Dell Inspiron 2650 - Restore CD?

[Mr Bob]

Here's the story.

A friend of mine purchased a laptop from someone who put on an illegal copy of Windows XP Pro. She is now at college, and the software she has to connect through requires your computer to have all of the latest XP updates. However, since the license key isn't valid, she cannot install SP2 and the updates associated with that.

The product CD key (for XP Pro SP1) is still on the bottom of the laptop, included on the CoA.

Since she can't contact the person who she purchased the laptop from, there isn't a way to get the restore cd. Dell requies the original billing address to even send out a copy of the restore CD.

So, what can be done? I was thinking that if I could just get a copy of the restore cd for the Inspiron 2650, then we might be in the clear since we have a real legit product key on the CoA.

Suggestions?

 

[Mr Bob]

bump

 

[John]

Find someone you know that will let you borrow an OEM copy of XP Pro. This is legal since you will be using your own COA. Otherwise you'll need to buy a new copy from a legit store @ $130.00, or try our FS/T forum for a deal.

 

[Mr Bob]

I thought that the normal OEM cds won't work with Dell licensed XP cds...

 

[John]

The Dell COA (product key) is an OEM copy of the o/s. In your case an OEM XP Pro cd will work fine. I use my own OEM cd's when I am servicing Dell, Compaq, HP, GW2K, Sager, etc. and have never had a problem other than having to reactivate the o/s once in a while.

 

[Mr Bob]

Since I still have the service tag, I was able to find an online conversion from service tag to service code, and used that to change the billing information for the computer. Then I was able to request the restore CD.

Hopefully I will be able to use the XP Pro SP1 cd that my friend is going to upload for me.