Product Key not required for XP install

[kelly]

I rebuilt a Dell machine this week. Before rebuilding, I ran Aida32 to obtain the XP Product Key. It was different than the sticker on the side of the machine.

Then when I reformatted and installed XP, using the CD that came with the machine, it never asked for the product key.

I though this was curious so I'm putting it out here as an fyi.

-td

[Dan18960]

No big deal really - it is encoded on their recovery cds under their OEM licensing.

When the WGA sees the specific Product key - it is already listed under Dell's authentication. Since the cd will NOT usually load on a different model Dell or other computers, it is relatively safe on MS's screen.

BUT I ususally use a separate media - my own XP cd's and use the COA number on the system. That way I am not reloading all the junk that Delll includes on their recoveries.

[kelly]

Actually no junk got added. It wasn't a recovery CD. It was a Windows XP install CD. It installed just like a regular XP install. That's all I noticed was installed. But thinking back on it, I really didn't go looking if anything else got installed. I think I would have noticed, but maybe I missed them. There weren't all the icons on the screen, I know that.
-td

[rVidia]

I was playing around with a test PC just last week. Just to see what would happen, I installed XP using a Dell recovery disk on a Compaq computer, and there were no issues there. No junk installed, either. No product key every requested as you mentioned, although I had to punch the key on the side of the computer in to activate Windows...and speaking of activation...I'm getting disappointed in many computer repair shops these days; there were some problems with my mom's computer about a month ago (I unfortunately couldn't fix it for her as I'm a few states away from her), so she called up a repair shop, they came over and re-installed XP (which wasn't necessary), and they didn't even activate Windows for her. Thirty days later she calls me up asking why she can't log in; charged her a nasty $180 for a re-installation! Didn't leave her the installation disk, which is expected, but she could've bought a nice copy of Windows MCE and re-installed herself.

[Spawn]

Thirty days later she calls me up asking why she can't log in; charged her a nasty $180 for a re-installation! Didn't leave her the installation disk, which is expected, but she could've bought a nice copy of Windows MCE and re-installed herself.
Damn... Is that what companies are charging for that? That's just wrong... I would never...

That sounds like our local competition that I lovingly refer to as "PMMF Dick".

PMMF = Profit Mad Mother F***er :eek: