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busmechanic wrote:
I have a problem on my laptop the hard drive went sour as well as the motherboard replaced both items installed a new copy of XP and now I can not activate XP.

I have 2 installation disk because I have two dell systems. One laptop One desktop.

Problem is that the disk for my laptop was cracked so I used my XP CD disk for the desktop. When I was asked for the COA I plugged in the numbers according to the sticker on the bottom of my laptop but the activation will not accept it. It wants me to call MS. But MS does not support OEM.

How can I activate or get a replacement CD. Both CDs are XP Home SP1. My system is out or warranty so I can not just call.

 

If your laptop came with XP from Dell, and you used a Dell XP CD, then no activation would be needed and it wouldn't ask for the code. 

 

All activation goes through Microsoft.  Perhaps you typed zeros instead of Ohs, 8s instead of the letter B?

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busmechanic wrote:
Please reread my thread you did not understand what I wrote? I am using a diffrent dell CD disk. It is not the one that came with my laptop.

BTY I have not zeros or o's and every character is crystal clear.

 

I understood very clearly what you wrote, thanks.  It doesn't matter, as Firebird also posts, which Dell CD you use as long as it's the same version (Home vs. Pro).  A proper install on a Dell computer with a Dell CD does NOT prompt for the key.

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busmechanic wrote:
I am not daydreaming I have both disk both are Home versions Service packs 1a. One disc is blue and the other is a maroon color. The blue disk is cracked and I used the maroon.

I am telling you it asked for the COA as soon as I went to authenticate the XP

I am thinking Maybe because the MB and Harddrive went out and I replace them that maybe this is causing the problem.

Back to the original question How do I get a replacement for the cracked version?

 

Any chance you're using a non-Dell motherboard or non-Dell bios?

 

Dell doesn't replace CDs.