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Install with one CD while using a different key?

I

InlineFive

Diamond Member
Hey everyone,

I have two Dell OptiPlex machines acting up with tons of unexplicable errors from the DCOM service. Can I reinstall plain-jane Windows (not the Dell recovery CD) and use the key the OptiPlex came with?

Thanks!

-Por
 
You could maybe get away with it if you installed with an OEM version of the OS since that is what ships with the Dell. Any other version of the OS will definitely not work, unless you have the key that corresponds to that version, ie, retail, volume, corporate.
 
To the best of my knowledge it's an OEM Windows XP Professional disk. I'll give it a go when I'm not so tired.

One more question, where is the utility partition stored? Is it hidden from Windows or is it the Dell folder in C:?
 
Originally posted by: PorBleemo
To the best of my knowledge it's an OEM Windows XP Professional disk. I'll give it a go when I'm not so tired.

One more question, where is the utility partition stored? Is it hidden from Windows or is it the Dell folder in C:?
Click to expand...

Normally a hidden partition. You can use a live linux distro for example to get acces to it.
(thats what I do with our Dells, away with their crap, just get what you need)
 
I think their 32-Bit diagnostics are somewhat useful. So I wanted to keep that while clearing out the entire Windows partition.
 
Originally posted by: PorBleemo
I think their 32-Bit diagnostics are somewhat useful. So I wanted to keep that while clearing out the entire Windows partition.
Click to expand...

You can see the partition using FDISK. Also the utilities can be ran by booting off of the utilities cd that came with your system so you do not have to keep that partition if you want to use the utilities.
 
When I tried installing WinXP SP2 Home OEM edition on a Dell PC that came equipped with WinXP SP1 OEM, the key didn't work. Im still mystified by that.
 
If I'm not mistaken Dell provides an OEM version of Windows XP meaning there are no add ons or various programs unless you choose to install them yourself using the additional CDs.
 
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