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Change WinXP key without reinstalling Windows?

I

InlineFive

Diamond Member
Hey all,

I have three new Dells which have never had the OS meddled with or reinstalled. I looked today with Magic Jellybean and they all have the same product key! Yet the sticker on the outside of the box is different. How can I change the OS keys to reflect the sticker?

Thanks!
 
Don't bother. Almost ALL Dell OEM XP PCs have the same built-in Key, because they use OEM BIOS-Locked versions of XP. You install the BIOS-locked XP and it never asks for a key number.

However, I recently installed a Dell OEM version of Windows SBS 2003 that DID ask for a key and (within 30 days) activation on a brand-new Dell server. So Dell may now be requiring activation with their most-recent versions of OEM XP.
 
On another note, I just received a new D610 for work (which is a pretty slick laptop IMHO). However the Dell install is screwed and the system is constantly doing odd things. Rather then deal with the barrage of junk Dell installs can I install Windows using my volume license copy (which is legal). But will it still be legal since the laptop has it's own unique sticker on the outside of it's case?

And has anyone had any problems with installing a non-factory OS on one of these things?
 
If you put your VL copy on, then you are not using your OEM key that came with the laptop, you ARE using one of your licenses from your VL agreement.
 
The Dell Key won't work with a VL XP install CD. The Key number won't be accepted. You'd have to use the VL key, which would be in violation of the VL license agreement.
 
That is good to know.

But actually I got it solved last night, Dell doesn't use "images" anymore so their reinstall CD was a fully functional install CD! Yippee! 😀
 
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