WinXP, Dell Reinstallation Disks, and Product Codes

[PS85]

I have a Dell Optiplex 170L with with Windows XP Pro with missing files. It is a used machine with no software.

Years ago I had a different used Dell desktop with the same situation. It had Windows XP SP2 Home. On a message board a Dell support person PMed me and said he would send me a Windows XP SP2 Home Reinstallation disk-he did, the last one in the place. I used it and the machine ran fine until it broke years ago.

The label says it is a Dell Reinstallation CD. It is blue.

The problem is the Product Code. I don't remember if the reinstallation CD he sent me had its own Product Code or if I just used the WinXP product code from the original OS. I have the Product Code for the old machine, and the Product for the Dell machine I am using now.

Do Dell reinstallation CDs have Product Codes themselves or do you use the Product Code that came with the machine's original OS?

If I install this XP Home installation CD over the XP Pro OS on there now, which Product Code do I give it?

Any help would be appreciated.

 

[Steltek]

Technically, it isn't legal to transfer a reinstallation CD to another machine - it is only supposed to be used on the machine its COA sticker is attached to and lives/dies with that machine.

Now, that being said, Dell reinstallation CDs under XP don't always require a code given that they are BIOS-activated on Dell machines. You could try it, but no guarantees that it'll work. If it asks for a key when you install, it'll ask for an XP Home product key.

Do you have a XP Pro COA and product code on the original machine?

 

[ConradGoodmanIT]

What license do you have for the machine in question? You should be able to get hold of the appropriate installation media for your license.

 

[DrGreen2007]

for the most part, if you use a Dell XP CD on a Dell machine, you wont have to type in any product key or activate.
The installation process finds the correct certificate in the bios that matches the Dell CD and it uses a Dell auto activation key (oem, factory)
If you were to use the same Dell CD on a Sony PC, it wouldnt activate and it would prompt for the key.
If you need a Dell CD, let me know

 

[Dahak]

You can use any dell cd with any dell machines as long as the windows xp version matches. For example in your case the machine has XP Pro, so you would need a Dell XP Pro cd.

the XP home cd will not work (well it would but you need and XP home key to active)

 

[JoeBleed]

Or to make it very simple, the way i do it, if you have an oem key for any version, any oem os install disk that matches that key should work.

I use a generic oem xp pro install disk to install on dell and hp machines. i just use the key on the coa sticker on the machine. Before i got my hands on a generic oem disk i was using an HP oem disk for all machines. when it was on a dell i just had to go through the activation process and that always worked.

 

[Charlie98]

I use my Dell disks to reinstall on any machine, as long as the machine has it's own COA. it's kind of funny, though... the last reinstall was an Acer, but Dell shows up in the sys info screen. But it all works, and that's what matters.

 

[DrGreen2007]

You can use any dell cd with any dell machines as long as the windows xp version matches. For example in your case the machine has XP Pro, so you would need a Dell XP Pro cd.

the XP home cd will not work (well it would but you need and XP home key to active)

it would work if the machine was available with xp home or xp pro
Inspiron laptops work with both the home and pro CD's
Optiplex desktops (#780 Ive tried) work with the 2008R2 foundation DVD
Vostro 400's work with the Vista Business and Windows 7 Pro DVD's

It goes by the SLIC code in the bios

 

[Harvey]

The license for the OS that was originally installed on the machine goes with the machine. A successful installation with any copy of XP is just using it to re-install the OS under the liense you already own. As DrGreen2007 said, you should be able to install any copy of the same versions XP (SP1, SP2, etc.) that Dell provided on it to install the basic OS. Note that some specific versions may not work, in which case, just try another version. As Steltek said, the license info may be in the BIOS, in which case, it may not even ask for it on installation.

Before you start, download this compliation of all (or at least most) of Windows XP SP 3 updates from Microsoft and all of the current drivers from Dell's driver download page for your machine, and copy them to separate folders (Dell and MS) on a flash drive. Once you have the basic installation, copy the folders to the new installtion drive, and install them from there. It's going to take long enough without having to install them one by one online.

 

[andy2000]

Any Dell XP CD will work with virtually any Dell PC (that supports XP) and won't require you to enter a key, or activate Windows. The CD has a universal Dell volume key built in. I've never encountered a situation where the BIOS was specific to Pro, or Home. I always put Pro on unless I was selling it and needed it to match the license exactly. Even Dells with 2000 COAs usually take XP as long as they were made after XP was released.

 

[PS85]

If you need a Dell CD, let me know

Much appreciated. I'm going to try various things first, but thank you for your generous offer.

 

[PS85]

If it asks for a key when you install, it'll ask for an XP Home product key.

