What to do with a Dell Windows XP Reinstallation CD?

[rocketbubba]

Question: I have a Dell Reinstallation CD with Windows XP Pro on it. It was installed on a computer and activated but the computer has since been dismantled. It's not in use on any machine so should it be shredded? I hate to throw it away but I guess there's no use for it. Thanks.

 

[Jeff7181]

Microsoft doesn't care about the media... it's a little bit of plastic and metal. It's the license that's valuable.

 

[owensdj]

Someone who has a Dell and lost their Reinstallation CD may want it.

 

[RebateMonger]

Originally posted by: Jeff7181
Microsoft doesn't care about the media... it's a little bit of plastic and metal. It's the license that's valuable.

Not quite true. Try selling the CD on eBay. The auction will be cancelled if eBay discovers it. That Dell OEM XP Pro install CD can be used on any Dell PC, even those not licensed for that version of XP, with no need to Activate XP. That's why MS doesn't approve.

 

[Jeff7181]

Originally posted by: RebateMonger

Originally posted by: Jeff7181
Microsoft doesn't care about the media... it's a little bit of plastic and metal. It's the license that's valuable.

Not quite true. Try selling the CD on eBay. The auction will be cancelled if eBay discovers it. That Dell OEM XP Pro install CD can be used on any Dell PC, even those not licensed for that version of XP, with no need to Activate XP. That's why MS doesn't approve.

When I reinstalled XP Pro on my old Dell laptop it prompted for the product key... the CD wouldn't have done me any good if I didn't have that key.

 

[JesseKnows]

Originally posted by: Jeff7181
When I reinstalled XP Pro on my old Dell laptop it prompted for the product key... the CD wouldn't have done me any good if I didn't have that key.

This laptop would be very old then. I had installed the Dell Reinstallation CD on a few Dell machines including early Pentium3 and had no problem.

 

[BlueAcolyte]

My parents have Media Center Edition, and when I tried to install it on my computer, it locked up after 30 days, business as usual. The CD is from 2005, though.

Edit: If it doesn't prompt for reactivation (is very recent) then go ahead and use it if you really want to... Although that would be illegal AFAIK.

 

[VirtualLarry]

Originally posted by: RebateMonger

Originally posted by: Jeff7181
Microsoft doesn't care about the media... it's a little bit of plastic and metal. It's the license that's valuable.

Not quite true. Try selling the CD on eBay. The auction will be cancelled if eBay discovers it. That Dell OEM XP Pro install CD can be used on any Dell PC, even those not licensed for that version of XP, with no need to Activate XP. That's why MS doesn't approve.

Why would it be cancelled, if it is a genuine original CD? Someone with a Dell (and therefore a valid, legal license), may need re-installation media.

I know someone that purchased some of these CDs off of ebay.

Btw, you're wrong about the activation. It still requires activation if installed onto a non-Dell (No SLP BIOS key) system. Only, I don't think that it will activate online. So MS has nothing to worry about. You can only really use that CD with Dells. (well, there is another usage, but it would be verboten to discuss exactly how).