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have we found out if you need key for vista with dell original disk!

post #1 of 20
2/2/07 at 10:25am
Thread Starter 
I was just wondering if its been established wether you need a valid key when you restore vista from a dell supplied disk?

Microsoft seem to be hell bent on stopping the torrent sites posting vista downloads.

i just wondered if i manged to get hold of system restore disk for vista
would it work?

or is it tied into the service number?

thanks
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post #2 of 20
2/3/07 at 3:11am
That is a really good question. I always was supprised that the XP dell ones did not require one. Now, they do use one, but it is built onto the CD. So obviously it is a Dell specific one. And I can tell you while it works on alot of dell notebooks it does not work on other systems so it seems tied to a range of systems from a given manufacturer. Prob some kind of BIOS check or something.

It will be intresting to see how dell handels this.

Doug
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post #3 of 20
2/3/07 at 6:30am
It would be an imaging nightmare to code a specific key to a drive... The only way I would think is they have it the same way as before or you have to enter your key like an oem
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post #4 of 20
2/4/07 at 12:46pm
The Vista key is built into the Dell CD? Weird, that would make it possible to install Vista on several Dell machines with the same CD/DVD. How the heck would Microsoft keep track of multiple activations from the same CD/DVD?
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post #5 of 20
2/4/07 at 1:19pm
THey wouldn't, its going to be the same with all of the huge manufacturers. They will come automatically activated. What may be happening is that Vista requires periodic updates of activation from microsofts server. I have have a feeling that your activation will be fine innitially but when it communicates with MS's server you will get deactivated. For the time being there are some ways around it as detailed on the web.
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post #6 of 20
2/4/07 at 1:20pm
Well, you might be able to install it, but anytime you would need a driver update, a security update, a service pack, I suspect Microsoft will have a way stop you. (Posted a tad late)
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post #7 of 20
2/4/07 at 1:26pm
The company gave me an ISO of windows Vista and apparently it's the entire Vista Set, It's like All 4 wrapped into this one DVD. The only problem is that I need a CD key that's valid for whatever install I choose. Currently the company has only provided me with a Business CD Key, but nevertheless I found it to be cool that the CD's had this.
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post #8 of 20
2/12/07 at 3:47pm
So has anyone found out if the new Dell Vista reinstall DVDs are like the old XP one's?
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post #9 of 20
3/7/07 at 11:13am
The Dell Ultimate reinstall DVD installed and was pre-activated on my 9400. Gets updates & all the Ultimate extras & such. I have a 'boxed' OEM copy for the machine (freebie from the roadshow) just in case it ever does deactivate tho .
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post #10 of 20
3/14/07 at 6:58pm
Same here Pre-Activated Vista Ultimate with my 9400 already formated twice and updated.
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post #11 of 20
3/14/07 at 8:07pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by 7egend
Same here Pre-Activated Vista Ultimate with my 9400 already formated twice and updated.
My guess is that the "Genuine Windows Validation Tool" will get you, eventually...
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post #12 of 20
3/14/07 at 8:44pm
I dont see it becoming an issue due to the validation tool. I have come to realize that if you dig hard enough on the microsoft site you can find actual downloads and bypass the validation tool. I hate going through all the hassles of it so I always just wait for the SP and download the network install which does not require you to give blood. There are also the autopatchers programs and site which give you all the latest updates without going through the MS screening process. Its not that I am running bootlegs its just that I feel since I paid for it why do I need to be treated like I stole it right out of Bills pocket.
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post #13 of 20
3/15/07 at 5:30pm
might wanna read this
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post #14 of 20
3/16/07 at 1:39pm
That is good/bad on the disks not needing activation... Things will probably be like they were in the past... Get a copy of any Dell OS disk and you are good.
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post #15 of 20
3/16/07 at 3:13pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by Pirx
My guess is that the "Genuine Windows Validation Tool" will get you, eventually...
Microsoft will become LegendSoft the day they disable my unshared copy of Vista Ultimate. I paid for the disk and the key
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post #16 of 20
3/16/07 at 3:16pm
Dells Laptops have a special indentifier that is part of the BIOS. Dell is given a special OEM key which forces Windows' activation to look at the Identifier of the BIOS rather than all the hardware in the system. If that Identifier is present Windows is activated and will NEVER phone home. Several OEMs have a similar arrangement with Microsoft. Dell, HP, Lenovo, and ASUS. In fact, a group of hackers recently discovered a way to put this Identifier on ANY system regardless of who built it. (and no, I won't tell you how)

Vista uses all in one media (meaning one disc will install any version) so if you were to have the special OEM keys you could theoretically install any version of Vista you wanted on your Dell. Though it'd be illegal if you didn't pay for it.
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post #17 of 20
3/19/07 at 4:30pm
I'll trade someone ANY Dell XP OS disk for a Vista disk...... That is if you dont like Vista and want MCE2005 or Pro.
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post #18 of 20
3/21/07 at 2:20am
[whisper whisper] Paradox [/whisper whisper]
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post #19 of 20
3/21/07 at 4:52pm
So, I am going to get a desktop with Vista, probably Ultimate, for my mother. I have the lappie in my sig below with XP MCE2005, with install cd. Could i, theoretically, install Vista on my lappie? And put MCE2005 on my ma's desktop?? Because she has just gotten used to XP and Vista would mess with her head!!
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post #20 of 20
3/22/07 at 4:47am
It depends on how old your lappie is. If it's new enough it will have a string embedded in the bios that will auto-activate Vista for you.
If not, you'll need a key or the infamous (but 100% working) workaround.
I myself could not believe how simple it was, relatively speaking. (I couldn't have found out even if my life depended on it).
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