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formatting a DELL computer?

C

Chau

Senior member
i just got a brand new dell computer and it had xp home on it... but i didnt want home so i formatted and tried to install windows xp pro, legit version and it keeps saying my cd key is invalid even though it's legit ?? any ideas why? does dell do anything in the bios or something about this?? ive seen a post about this before but icant find it

thanks
 
I know dell locks some of their software to their systems, but installing another OS shouldn't be a problem. I got rid of XP on my Dell laptop and put 2k on without a hitch.
 
Originally posted by: Kaervak
I know dell locks some of their software to their systems, but installing another OS shouldn't be a problem. I got rid of XP on my Dell laptop and put 2k on without a hitch.
Click to expand...

I did the same thing for my mom's laptop 🙂
 
Originally posted by: Chau
i just got a brand new dell computer and it had xp home on it... but i didnt want home so i formatted and tried to install windows xp pro, legit version and it keeps saying my cd key is invalid even though it's legit ?? any ideas why? does dell do anything in the bios or something about this?? ive seen a post about this before but icant find it

thanks
Click to expand...

Nope, you should be able to do this just fine. I've installed Windows XP Pro on a Dell system a few times without any problems. I would suggest just double checking that you have the cdkey entered correctly.
 
ok i said legit cuz i knew thread would probably get locked, but its a burned copy... but i just noticed that there were 2 partitiosn one was 32 MB and named "-" i didnt delete that partitoin, maybe they have some stuff in that partition that checks the cd keys? i just deleted that one now and reformatting/installing xp again...
 
Originally posted by: Chau
ok i said legit cuz i knew thread would probably get locked, but its a burned copy... but i just noticed that there were 2 partitiosn one was 32 MB and named "-" i didnt delete that partitoin, maybe they have some stuff in that partition that checks the cd keys? i just deleted that one now and reformatting/installing xp again...
Click to expand...

Delete that other partition as well. It's a PITA. And you're right, this will be locked soon.
 
Originally posted by: Chau
ok i said legit cuz i knew thread would probably get locked, but its a burned copy... but i just noticed that there were 2 partitiosn one was 32 MB and named "-" i didnt delete that partitoin, maybe they have some stuff in that partition that checks the cd keys? i just deleted that one now and reformatting/installing xp again...
Click to expand...

None of that's going to matter. When Windows check for authenticity of the CD key, it doesn't check crap like that. It checks just whether the CD key is authentic or not. Obviously you have a pirated CD key that isn't matched with your pirated copy of XP. Just because it's a Pro key, doesn't mean it'll work on all Pro CDs. A Windows XP Pro upgrade CD key won't work on a full version of XP. A Dell XP Pro CD key will only work with the Dell Recovery CDs, not with any retail version of Windows XP Pro. etc etc.
 
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