Reinstalling XP Home on Dell without original reinstall disc?

[Guest redyellowgreenblue@gmail.com]

Hi

 

I've got a Dell desktop that I want to reinstall Windows XP Home on

(I'm on SP3 at the moment).

 

I have no idea where my reinstall disc is. What I do have is the OEM

code that's on Control Panel/System. I also have the stick which tells

me the product key. These two codes are different - which I didn't

expect.

 

Can I just buy a cheap Windows XP Home disc off Ebay and then use my

own codes?

[Guest Bruce Chambers]

Re: Reinstalling XP Home on Dell without original reinstall disc?

 

redyellowgreenblue@gmail.com wrote:

> Hi

>

> I've got a Dell desktop that I want to reinstall Windows XP Home on

> (I'm on SP3 at the moment).

>

> I have no idea where my reinstall disc is. What I do have is the OEM

> code that's on Control Panel/System. I also have the stick which tells

> me the product key. These two codes are different - which I didn't

> expect.

>

 

They two codes serve two different purposes, and are supposed to be

different.

 

The Product *ID* is created during the installation process and is

prominently displayed on the General Properties tab of the My Computer

icon. It is used to obtain/qualify for technical support (limited

though that may be) from Microsoft.

 

The Product *Key* is used to "prove" ownership of a legitimate license

and is required to perform the installation, and is either stored on the

CD packaging on a bright orange sticker that says "Do not lose this

number," or is on a label affixed to an OEM computer.

 

> Can I just buy a cheap Windows XP Home disc off Ebay and then use my

> own codes?

 

 

Provided you manage to obtain a generic, unbranded OEM installation CD,

yes. Your Dell's OEM Product Key will work only with the Dell Recovery

CD meant for that specific model, or a generic OEM CD. It won't work

with a retail CD or another manufacturer's Recovery CD.

 

However, getting a legitimate license or installation CD of any kind

from eBay is something of a crap shoot. One should be very careful

buying any software on eBay, as eBay makes no prior effort to ensure

that such sales are legitimate. eBay reacts only when someone files a

complaint, and then all that really happens, especially in the case of

the many deliberate fraudsters, is the seller of the pirated software

returns using a different alias, to continue selling illegitimate licenses.

 

 

--

 

Bruce Chambers

 

Help us help you:

http://www.catb.org/~esr/faqs/smart-questions.html

 

http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx/kb/555375

 

They that can give up essential liberty to obtain a little temporary

safety deserve neither liberty nor safety. ~Benjamin Franklin

 

Many people would rather die than think; in fact, most do. ~Bertrand Russell

 

The philosopher has never killed any priests, whereas the priest has

killed a great many philosophers.

~ Denis Diderot

[Guest Gary Brandenburg]

Re: Reinstalling XP Home on Dell without original reinstall disc?

 

 

"Bruce Chambers" <bchambers@cable0ne.n3t> wrote in message

news:OfPY$NuNJHA.728@TK2MSFTNGP06.phx.gbl...

> redyellowgreenblue@gmail.com wrote:

>> Hi

>>

>> I've got a Dell desktop that I want to reinstall Windows XP Home on

>> (I'm on SP3 at the moment).

>>

>> I have no idea where my reinstall disc is. What I do have is the OEM

>> code that's on Control Panel/System. I also have the stick which tells

>> me the product key. These two codes are different - which I didn't

>> expect.

>>

>

> They two codes serve two different purposes, and are supposed to be different.

>

> The Product *ID* is created during the installation process and is prominently

> displayed on the General Properties tab of the My Computer icon. It is used to

> obtain/qualify for technical support (limited though that may be) from Microsoft.

>

> The Product *Key* is used to "prove" ownership of a legitimate license and is

> required to perform the installation, and is either stored on the CD packaging on a

> bright orange sticker that says "Do not lose this number," or is on a label affixed

> to an OEM computer.

>

>

>> Can I just buy a cheap Windows XP Home disc off Ebay and then use my

>> own codes?

>

>

> Provided you manage to obtain a generic, unbranded OEM installation CD, yes. Your

> Dell's OEM Product Key will work only with the Dell Recovery CD meant for that

> specific model, or a generic OEM CD. It won't work with a retail CD or another

> manufacturer's Recovery CD.

>

> However, getting a legitimate license or installation CD of any kind from eBay is

> something of a crap shoot. One should be very careful buying any software on

> eBay, as eBay makes no prior effort to ensure that such sales are legitimate. eBay

> reacts only when someone files a complaint, and then all that really happens,

> especially in the case of the many deliberate fraudsters, is the seller of the

> pirated software returns using a different alias, to continue selling illegitimate

> licenses.

>

>

> --

>

> Bruce Chambers

>

> Help us help you:

> http://www.catb.org/~esr/faqs/smart-questions.html

>

> http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx/kb/555375

>

> They that can give up essential liberty to obtain a little temporary safety deserve

> neither liberty nor safety. ~Benjamin Franklin

>

> Many people would rather die than think; in fact, most do. ~Bertrand Russell

>

> The philosopher has never killed any priests, whereas the priest has killed a great

> many philosophers.

