Need to re-install really old Dell

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wrangler

2[H]4U
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Jan 17, 2005
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I've read that oem disk with oem COA will work.
COA is on the side of the machine.
DELL re-installation disc is long gone. My father in law is 70+ and doesn't remember where it could be and I have searched until I am sure it is not there anywhere.
There is a chance that I have access to a Gateway oem disc of Windows MCE 2005. Would that work?

This thing has Windows XP Home edition. Where in the world would I find an oem copy of THAT or are we at the point that it could be downloaded somewhere?

Thanks for any suggestions that you can give me.
 
Well, I would suggest trying to find the OEM Windows on a torrent site.........you guys may frown upon this but hear me out.

Get a completely un-modded, possibly SP3 XP Home disc, and use your COA Key on it. I don't see any reason why you're confined to using the Dell media. Anyone else want to chime in?
 
I, uh, "found", an XP Home OEM disk image to re-install on a buddy's dell. That's what I needed to get it to take the key. You probably have the same situation.

I still had to call MS to activate though.
 
You can order the disc from dell. Sometimes they'll even send it to you for free (my XP Home w/SP2 is DP/N 0H8412). The quicker option of course is to download it from not quite legit sources. You might need to get an OEM (any) XP CD as opposed to a retail or MSDN isc to use the key on the CoA.

Over the years I've saved one of each Dell disc from systems i've ordered for myself or family members. Don't ask me for a copy though. :p
 
lol

I thought that download thing might get some suggestions :D.............I want to stay on the [H] good side so I will say that I will exhaust all legitimate means. Some of you might get PM's from me at a later date though.........................

I will contact Dell and see if they will send me an installation disc. I did not know that they do that so thanks for that.
 
As far as I'm aware, it is legal to use a CD with a copy of the same version of Windows you had before (you choose how to acquire one) to reinstall windows, then use a registry hack to reset the key so that you can enter your valid key and activate the version of windows legitimately through Windows Activation. I've done this numerous times, because if you've purchased a license, you've purchased a key, and you have a right to use that key to activate an installation of the appropriate version of Windows the key was purchased for.

In the same way it is legal to go to a torrent website, download a piece of software that you have purchased already, burn it onto a disc, and run. You already own the license for the software, so it's not illegal to reacquire it and use it. However, it IS illegal to download anything you have not already purchased.

What I don't know is if this applies to licenses that come through a 3rd party manufacturer like Dell. Is a "Dell Windows XP Premium" license the same as an OEM Windows XP Premium license in the eyes of Microsoft? You've already paid for a Windows XP Premium license through Dell, but technically I suppose it's not the exact same piece of software.

::Shrug:: So if there are any Microsoft lawyers out there, care to enlighten us? ;)
 
I think you should be able to download and burn if you have a legitimate COA so....I agree with the above.

That said, Dell actually has a page where they will send you the discs that came with your machine just by entering your service tag number so that is what I did. Only thing is waiting........... but no problem.
 
wrangler said:
I've read that oem disk with oem COA will work.
COA is on the side of the machine.
DELL re-installation disc is long gone. My father in law is 70+ and doesn't remember where it could be and I have searched until I am sure it is not there anywhere.
There is a chance that I have access to a Gateway oem disc of Windows MCE 2005. Would that work?

This thing has Windows XP Home edition. Where in the world would I find an oem copy of THAT or are we at the point that it could be downloaded somewhere?

Thanks for any suggestions that you can give me.
Click to expand...

I was on the same situation twice past week, one ended installing Windows7 and the other one ended with latest version of Ubuntu...both ended very pleased :D

damn oem xp :(
 
MrF said:
Get a bare (non-Dell, non-....) XP home OEM disk. You can borrow from a friend.
You can build one if the computer is still bootable or you have access to another XP computer. http://www.howtohaven.com/system/createwindowssetupdisk.shtml

After install, use the key from the sticker on the computer to activate.
Click to expand...

If you use an OEM disc, it's not that simple. You'll have to do a minor registry hack to clear the encrypted key that the OEM disc will insert into the registry that matches that CD's key. Once that key is defaulted, you'll be able to activate Windows using your legitimate key by instructing Windows Activation to let you try a different key.

Just google "change Windows XP key" or some such and you'll find articles on how to do it. Once again, this is a legal process if you have a valid key that is not already currently in use on another installation of Windows.

As for getting a copy of OEM Windows XP Home, it's simple enough through a newsgroup or a torrent website. I'll enter my disclaimer here once again; this is only legal if you already own a license to Windows XP Home.
 
You should have no problem getting the disk from Dell. I got one from them for a rig for free.....maybe you might have to pay around $15.
We can all read between the lines about the disk, and many here have the image I'm sure, but I doubt anyone will send it to you - too much fear of the Microsoft Black Choppers storming their homes.:D

Call Dell. All they will need is the info on the service tag.
 
Electrofreak said:
If you use an OEM disc, it's not that simple. You'll have to do a minor registry hack to clear the encrypted key that the OEM disc will insert into the registry that matches that CD's key. Once that key is defaulted, you'll be able to activate Windows using your legitimate key by instructing Windows Activation to let you try a different key.

Just google "change Windows XP key" or some such and you'll find articles on how to do it. Once again, this is a legal process if you have a valid key that is not already currently in use on another installation of Windows.

