Bart
Member
Registered: 19th Aug 02
Location: Midsomer Norton, Bristol Avon
User status: Offline
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I have a Dell PC at home, with a legit Windows XP Pro sticker on the side displaying the serial, however I dont have the original CD.
Is it viable for me to borrow and Windows XP Pro CD (i.e XP/ SP1 / SP2 / SP3 CD) and install and use that serial on the top? or must it be from the same service pack or must it be an OEM CD?
Basically, I want to do a clean re-install with the legit key.
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John
Member
Registered: 30th Jun 03
User status: Offline
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Normally only works with an OEM cd and the OEM cd's don't ask for a key anwyay.
If you use any cd and then phone the hotline and press some buttons it should generate an activation code for you though.
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Bart
Member
Registered: 19th Aug 02
Location: Midsomer Norton, Bristol Avon
User status: Offline
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John, are you sure its not service pack specific?
i.e if the sticker relates to SP1 I cant activate it from an OEM SP3 CD?
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Sam
Moderator
Premium Member
Registered: 24th Dec 99
Location: West Midlands
User status: Offline
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Just download it from a special shop. You pay for the licence at the end of the day, not the CD as such.
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Bart
Member
Registered: 19th Aug 02
Location: Midsomer Norton, Bristol Avon
User status: Offline
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quote:
Originally posted by Sam
Just download it from a special shop. You pay for the licence at the end of the day, not the CD as such.
I have, a retail version and OEM version, both SP3
quote:
Originally posted by John
Normally only works with an OEM cd and the OEM cd's don't ask for a key anwyay.
Are you sure? you must have to input your serial at some point though...
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pow
Premium Member
Registered: 11th Sep 06
Location: Hazlemere, Buckinghamshire
User status: Offline
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Usr an OEM CD that isn't Dell branded and it should accept the kep on the side of your computer and activate online.
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John
Member
Registered: 30th Jun 03
User status: Offline
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You don't have to input a serial on an OEM cd (100% with dell but think it applies across the board)
The dell one works in compaqs as well, it checks for an OEM BIOS and if it finds it installs with no key.
Service packs don't matter, I used the same key through various slipstreamed installs.
[Edited on 01-05-2009 by John]
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