> ~ Denis Diderot

 

 

 

You could access the hidden restore partition which will revert everything back to

factory settings: http://tinyurl.com/366vey

It'll probably include all the crapware that comes with the new PC.

 

Or you can order a replacement CD from Dell: http://tinyurl.com/2fexsp

 

~Gary

[Guest Jim Dell]

Re: Reinstalling XP Home on Dell without original reinstall disc?

 

redyellowgreenblue@gmail.com wrote:

> Hi

>

> I've got a Dell desktop that I want to reinstall Windows XP Home on

> (I'm on SP3 at the moment).

>

> I have no idea where my reinstall disc is. What I do have is the OEM

> code that's on Control Panel/System. I also have the stick which tells

> me the product key. These two codes are different - which I didn't

> expect.

>

> Can I just buy a cheap Windows XP Home disc off Ebay and then use my

> own codes?

See

http://www.theeldergeek.com/forum/lofiversion/index.php?t31201.html

 

Jim

[Guest redyellowgreenblue@gmail.com]

Re: Reinstalling XP Home on Dell without original reinstall disc?

 

On 26 Oct, 03:49, "Gary Brandenburg" <G...@whatever.com> wrote:

> "Bruce Chambers" <bchamb...@cable0ne.n3t> wrote in message

>

> news:OfPY$NuNJHA.728@TK2MSFTNGP06.phx.gbl...

>

>

>

> > redyellowgreenb...@gmail.com wrote:

> >> Hi

>

> >> I've got a Dell desktop that I want to reinstall Windows XP Home on

> >> (I'm on SP3 at the moment).

>

> >> I have no idea where my reinstall disc is. What I do have is the OEM

> >> code that's on Control Panel/System. I also have the stick which tells

> >> me the product key. These two codes are different - which I didn't

> >> expect.

>

> > They two codes serve two different purposes, and are supposed to be different.

>

> > The Product *ID* is created during the installation process and is prominently

> > displayed on the General Properties tab of the My Computer icon.  It is used to

> > obtain/qualify for technical support (limited though that may be) from Microsoft.

>

> > The Product *Key* is used to "prove" ownership of a legitimate license and is

> > required to perform the installation, and is either stored on the CD packaging on a

> > bright orange sticker that says "Do not lose this number," or is on a label affixed

> > to an OEM computer.

>

> >> Can I just buy a cheap Windows XP Home disc off Ebay and then use my

> >> own codes?

>

> > Provided you manage to obtain a generic, unbranded OEM installation CD, yes.  Your

> > Dell's OEM Product Key will work only with the Dell Recovery CD meant for that

> > specific model, or a generic OEM CD.  It won't work with a retail CD or another

> > manufacturer's Recovery CD.

>

> > However, getting a legitimate license or installation CD of any kind from eBay is

> > something of a  crap shoot.  One should be very careful buying any software on

> > eBay, as eBay makes no prior effort to ensure that such sales are legitimate.  eBay

> > reacts only when someone files a complaint, and then all that really happens,

> > especially in the case of the many deliberate fraudsters, is the seller of the

> > pirated software returns using a different alias, to continue selling illegitimate

> > licenses.

>

> > --

>

> > Bruce Chambers

>

> > Help us help you:

> >http://www.catb.org/~esr/faqs/smart-questions.html

>

> >http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx/kb/555375

>

> > They that can give up essential liberty to obtain a little temporary safety deserve

> > neither liberty nor safety. ~Benjamin Franklin

>

> > Many people would rather die than think; in fact, most do. ~Bertrand Russell

>

> > The philosopher has never killed any priests, whereas the priest has killed a great

> > many philosophers.

> > ~ Denis Diderot

>

> You could access the hidden restore partition which will revert everything back to

> factory settings:  http://tinyurl.com/366vey

> It'll probably include all the crapware that comes with the new PC.

>

> Or you can order a replacement CD from Dell:  http://tinyurl.com/2fexsp

>

> ~Gary

 

Hi all

 

That's just what I did - I pressed CTRL + F11 at start up to access

the hidden menu to restore the computer back to factory settings - no

messing around with keys or codes; works beautifully! Feels like I've

bought a new computer.

[Guest Steve]

Re: Reinstalling XP Home on Dell without original reinstall disc?

 

For the future, you can get these cd's from Dell:

https://support.dell.com/support/topics/global.aspx/support/dellcare/en/backupcd_form

Steve

 

On Sat, 25 Oct 2008 13:04:02 -0700 (PDT), redyellowgreenblue@gmail.com

wrote:

>Hi

>

>I've got a Dell desktop that I want to reinstall Windows XP Home on

>(I'm on SP3 at the moment).

>

>I have no idea where my reinstall disc is. What I do have is the OEM

>code that's on Control Panel/System. I also have the stick which tells

>me the product key. These two codes are different - which I didn't

>expect.

>

>Can I just buy a cheap Windows XP Home disc off Ebay and then use my

>own codes?