Dell Windows Product Keys?

AirCooledHeaven

I just bought two new Dell PCs running Win XP Pro. Logging the system information for both I got the XP product keys from each machine using Magic Jelly Bean. Both PCs are using the same product key? Is this normal? Will this cause any problems with windows genuine advantage? Or if the OS is upgraded to Win 7 in the future?

Thanks

enigma52

there should be a COA sticker on each machine. The key you have using magic jelly bean is probably the dell key. Why would Dell be selling pc's with XP on after all it is 6 years old?

FireFox

Probably an OEM key

System

enigma52 wrote: »

Why would Dell be selling pc's with XP on after all it is 6 years old?

One reason is that a lot of businesses are still using XP Pro so there is still a large market for it.

John_Gray

FireFox wrote: »

Probably an OEM key

Correct - Dell and (I think) Compaq/HP install their copies of the Windows operating system with a common key, but a reinstall requires the individual Product Key from the holographic sticker on the case.

AirCooledHeaven

enigma52 wrote: »

there should be a COA sticker on each machine. The key you have using magic jelly bean is probably the dell key. Why would Dell be selling pc's with XP on after all it is 6 years old?

I bought the machines with Win 7 pro with the downgrade option to XP pro. XP is preinstalled but I also have the Win 7 install DVD. The COA stickers on the PCs are for Win 7 and these are in fact different for each machine.

System

For XP Pro Dell machines don't normally need a product key if you install using Dell media.

point3

The factory install image is a bulk licence which doesn't require a key - this is one of the reasons why if you do a factory restore from the recovery partition you don't need to activate using a key.

The COA and product activation key on the cases are unique to each machine. You will need to use it if you ever choose to reinstall the OS from a disk. You are only supposed to use it on that machine and only for one use. Lots of these COA labels are resold on Ebay with Windows disks and whilst they may work, they are not strictly legitimate.

spud17

AirCooledHeaven wrote: »

I just bought two new Dell PCs running Win XP Pro. Logging the system information for both I got the XP product keys from each machine using Magic Jelly Bean. Both PCs are using the same product key? Is this normal? Will this cause any problems with windows genuine advantage? Or if the OS is upgraded to Win 7 in the future?

Thanks

I also always check everything with Jelly Bean.

As others have said, it's pretty normal with the large manufacturers.

The oem re-install medium, whether disk or partition will usually auto activate.

Just FYI I have a Toshiba laptop and PackardBell desktop here which I am sorting, both have keys different from their respective stickers, and I've had no problems reactivating.