XP Home CD from Dell -- Activation Question

Hi,

I got a system from Dell that came with Windows XP Home Edition SP1 CD. I
wiped out the hard drive, reformatted it and did a complete new
installtion using the XP Home CD from Dell. I was surprised that I wasn't
asked for the serial number during the new installation and it didn't ask
me to activate the product once the installation was complete.

I thought you have to provide a serial number during the installation. Is
this how things work these days? Thanks in advance for your help!

Terry

In article ,
says...
Hi,

I got a system from Dell that came with Windows XP Home Edition SP1 CD. I
wiped out the hard drive, reformatted it and did a complete new
installtion using the XP Home CD from Dell. I was surprised that I wasn't
asked for the serial number during the new installation and it didn't ask
me to activate the product once the installation was complete.

I thought you have to provide a serial number during the installation. Is
this how things work these days? Thanks in advance for your help!

The system did ask for activation. Now the qestion is: Is the Product Key
number keyed into the installation CD? Nowhere during the installation, I
was asked for the product key number. If I choose the phone activation
option, it didn't ask for product key number either.

Terry

If installed coreectly, it does not ask for the key. It checks the BIOS to
be sure it is a Dell.


"Terry" wrote in message
...
Hi,

I got a system from Dell that came with Windows XP Home Edition SP1 CD. I
wiped out the hard drive, reformatted it and did a complete new
installtion using the XP Home CD from Dell. I was surprised that I wasn't
asked for the serial number during the new installation and it didn't ask
me to activate the product once the installation was complete.

I thought you have to provide a serial number during the installation. Is
this how things work these days? Thanks in advance for your help!

Terry

The key is on a sticker on the system.


"Terry" wrote in message
...
In article ,
says...
Hi,

I got a system from Dell that came with Windows XP Home Edition SP1 CD.
I
wiped out the hard drive, reformatted it and did a complete new
installtion using the XP Home CD from Dell. I was surprised that I
wasn't
asked for the serial number during the new installation and it didn't
ask
me to activate the product once the installation was complete.

I thought you have to provide a serial number during the installation.
Is
this how things work these days? Thanks in advance for your help!

The system did ask for activation. Now the qestion is: Is the Product Key
number keyed into the installation CD? Nowhere during the installation, I
was asked for the product key number. If I choose the phone activation
option, it didn't ask for product key number either.

Terry

And does NOT go through activation.

Tom
"WSZsr" wrote in message
...
If installed coreectly, it does not ask for the key. It checks the BIOS
to
be sure it is a Dell.


"Terry" wrote in message
...
Hi,

I got a system from Dell that came with Windows XP Home Edition SP1 CD.
I
wiped out the hard drive, reformatted it and did a complete new
installtion using the XP Home CD from Dell. I was surprised that I
wasn't
asked for the serial number during the new installation and it didn't
ask
me to activate the product once the installation was complete.

I thought you have to provide a serial number during the installation.
Is
this how things work these days? Thanks in advance for your help!

Terry

In article ,
says...
And does NOT go through activation.

Tom
"WSZsr" wrote in message
...
If installed coreectly, it does not ask for the key. It checks the BIOS
to
be sure it is a Dell.

It did ask for activation after the installation. Never asked for a
product key. Are they relaxing the activation policy?

Microsoft is not relaxing activiation, but the version of the OS that you
got with the machine is BIOS locked to that computer and is an OEM copy.
You do not have to activate that copy as it has been activated already.

You cannot install this particular copy on another computer, for example and
HP.
"Terry" wrote in message
...
In article ,
says...
And does NOT go through activation.

Tom
"WSZsr" wrote in message
...
If installed coreectly, it does not ask for the key. It checks the
BIOS
to
be sure it is a Dell.

It did ask for activation after the installation. Never asked for a
product key. Are they relaxing the activation policy?

No, a Dell computer with a Dell cd does not ask for the cd key, it is
pre-activated.

"Terry" wrote in message
...
Hi,

I got a system from Dell that came with Windows XP Home Edition SP1 CD. I
wiped out the hard drive, reformatted it and did a complete new
installtion using the XP Home CD from Dell. I was surprised that I wasn't
asked for the serial number during the new installation and it didn't ask
me to activate the product once the installation was complete.

I thought you have to provide a serial number during the installation. Is
this how things work these days? Thanks in advance for your help!

Terry

Only if you boot from the XP CD and install from there.

"skids" wrote in message
...
No, a Dell computer with a Dell cd does not ask for the cd key, it is
pre-activated.

In article ,
says...
Microsoft is not relaxing activiation, but the version of the OS that you
got with the machine is BIOS locked to that computer and is an OEM copy.
You do not have to activate that copy as it has been activated already.

You cannot install this particular copy on another computer, for example and
HP.

I tried this on an older Dell model and upon finishing installtion, it
asked for activation and said there were 30 days left. Our university has
an agreement with MS so that we can put Win2000 Pro or XP Pro on any PCs
bought by the Unviersity fund. It just surprised me that for the first
time, I wasn't asked for a product key while installing a MS product.

Terry