Do you have a XP Pro COA and product code on the original machine?

Yes I do. I have the original, (I bought it used w/o software), Dell Dimension 4400, now non-functioning, with the product code on the sticker on the machine. This was the original machine that I used the Reinstallation Disk that Dell sent me years ago. So if I get asked on the Optiplex for the Product Code, I should just give the Dimension's XP Home Product Code?

I would like to thank all the people who answered, your help is greatly appreciated.

 

[Steltek]

Yes I do. I have the original, (I bought it used w/o software), Dell Dimension 4400, now non-functioning, with the product code on the sticker on the machine. This was the original machine that I used the Reinstallation Disk that Dell sent me years ago. So if I get asked on the Optiplex for the Product Code, I should just give the Dimension's XP Home Product Code?

Yes.

However, I truly doubt it will ask for the code as the Dell reinstallation CD will read the embedded XP BIOS SLIC code and know it is being installed on a Dell machine. If it does ask for a code and won't activate, let us know. Others have offered, and I know I have several Dell XP Pro OEM reinstallation disks in a cabinet somewhere that should work with your Optiplex's XP Pro COA product code if necessary.

As Harvey pointed out, though, you do need to grab those XP updates as soon as possible. Nobody knows at this point whether Microsoft plans to leave them up or just shut off the servers when XP hits end of life shortly. I suspect they'll leave 'em up for a while, but in the end who knows what they'll do.

 

[Harvey]

Also, an XP recovery disk from another Dell machine may try to install drivers for the other machine, which could give you error messages on installation, and it won't have all the drivers for your machine. You can ignore the error messages, but, repeating my previous recommendation, download all the current drivers for your machine before you start.

You may encounter less hassle if you can borrow a generic OEM installation disk. If it's the right vintage, the installation should work based on the BIOS license recognition. If not, don't sweat using the key on the disk. You're not pirating the OS. You're just using other media to install the OS you already own as part of your machine.

 

[Mushkins]

Also, an XP recovery disk from another Dell machine may try to install drivers for the other machine, which could give you error messages on installation, and it won't have all the drivers for your machine. You can ignore the error messages, but, repeating my previous recommendation, download all the current drivers for your machine before you start.

You may encounter less hassle if you can borrow a generic OEM installation disk. If it's the right vintage, the installation should work based on the BIOS license recognition. If not, don't sweat using the key on the disk. You're not pirating the OS. You're just using other media to install the OS you already own as part of your machine.

Going as far back as XP, this is incorrect. The Dell OS reinstall disks are *strictly* their very basic, generic OS and a few pieces of generic dell bloatware slipstreamed in. They don't even have network or chipset drivers on them. The only drivers on them are the standard drivers for that OS.

With a new PC, Dell used to ship a separate "drivers and utilities" disk for your specific model, to be used after the recovery disk to get all the drivers and bloatware back on there. Around Vista/Win7 they migrated over to mostly doing those stupid "recovery partitions" to avoid needing to press driver disks anymore.

Other OEM disks might bundle extra drivers on their recovery image, but Dell specifically does not. I have a set of those dell disks on me for all versions of windows going back to XP Home in my bag at all times, they're lifesavers

 

[Harvey]

Thanks, Mushkins. My experience in this regard was with a couple of older HP/Compaq machines that ran the installation program, including the OS and drivers, from a single disk. That's why I said he MAY encounter such error messages and, if so, he could ignore them and continue the installation.

That's also why I suggested that, if the installation with the older Dell disk failed, he could try a generic OEM version.

 

[88keys]

For Windows XP, Vista and 7; OEMs installation discs are pre activated volume keys and the OS looks for a string in your BIOS/UEFI to let it know that it's a Dell, HP ,etc. and allow pre activation.

The product key that is on your system (not the one on the side of your case) you have is probably one of a handful that are in use on other Dell machines.

If your Dell came with XP pro pre installed, you can use any XP pro Dell installation CD and it will work regardless of the product key.

The same is true for Windows OSes up to Windows 7.

 

[PS85]

I installed the Windows XP home and the installation seemed to be okay but it is incomplete. I couldn't connect to the internet. When I try to boot up, I am told that "setupdd" is missing.

I think I need a boot disc. Only trouble is, Microsoft only sends boot discs thru floppies online. I have a floppy drive from my old computer, but there are no libraries or other computers that have them for me to make boot disks from.

Is there some way to make a boot CD using freeware, or some way to copy the files onto a CD that I can then transfer onto floppies on the computer at home?

 

[88keys]

Hmm seems odd that you would be missing a file like like that right after a fresh install. Perhaps your HDD is going bad?

I'm unsure as far as what kind of "boot disk" you need. I'm pretty sure you can get to the recovery console from an XP installation CD.

