XP OEM DELL

[jvandebogert]

I have a dell with the product key sticker on it like most dells come. However, I don't want all the Dell crap preloaded on it. So I would like to use another OEM XP disc and to a clean install on that dell using that Dells product key. Is that possible?

 

[mattjurado]

Not sure, however, the OS recovery disk for most Dells does not contain an image with the "crap" you are referring to, rather its a special installation disk of XP that will only work on a Dell. I often find it doesn't even ask for the cd key. It just runs the Windows setup and reloads the OS.

Matt J.

Please always take the time to backup any and all data before performing any actions suggested for ANY problem, regardless of how minor a change it might seem. Also test the backup to make sure it is intact.

 

[tf1]

Yes. The OEM windows XP belongs to that computer forever. As long as you use the same product key, it will install fine and be legal. You will have to reactivate it again though.

Regards: tf1

 

[T3chGuy]

I don't see why not. Worst case scenario it won't accept your product key. Why not just do the Dell product recovery and then stip mine all the junk you don't want out? Should only take about 10 minutes after you have completed the installation. Once it's setup the way you want it to be then just create a recovery CD of your own. Regardless of which OEM recovery CD you use you are going to have to remove some files that you don't want. Maybe you should just install a clean copy of XP (not from OEM).

 

[bcastner]

Your EULA does not permit what you have planned. You are entitled to use the original distribution of XP that came with your machine, and you have no license to another version of XP.

But I am less sanguine that member tf1 above that it would even work.

OEMs are given a choice by Microsoft of either a pure CD Key instllation or to BIOS lock the image to a unique identifier in the BIOS.

I do not know what version was used in your particular case. There is a further complication: the legitmacy of any key is determined by the PID on the CD itself.

First, find your setupp.ini file in the i386 directory on your Windows XP CD. Open it up, it'll look something like this:

ExtraData=707A667567736F696F697911AE7E05
Pid=55034000

The Pid value is what we're in this for. What's there now looks like a standard default, but that is no good. There are special numbers that determine if it's a retail, OEM, volume license or other edition. First, we must break down that number into two parts. The first five digits determines how the CD will behave, i.e. is it a retail CD that lets you clean install or upgrade, or an OEM CD that only lets you perform a clean install? The last three digits determine what CD key it will accept.

Here are the individual values, the first and last values are the important ones to determine if any key will fit:
[tt]

Type Type ID Key ID
Retail = 51882 335
Volume License = 51883 270
OEM = 82503 OEM

(There are other PIDs)

Then there is BIOS locking. This is often used, and often used by Dell, to ensure that their distributed CD images are not used on anything other than a range of CD Keys and qualifying BIOS versions.

As a guess, what you have is a plain vanilla OEM release, and the Dell key will not work with another OEM distribution because of the PID.

Faced with breaking the EULA, and possibly losing everything in a working system to discover that you cannot install XP after all, just clean up the "crap." XP is not like Win9x where there is substantial benefit to regular clean installs. Clean up, defragment and away you go safely.

 

[mwiner]

On the Dell recovery CD it is mainly the Windows installation. Most of the "crap" that you speak of are on the subsequent CD that came with your machine. So you should be ok, with very minimal clean up.

 

[jvandebogert]

That is the problem the client lost the recovery CD. So what do I do? Do I have to order another one from Dell and wait are those my only options.

 

[bcastner]

Is the issue the Dell "crap", or a non-working machine?
The best course is to ask Dell to send you another CD.

 

[dakota81]

I don't think Dell uses bios locked copies of WinXP anymore - I had upgraded one faulty Dell motherboard (intel 845G chipset) to an aftermarket Gigabyte board and the XP copy didn't mind that at all. Or maybe the two boards were just "compatible" in terms of the bios, they were goth i845G boards.

 

[bcastner]

Fortunately the CD key verification process occurs at the start of the install/upgrade process. So if the key does not fit, nothing should be lost on a working system.

 

[jvandebogert]

The thing is that the client lost the Dell CD. I do have access to other OEM XP pro cd's. Why can't I reload it with one of those using the Dells Cd key. The computer is just screwed up with Spyware and Virus's and all that junk. So it would be best just to format and start over.

 

[bcastner]

Because:

. You are not entitled to do so by the EULA;
. As explained earlier, there is a good chance it will not work with the COA key on the case

Call Dell. You can get overnight shipping.

 

[jvandebogert]

Great thanks for all your help. That sucks. That is why I tell customers to go their local computer store and get a new computer. The heck with Dell.

 

[bcastner]

The blame is squarly on the user who did not put the Dell provided CD in a safe place.

 

[joemck2004]

OEM keys work only with OEM installations. They aren't in any way linked to the particular OEM. If what you have is indeed a Windows XP OEM install disc, any OEM key will work with it.

There's a good chance, though, that what you have is a recovery disc. This will first verify that it's the right computer, then fdisk the hard drive and restore an image. The advantage is that the user doesn't have to go through any installation junk. The downside is you can't install XP in a separate partition with it or do any "repair" or recovery console operations.

If you find an I386 folder on the disc and that folder contains lots of setup files, it's an install disc. If you get weird stuff like Norton Ghost images or zips, it's a recovery disc.