Activating Windows XP Home

I have bought an Inspiron E1505 which the egg heads at Dell thought was much better off without a Windows CD. Instead they expect me to use system restore whenever I want to 'format.'

Anyway thats really not good enough so I downloaded a copy of Windows XP Home to install. I assume I can legally do so since I have a legit Windows licence that came with the computer. The only problem is that when it comes time to activate windows, I can't connect to the internet (I guess because I havent installed the drivers yet.)

Anyway I choose to activate it by phone instead, but it doesnt generate any installation ID for me...

So... any suggestions?

 

You could have gotten the CD shipped free to your door by Dell.....

http://support.dell.com/support/index.aspx?c=us&l=en&s=gen

Click "Chat with us" and explain you would like the OS re-install CD. Have your information ready, and they will ship it via DHL to your house. Very easy.

 

Problem is I am over seas in South Korea at the moment, and need a working laptop today.

 

You are screwed.... Microsoft does not like people downloading illegal copies of their software. Illegal as in a) It was not purchased in a Retail Box b) It was not supplied by OEM suppliers.

Even if you get a copy that provides a ID to call in, your KEY is OEM key, so it would not match the installtion CD that is retail.

I suggest you do not call until you have a legit copy of Windows, word of advice.

 

Bastards... I own two legitimate copies of Windows, they just arent accessable to me for another couple of weeks. I'll just use Linux for now, thanks anyway.

 

I know the feeling, I actually had to call in to activate my Office 2003, what a ****ing hassle.

 

you reap what you sow. if piracy weren't so rampant, you wouldn't see such restrictive licensing tactics.

 

Can I use the OEM disc I get with my Dell computer to re-install WinXP on my Sony desktop, which has it's own product key sticker? I'm guessing it should be an OEM key too.

 

No, you can't do that. You can go use it on your Sony Desktop.

I wouldn't call that number (and I wonder why I am bothering to stop you). That number is one way to catch a pirate for them. If you downloaded a copy of XP (I don't care if you have other copies lieing around. Each disk has its own key that can only be used once. Same with the OEM stickers.) and are stupid enough to call that number when you run into trouble trying to install your downloaded copy. You deserve to be caught even more.

 

the way I understand it, it doesnt matter what disc you use to install the software, as long as you have a valid license to use it is all that matters,the license needs to be for the same product, ie you cant use a home license to activate pro, at work we have 3 power spec computers, that just came with a system restore disc, I reformatted with my own personal retail copy of xp, and used the license that came with each machine, and all three activated without a hitch, I did the same thing with my little brothers gateway, and with my e1505, as I wasnt very fond of media center, on all 5 of those machines, I used the same xp disc I bought ages ago, as long as you have a valid license for the product, you should have no problem, downloading a cracked version of xp is a different story though, oem discs are a little different than retail, if its a dell disc, it will only install on dell computers, other than that it still works the same, you can use 1 dell disc on 10 different dells, as long as each has its own valid license

 

Call Dell and pay $10 for the cd. it is illegal to download pirated software.

 

Did the OP (original poster) wipe his hard drive clean without a back-up CD? Why would someone do that?

 

lol, so much BS in this thread...

on BOTH sides of the argument i might add.

the worse thing that can happen if you call Micro$oft is that they will give you a big discount to make you legit

 

Im sure that would go quite well.

"I downloaded a pirated version of your software, can you give me a big discount on Windows XP Home to go legit?"

Please follow Microsoft's instructions and let us know how that goes :

Call the Microsoft Anti-Piracy Hotline at (800) RU-LEGIT. Please be prepared to provide the following information:

* Company name
* Company address
* Company phone
* Contact name at company
* Why you suspect piracy
* Names of suspected pirated products
* Number of suspected illegal product installations
* Your name (optional)
* Your phone number (optional)

 

Hey datachasm, would you mind trying this out and reporting back how much of a discount Microsoft gives you? In my experience, Microsoft only gives volume discounts for large purchases, and they certainly don't reward bad behavior with a discount.

 

Btw I think you can use a dell disk but be warned that you will be breaking the EULA. The reason is that one of my friends tried it and it worked without a hitch. He then uninstalled it as he just wanted to see if it would work and did not want to get in trouble by Microsoft.

I would say do not use the disc as you may get caught and fined.

 

Blow me ****wit. You pay for a licence to use the software, thats it. You don't own the software its self. Installing from a downloaded copy, or one Microsoft produced them selves makes no difference. If you have a licence for the version you install, you are legally entitled to use it. A licence key is not tied to a particular disc.

That said, Linux seems to detect all my hardware without a problem, and doesn't come with a retarded licence attached. So in 4 weeks when the useless toss pots at dell send me my copy of Windows, I doubt if I will use it.

Please die in a fire.

 

Now that made me laugh... lol

Let me add my 2 cents. I also was in your situation… I travel a lot for my job. I had to reinstall XP home on my sager 8790 but I left my XP HOME disk at home. I looked on the net, downloaded a copy of XP Home and used the CD key from the bottom of my laptop, cause YES I DID PAY FOR THAT. I don’t feel I did anything wrong because the person who posted the software didn’t include any cracks or serials or anything, just plain old software that cant be used without a VALID key. Had I posted on the net MY key for anyone else to use while using the software on my computer, then yes.. I would be in the wrong. “please die in a fire” now that’s some funny stuff… lol