According to this pdf your machine supports booting from USB which is the easiest way to make a boot disk these days.

If you could be more specific about the boot disk you need, I can help you create a bootable flash drive or CD and possibly go from there.

 

[Ketchup]

A bad stick of RAM can cause this error. Swap out the RAM, and see if the install runs correctly. I don't know what you need a boot disc for, as the XP installation disk is bootable, and you do can just about everything you need from there.

 

[PS85]

A bad stick of RAM can cause this error. Swap out the RAM, and see if the install runs correctly.

That's what happened. I owe everyone in this thread an apology, I left out some important information.

The machine as I got it some months ago had WinXP Pro 64 bit and two 256 RAM sticks. I looked to upgrade the RAM, and even though in the BIOS the cache was listed as 1056, all the online listings for the Optiplex 170L said 2MB RAM. I ordered the RAM, two 1MB sticks-the support people said it would work. When installed it-nothing. I had two 184 pin sticks from a previous machine, 512MB each, tried it-nothing. I left one 512MB in and put one of the original 256MB back in-worked great. 768MB RAM and the machine worked much better on the internet and everywhere. So I assumed that was OK. I left the 256MB in and tried a 1MB RAM stick in the other-got a beep beep beep. I took the 1MB out and put back the 512MB. I now had 768MB back again and I decided to install the XP home and had problems, couldn't connect to the internet.

So I put in the other original 256 RAM stick back in, the RAM is now all the original RAM for 512MB total. The machine boots up without having to go through all sorts of dodges, such as setting the BIOS to "install" which limited the RAM used to 256MB. With the original RAM in the machine boots up normally.

I normally am a firm believer in giving those who help you ALL possible information at the start, but I went to a different forum, one which had been helpful in the past, and apparently the information was too much. So I cut down on the amount of information in this forum. Sorry for the omissions.

Now that the machine boots up normally with the old RAM in, there are still issues. Even after reinstalling with the original 512MB RAM back in, the the following isn't installed according to Control Panel-System-Device Manager:
Ethernet Controller
Multimeter Audio Controller
Video Controller

I had to go wireless because my Ethernet port doesn't work. I am on the internet now with this Optiplex. But the most immediate problem is that my screen resolution is the lowest, 16 bit. I have a Dell ST 2010 monitor and I went online and downloaded the driver for it, but still no dice. Hard to navigate the web, everything is so big on the screen.

I suspect the drivers for these things are on the Dell Reinstall disk. Can anyone tell me where they might be on that disk? Give me some names to look for, or something?

PS: Is there some place on the internet I can download these drivers,if they are not on the Reinstall Disk?

Any help would be appreciated. I also greatly appreciate the help I have received so far.

 

[Steltek]

They should be available from the Dell Optiplex 170L support page:

Link

Once everything is up and running, you may want to also check to make sure you have the most recent BIOS revision (A09, according to the website) installed as it may impact on your memory issues.

 

[Harvey]

That's what happened. I owe everyone in this thread an apology, I left out some important information.

You don't owe anyone any apology. You came looking for help with a problem, others replied with suggestions, and eventually, ketchup79 posted a suggestion that put you on the right track and resolved your problem.

I'm sure that, until you found the answer, your own anxiety over it the worst part of the whole thing. If you really feel the need to relieve some guilt, now that you're here, stick around, and try to help others as you can. That's how it works around here.

 

[Fardringle]

Regarding the memory upgrade, I have an Optiplex 170L in my office that is running 2x1GB memory sticks (2GB total) with no problems. I suspect you either have a problem with the RAM slots in that machine, or you got RAM that is not compatible. This stuff works great.

 

[PS85]

I went to the Dell support page Steltek linked to, did a bunch of downloading, and now things work. Oddly, I didn't seem to be able to download the diagnostic tool, but the other drivers that appeared installed. I also didn't seem to be able to link to the latest BIOS there, but since Steltek said the latest version was A09, I just searched for a Dell page with the A09 BIOS and installed it without trouble or incident. Thanks, Steltek.

Latest problem: downloading Microsoft Security Essentials. To do so I need to upgrade to XP SP3-the Reinstallation disk gives you SP2. I have been trying to upgrade to SP3 for over a day. Apparently you cannot go to the MS site and do that-you have to set Automatic Updates and let them get around to sending you that on their own time.

Before I suspect that the drivers were not in place, so that is why MS did not update. Now that the necessary drivers are in place, I set it to upload the updates at 4AM this morning before going to bed. Unfortunately, at 10:30AM I still have SP2 on.

Is there some way to just go to a MS page and download the SP3 package? I don't like to be on the net without antivirus protection.