[Solved] Dell and W7

[joddle]

I have several Dell machines some with XP and some with W7. Due to the future demise of XP I am about to upgrade all the XP machines to W7 with my Dell W7 reinstall disc. When I did a mass install with XP using the XP reinstall discs I did not have to input a licence code as somehow Dell build this into their bios. Is this the same with W7 or will I have to get new licence codes for all the machines?

[Plastic Nev]

Hi joddle,

I can only suggest getting in touch with Dell about that. However unless your disk is a mutiple license disk, I doubt it can be used on other computerrs without having activation trouble.

The only other advice I can offer is to check if the current XP machines can run W7.

You can do this from the Microsoft site here :-

 

http://windows.microsoft.com/en-gb/windows/downloads/upgrade-advisor

 

Nev

[joddle]

Thanks Nev - The Dell XP reinstall disks will work on any Dell PC and load the OS without need for any serial code at all!! - As Dell aslo do W7 reinstall disks I wondered if they work the same way - As you say maybe I will need to contact Dell on that I think but wondered if anyone had experience of this! - I have checked all my PCs and they will all run either 64 or 32 bit W7.

[Plastic Nev]

I am surprised that the Dell disks installs didn't eventually come back with the usual warning from Microsoft the "This copy of Windows is not genuine" message, especially after a few Windows updates.

However, it would still be best to get in touch with Dell about it.

Good to know they will run W7 though and I recommend you install 64 bit versions as you will then be able to upgrade the RAM, at least as far as the motherboard will allow.

 

Nev.

[joddle]

I was surprise at first about having genuine software but a Dell engineet told me that this is quite OK. He explained that Dell have a OEM licence and that is embedded into the each machine so when you use a proper Dell reinstall disk, that is recognised and the installation will work fine. If you use the same disk on another non Dell machne then you do in fact get asked for the serial number. I think that has to be right as I have MS genuine advantage activated and it obviously does not seem to think I have done anything wrong over the past 6 or more years!!!! What I am not sure of is does that same system apply to W7?

 

Not to sure whether to have all machines running W7 64 bit - the laptops won't anyway so I am going to need 64 and 32 bit versions and the machines I already have with W7 are 32 bit. I trust they all will still work on the same "workgroup" as they do now as they all share many resources such as printers and scanners etc.

Edited December 22, 2013 by joddle

[KenB]

Hi joddle

 

Dell have a OEM licence and that is embedded into the each machine so when you use a proper Dell reinstall disk, that is recognised and the installation will work fine.

I cannot think why what you are trying to do would work - without problems.

 

The embedded code in your XP machines is for an XP licence.

I don't know for sure - but this, I think, will not be compatible with the Win7 installation. ( unless it simply recognises a Dell install disk ?? )

 

The thing to do is back up the important data off the XP system - then give it a try.

If it fails you can always revert to XP.

 

I would be interested to hear the result :)

[joddle]

Hi joddle

 

 

I cannot think why what you are trying to do would work - without problems.

 

The embedded code in your XP machines is for an XP licence.

I don't know for sure - but this, I think, will not be compatible with the Win7 installation. ( unless it simply recognises a Dell install disk ?? )

 

The thing to do is back up the important data off the XP system - then give it a try.

If it fails you can always revert to XP.

 

I would be interested to hear the result :)

 

Well I have now tried it on one of my laptops -

 

I have obtained a Dell recovery W7 SP1 disk and tried a new install on the D400. It all loaded without a hitch and never once asked for the serial from the COA (which I do have) I have been running the pc for a few days and some 145 updates later it is still running fine. The only issues I had was finding drivers to get it working properly but now even thats OK!

[KenB]

That is good to hear :)

 

I do know that a new install of Win7 gives you 30 days to activate it.

This may not be the case with your Dell installation but be aware that you may get a message pop up at some point.

 

Thanks for getting back to us.

[joddle]

I wil report back after the 30 day period to say if its stopped or not.

[KenB]

Thanks - good luck :)

 

Note:

If you are asked for a Product Code it will be the Win7 one - not the one that is on a sticker on the side of the machine.