Archived from groups: alt.sys.pc-clone.dell (
More info?)
activation is automatic via the web the first time... but after it has been
done once it then requires a call to microsoft to obtain and activation
code... and though i have not had to do it many times i can say that it is
indeed a hassle taking over 1/2 hour each time. making a problematic hard
disk much more than merely a miserable experience but a huge waste of time.
"Tom Almy" <tomalmy@aracnet.com> wrote in message
news:c8e7nt1177g@enews1.newsguy.com...
> Christopher Muto wrote:
> My Windows XP CD that came with my Inspiron system was labelled Notebook
> or Inspiron, I'm not sure, but it was different than tha desktop
> systems. The Optiplex CD appears to be the same as the Dimension CD. Of
> course activation is no big deal if it is asked for since the code is on
> a sticker attached to the system!
>
> > interesting. they clearly have more than one verson of their xp cd. i
> > suspect there are also differences between their xp home and xp pro cds.
i
> > reloaded a latitude c400 that arrived defective with its own xp restore
cd
> > and it required activation. i used that same cd to test out how xp
would
> > run on an old inspiron 3800 and that machine did not require activation.
go
> > figure. at least with win2k the behavior was predictable.
> >
> > "Tom Almy" <tomalmy@aracnet.com> wrote in message
> > news:c8d1tj028aa@enews1.newsguy.com...
> >
> >>The Dell Website says that activation is required if you don't boot from
> >>the CD or don't perform a full install (example -- upgrades). I used a
> >>CD from a Dimension to do a full install on an Optiplex and didn't need
> >>to activate.
> >>
> >>Christopher Muto wrote:
> >>
> >>>i have found that activation is required with the dell windows xp
> >
> > 'recovery'
> >
> >>>cd in the following circumstances: when not installed on the same
model
> >>>dell that the machine shipped with (ie older dells, or if cd came with
> >>>latititude then activation is required when installed on inspiron,
etc),
> >>>that it requires activation if installed as an upgrade or if installed
> >
> > when
> >
> >>>booted from floppies (had to boot from floppies with an dimension
lxxxcx
> >>>that refused to boot from the xp cd despite its ability to boot from a
> >>>symantec antivirus cd).
> >
> >
> >