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XP Pro activation

post #1 of 10
7/28/04 at 7:07am
Thread Starter 
Is there any way to see if a CD Key has been activated? My company has purchased several new Dells recently. The IT people immediately replace the XP Pro that comes installed with 2k. Is there any way to see if the XP Pro keys on the stickers on the side have been activated? I would like to use a couple of them if they haven't been. I wouldn't think there would be any legal issues since they are unused keys???
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post #2 of 10
7/28/04 at 8:58am
I was under the impression that OEMs like that were linked to the machine (altho' hey- if it works, I'm not arguing).
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post #3 of 10
7/28/04 at 9:17am
Thread Starter 
That's basically what I was wondering. If those keys were able to be activated using conventional methods, or if they are tied to a preset hardware profile and won't work on another.
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post #4 of 10
7/28/04 at 11:09am
I think the Dell versions will only install if it detects a Dell signature on the Motherboard or Hard Drive. But its been 4 years since I bought anything from Dell.
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post #5 of 10
7/28/04 at 11:13am
Quote:
Originally Posted by Computer_Potato
I think the Dell versions will only install if it detects a Dell signature on the Motherboard or Hard Drive. But its been 4 years since I bought anything from Dell.

i believe that you are correct, there were several posts on these forums about this and that was the consensus
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post #6 of 10
7/28/04 at 9:40pm
Thread Starter 
Quote:
Originally Posted by Computer_Potato
I think the Dell versions will only install if it detects a Dell signature on the Motherboard or Hard Drive. But its been 4 years since I bought anything from Dell.
I am not wanting to install a Dell XP disk. I am just wanting to use the CD Key from an unactivated XP Dell XP pro system. Pretty much all manufacturer's "restore disks" with only work with that brand computer.
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post #7 of 10
7/28/04 at 9:59pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by Thunder_PC
I am not wanting to install a Dell XP disk. I am just wanting to use the CD Key from an unactivated XP Dell XP pro system. Pretty much all manufacturer's "restore disks" with only work with that brand computer.
There's only one way to find out. Depending on how many computers you are talking about, I find it hard to believe they are throwing that much money down the drain.
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post #8 of 10
7/28/04 at 10:05pm
Thread Starter 
Quote:
Originally Posted by Computer_Potato
There's only one way to find out. Depending on how many computers you are talking about, I find it hard to believe they are throwing that much money down the drain.
How are they throwing money down the drain? Dell won't sell them the machines without an OS, and they are using Win2k, so they have no use for the XP keys.
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post #9 of 10
7/28/04 at 10:24pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by Thunder_PC
How are they throwing money down the drain? Dell won't sell them the machines without an OS, and they are using Win2k, so they have no use for the XP keys.
If they buy from the Medium to Large size companies area there is an option to have Win2K preinstalled. I'm betting even the Small Business area would preinstall Win2K if you talk to Sales person but I could be wrong.
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post #10 of 10
7/28/04 at 10:40pm
Thread Starter 
They have a stupid contract with Dell. At any rate, I guess I will just give one of the keys a shot since no one seems to know if the keys are tied to a Dell signature in XP authentication system. Thanks for the responses all.
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