The SLP key is input from every Dell Windows Vista Home Premium Reinstallation DVD and will automatically unlock and activate if and only if a correct Dell BIOS is detected.
If an incorrect BIOS is detected the product won't activate.
See Windows Reinstallation Guide / A Clean Install of Windows Vista for more details, it will guide you through the installation process. You will have to use the media from Step 1a in your case only.
Normally it is not required to activate your Windows Product using the 25 Digit Product Key on your Code of Authenticity. It is normally there only as a backup. Microsoft provided Dell with really low quality stickers however which were prone to fading as in your case. I wrote an Idea on IdeaStorm highlighting this issue some time ago here.
After installation of Windows Vista Home Premium you may wish to carry out Step 1c and backup your product activation just in case you have problems in the future. This will backup the Dell SLP Key and this activation mechanism will restore the product activation for any Dell sold with a Vista Home Premium COA.
I have backed up the Product Activation for 7 Home Premium, 7 Professional, 7 Ultimate and Vista Business. I still need the activation files from Vista Home Basic, Vista Home Premium, Vista Ultimate and 7 Starter to complete this section of the Windows Reinstallation Guide. See here for more details.
ejn63
9 Legend
•
87.5K Posts
1
July 13th, 2013 10:00
The license key is not needed to install using the Dell DVD.
Philip_Yip
9 Legend
•
16.1K Posts
0
July 13th, 2013 15:00
The Dell Reinstallation DVD will automatically input the Dell System Locked Preinstallation Key (http://forums.mydigitallife.info/threads/2581-Vista-OEM-SLP-keys) during the installation.
The SLP key is input from every Dell Windows Vista Home Premium Reinstallation DVD and will automatically unlock and activate if and only if a correct Dell BIOS is detected.
If an incorrect BIOS is detected the product won't activate.
See Windows Reinstallation Guide / A Clean Install of Windows Vista for more details, it will guide you through the installation process. You will have to use the media from Step 1a in your case only.
Normally it is not required to activate your Windows Product using the 25 Digit Product Key on your Code of Authenticity. It is normally there only as a backup. Microsoft provided Dell with really low quality stickers however which were prone to fading as in your case. I wrote an Idea on IdeaStorm highlighting this issue some time ago here.
After installation of Windows Vista Home Premium you may wish to carry out Step 1c and backup your product activation just in case you have problems in the future. This will backup the Dell SLP Key and this activation mechanism will restore the product activation for any Dell sold with a Vista Home Premium COA.
I have backed up the Product Activation for 7 Home Premium, 7 Professional, 7 Ultimate and Vista Business. I still need the activation files from Vista Home Basic, Vista Home Premium, Vista Ultimate and 7 Starter to complete this section of the Windows Reinstallation Guide. See here for more details.