are what's known as OEM (original equipment manufacturer) versions.  As long as each PC still has the Windows Product License key sticker attached and is for the version you are installing, you should be fine.  However, I am not a  lawyer, so you may want to contact MS via their Customer Support if you are concerned.  As a side note, Microsoft requires you to validate your version of Windows now when you try to download updates, so you'll know if you're good to go if you try one and it succedes.  If I remember correctly, since the Windows Genuine Validation Tool has issues with OEM versions, they'll ask you to enter the Product Code, and then you're fine.

 

Hope this helps...

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@whiteturbo wrote:

I think one was made in 03 and the other two early 04....i also can not find but two restore disk so i may not have a disk for one of them ....is it ok to reload one of these even if i can't find the operating system disk as long as i have a dell op disk for a 2400...i know this may be a stupid question but i do not want any trouble and need to be sure what i am doing is legal.

 

If all use Windows XP Home, then simply use the most recent Dell Reinstallation CD.  They are NOT model specific.

I did use one of my windows oem os disk and everything loaded fine and did all updates with Microsoft. My question is after loading and updating i checked the windows key and the key shown on my computer does not match the one on the side of my computer....When updating does Microsoft see the key on more than one computer? I would guess that one reason for Dell using a op disk with no drivers loaded on it is for someone using it on a non a non Dell system so is it ok to use any disk to load the Dell with as long as it does have a sticker on side of computer even if it does n ot match?

Thanks for all the help.

I understand .Thanks for all the help.

Jack

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@whiteturbo wrote:

I did use one of my windows oem os disk and everything loaded fine and did all updates with Microsoft. My question is after loading and updating i checked the windows key and the key shown on my computer does not match the one on the side of my computer....When updating does Microsoft see the key on more than one computer? I would guess that one reason for Dell using a op disk with no drivers loaded on it is for someone using it on a non a non Dell system so is it ok to use any disk to load the Dell with as long as it does have a sticker on side of computer even if it does n ot match?

Thanks for all the help.

In the future, by using the Advanced Forum Search on the bottom of this page, you can quite easily find the answer to this often asked question.

The disks are generic as previously explained.  The key shown, as explained in many other posts, is a Dell master key NOT the key on your computer. 

You cannot use a Dell CD on a non-Dell system. 

It is ok to use ANY Dell CD, not ANY non-Dell CD.