• We’re currently investigating an issue related to the forum theme and styling that is impacting page layout and visual formatting. The problem has been identified, and we are actively working on a resolution. There is no impact to user data or functionality, this is strictly a front-end display issue. We’ll post an update once the fix has been deployed. Thanks for your patience while we get this sorted.

Problem with OS installation on Dell PC

mcurphy

mcurphy

Diamond Member
I have a hand me down Dell 4600 that I've had for a couple years. I was given the original windows mce 2005 cd with it. I upgraded different components and never had a problem.

So anyhow, I went to format and do a clean install today and it wouldn't activate. So I call microsoft, and read off the numbers, and the recording tells me it can't validate my installation id. I get transfered to customer service.

Customer service has me read off the numbers, she says it is invalid and asks me to re-enter my COA key and hit update. I do so and the install id does not change.

So she tells me I can either pay $59 to get tech support, contact dell, or figure it out myself.

I ask her, "so my cd is valid, my key is valid, but you won't activate windows for me without a fee to troubleshoot?

She says "yes everything you have is valid, but there was a problem during your installation and you can't get a valid installation id key without tech support."

WTF?? The CD and Key are VALID, but I can't use them??? Microsoft windows has an error installing, but I have to PAY THEM to find out what the deal is?

Has anyone else come across this problem? Is there something during installation that may recognize a hardware change I may have done, and gives me an incorrect code on purpose so I won't use the CD and key with another pc??

I've swapped the cpu, hdd and RAM since I've had the pc, but never had a problem until this point.

I'm just wondering what the heck is going on? Do I need to replace the old crappy hardware in order to get a "good" install to continue using this pc?

Does anyone have experience with an issue like this?

I suppose I could call Dell as she suggested, but what good does that do? It is out of warranty, and I'm not the original owner.

Any help would be appreciated,

Thanks
 
Not that I condone piracy, but if you bought a CD with a valid key, just download a pirated version and use your CD Key on that. That way it will work for you and it wouldn't be illegal since you DID pay for it.
 
Something's wrong here. Unless MCE is different, you should NEVER have to Activate a Dell version of Windows XP on a Dell computer. The special Dell OEM version of XP is BIOS-locked. When installed on a Dell computer it won't ask for Activation.
 
Originally posted by: RebateMonger
Something's wrong here. Unless MCE is different, you should NEVER have to Activate a Dell version of Windows XP on a Dell computer. The special Dell OEM version of XP is BIOS-locked. When installed on a Dell computer it won't ask for Activation.
Click to expand...

Yes, that is what I thought! I have never had to go through the activation process with this pc before, so what the heck is going on?? Could my bios be corrupted? Would an update have changed anything?
 
Originally posted by: RebateMonger
Something's wrong here. Unless MCE is different, you should NEVER have to Activate a Dell version of Windows XP on a Dell computer. The special Dell OEM version of XP is BIOS-locked. When installed on a Dell computer it won't ask for Activation.
Click to expand...

He bought Windows XP pro for his PC. He's trying to upgrade.
 
OP - is the MCE Install CD you have issued by Dell or is it a Microsoft version? I'm thinking along the same lines as RebateMonger.
 
Originally posted by: Quinton McLeod
Not that I condone piracy, but if you bought a CD with a valid key, just download a pirated version and use your CD Key on that. That way it will work for you and it wouldn't be illegal since you DID pay for it.
Click to expand...

Thanks for the reply, but I'm really not into piracy. And I didn't pay for the cd, it was included with the pc when it was given to me. Something is just not right, it should work with what I already have. 🙁
 
Originally posted by: Quinton McLeod
Originally posted by: RebateMonger
Something's wrong here. Unless MCE is different, you should NEVER have to Activate a Dell version of Windows XP on a Dell computer. The special Dell OEM version of XP is BIOS-locked. When installed on a Dell computer it won't ask for Activation.
Click to expand...

He bought Windows XP pro for his PC. He's trying to upgrade.
Click to expand...

From what I can see he's trying to do a clean install of MCE
 
Originally posted by: spherrod
OP - is the MCE Install CD you have issued by Dell or is it a Microsoft version? I'm thinking along the same lines as RebateMonger.
Click to expand...

It is a Dell issued CD. It is orange and says Operating System. Already Installed on you computer. Reinstallation DVD...etc
 
Originally posted by: spherrod
Originally posted by: Quinton McLeod
Originally posted by: RebateMonger
Something's wrong here. Unless MCE is different, you should NEVER have to Activate a Dell version of Windows XP on a Dell computer. The special Dell OEM version of XP is BIOS-locked. When installed on a Dell computer it won't ask for Activation.
Click to expand...

He bought Windows XP pro for his PC. He's trying to upgrade.
Click to expand...

From what I can see he's trying to do a clean install of MCE
Click to expand...

Yes, I totally wiped the drive, reformatted, and now I can't activate.
 
Weird, so it's a Dell MCE2005 Reinstallation DVD and the COA is also for MCE2005?

Not sure what your next step would be if Microsoft want to charge you for assistance - maybe you could speak to Dell and they would be able to send out another CD/DVD for your laptop. Do you know who the previous owner was and their contact details - you'll need these when you speak to Dell.
 
Originally posted by: spherrod
Weird, so it's a Dell MCE2005 Reinstallation DVD and the COA is also for MCE2005?

Not sure what your next step would be if Microsoft want to charge you for assistance - maybe you could speak to Dell and they would be able to send out another CD/DVD for your laptop. Do you know who the previous owner was and their contact details - you'll need these when you speak to Dell.
Click to expand...

Yeah, I think this will be my next step. I just thought maybe I was doing something wrong, or had something screwed up. I just couldn't believe they were wanting to charge me for what I thought was a problem with their OS. I was wondering if anyone else had heard of an issue like this before, but it seems to be uncommon.

I do know the previous owner. I will be contacting them and Dell to see if I can get this cleared up.

And yes, the DVD and the COA key are both MCE05 and both go together. So that can't be the problem.

Thanks for all the suggestions guys, I'm going to head out and try to get this straightened out.

 
Originally posted by: mcurphy
Yes, that is what I thought! I have never had to go through the activation process with this pc before, so what the heck is going on?? Could my bios be corrupted? Would an update have changed anything?
Click to expand...
Wish I had an answer for you. The part of the BIOS that says "Dell" is, I assume, not reprogrammable. I suppose it wouldn't hurt to try re-flashing the BIOS to the latest version. But if the PC was working fine before, that's probably not the solution.

You are kinda' stuck in between Dell and Microsoft. Microsoft sells its software cheaply to Dell and, in turn, Dell has the responsibility to support the software. If Dell won't support you because you are out of warranty, then Microsoft isn't legally obligated to help. But Microsoft controls the Activation portion....it's a big black hole.

The first thing to do is to contact Dell (they have online chat that many folks are happy with) and tell them what's happening. Maybe Dell will help.

If you can't get help for free, you might want to bite the bullet and purchase a generic OEM version of MCE 2005 ($110-$120)) or Vista Home Premium ($120 to $140 depending on whether it's OEM or Retail). That sucks, but remember that the original copy of MCE was purchased for peanuts.

Wish I had a better answer.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

TRENDING THREADS

Back
Top