As for getting a copy of OEM Windows XP Home, it's simple enough through a newsgroup or a torrent website. I'll enter my disclaimer here once again; this is only legal if you already own a license to Windows XP Home.
Click to expand...


OEM XP disc doesn't necessarily have a key built into it. A standard XP Home OEM disc (like you can buy from newegg) will take whatever key you ask. You can input the key as normal. Activation via phone with MS will likely be required, however.
 
wrangler said:
I thought that download thing might get some suggestions :D.............I want to stay on the [H] good side so I will say that I will exhaust all legitimate means.
Click to expand...

It's wrongfully using the software without a license that can't be discussed here; however the media is distributed really isn't of any concern. You've indicated that you have a valid COA, so no issue.
 
I was just having the same kind of situation... and if you do a torrent search for the OS you need a copy of, you should be able to find a DELL, Gateway, etc. copy.

I will say this though. A Dell OEM copy should work on just about every OEM type box. The OEM CDs are volume licensed based upon the BIOS string. As long as the BIOS has "valid" info in it, it will let you install the OS (XP.. not sure about Vista) and it should work without having to call MS or even doing the validation for that matter.

Download Vuze from sourceforge.net. Do soime torrent searches until you find a copy with a fair amount of seeders and/or leachers and you should be good to go.
 
Electrofreak said:
If you use an OEM disc, it's not that simple. You'll have to do a minor registry hack to clear the encrypted key that the OEM disc will insert into the registry that matches that CD's key. Once that key is defaulted, you'll be able to activate Windows using your legitimate key by instructing Windows Activation to let you try a different key.
Click to expand...
If you use a OEM Windows XP Home cd it is simple as putting the cd in, formating, and using the COA that is on the case.

You of course will need to activate at some point, 8 times out of 10 it will activate through windows without any problems, for the times that you do have to call and use the automated activation system it will generally just let you though and give you the activation code over the voice prompt, if and when you do have to actually speak to a live person I have yet to get declined on an activation.
888-571-2048 is the number to call for activation. (it is sad that I know that off the top of my head, and also have that saved in my cell phone.)

Do not know why almost everyone in this thread has made it a long and hard drawn out process.
If you really have a problem with getting a tangable copy of the OS, most PC Repair shops will gladly copy a disc for you if you tell them the situation, that is if you do not have a friend or other family member that has a OEM copy.
 
People are making this complicated. You don't need a "Dell" XP CD. ANY XP plus the matching Dell code on the side of your tower works.. Done this many many times with many different models.
 
Bone_Enterprise said:
If you use a OEM Windows XP Home cd it is simple as putting the cd in, formating, and using the COA that is on the case.

You of course will need to activate at some point, 8 times out of 10 it will activate through windows without any problems, for the times that you do have to call and use the automated activation system it will generally just let you though and give you the activation code over the voice prompt, if and when you do have to actually speak to a live person I have yet to get declined on an activation.
888-571-2048 is the number to call for activation. (it is sad that I know that off the top of my head, and also have that saved in my cell phone.)

Do not know why almost everyone in this thread has made it a long and hard drawn out process.
If you really have a problem with getting a tangable copy of the OS, most PC Repair shops will gladly copy a disc for you if you tell them the situation, that is if you do not have a friend or other family member that has a OEM copy.
Click to expand...

Hey, whatever works for you, but I've I used an OEM Windows XP Home CD in an HP laptop with an XP Home key on the bottom, and it wouldn't accept the key. I called Microsoft and had the rep tell me that they would not help me unless I had the manufacturer's OS CD, and not an OEM CD.

Since then, I just do it with the registry key reset (takes all of 20 seconds), and I've had no problems with numerous OS installs this way.

By all means, go ahead, use an OEM CD, and if it takes the key, awesome. But if it doesn't, I'm just letting you know how to get it taken care of quickly and efficiently without having to sit on the phone with Microsoft.
 
Electrofreak said:
Hey, whatever works for you, but I've I used an OEM Windows XP Home CD in an HP laptop with an XP Home key on the bottom, and it wouldn't accept the key. I called Microsoft and had the rep tell me that they would not help me unless I had the manufacturer's OS CD, and not an OEM CD.

Since then, I just do it with the registry key reset (takes all of 20 seconds), and I've had no problems with numerous OS installs this way.

By all means, go ahead, use an OEM CD, and if it takes the key, awesome. But if it doesn't, I'm just letting you know how to get it taken care of quickly and efficiently without having to sit on the phone with Microsoft.
Click to expand...

Well maybe that's the way it is with HP. Have you tried it on a Dell? Dell takes OEM XP just fine.. done it more times than I can count.
 
angelicvoices said:
Well maybe that's the way it is with HP. Have you tried it on a Dell? Dell takes OEM XP just fine.. done it more times than I can count.
Click to expand...

I'm all for whatever's easier. I have actually done a Dell before, but I just figured that the key worked for that CD.

I wonder if it has something to do with whether the CD comes with a service pack? I'm willing to bet the HP's XP Home CD would have come with no service packs... it was an older Compaq Presario (hell, it might even have been a Compaq CD; I can't remember when they were bought out). The OEM XP Home CD I used came with SP1... and maybe that's why it wouldn't take the key.
 
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