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Thrift store Dell

76.191.236.101
Posted on August 7, 2008 at 11:12:59
tesla
Audiophile

Posts: 3180
Location: San Diego County, California
Joined: October 25, 2000
 I just picked it up, and while I was testing it, noticed it had a copy of XP that wants me to reregister it.

What are my options? Pay and play, I assume? If so, would it be cheaper or better just to pickup a copy of XP ?

Gene


I don't really have a signiture line

 

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RE: Thrift store Dell, posted on August 7, 2008 at 11:52:03
GTShelby350
Audiophile

Posts: 564
Location: So Cal
Joined: February 23, 2008
 First thing I'd do with any computer from a thrift store (or any second-hand computer for that matter) is reformat the hard drive and install everything fresh. Who knows what kind of spyware, keyloggers, etc. were left on that thing by the person who donated it.

If XP was already installed on a used computer it should've been registered. I wouldn't take any chances and just wipe the slate clean.

 

RE: Thrift store Dell, posted on August 7, 2008 at 12:12:56
AbeCollins
Audiophile

Posts: 46333
Location: USA
Joined: June 22, 2001
Contributor
  Since: February 2, 2002
 If XP was preinstalled on this computer, he should have the OEM install media and registration number. Alternatively, the number maybe on a sticker affixed to the PC somewhere.

 

RE: Thrift store Dell, posted on August 7, 2008 at 20:41:25
J.Mac
Audiophile

Posts: 3553
Location: Colorado
Joined: November 6, 2002
 If it was an OEM installation of XP from Dell then it should definitely have a sticker (Certificate of Authority or COA) with a registration code. It would be a small sticker affixed to either the back or side panel of a desktop machine, or to the bottom of a laptop.

If it's an older computer it may have originally shipped with Windows 2000 or even Windows ME or Windows 98 and someone may have put XP on it before getting rid of it. The COA will say which operating system is licensed. If the COA is for an older operating system then it won't do you any good with XP.

My guess would be to "clean" the machine someone reformatted the drives and reinstalled the operating system and that the registration now just needs to be activated again through Microsoft. If you don't have a COA sticker or some other printed material with the registration code, however, you're going to be out of luck. Without the code you don't have a licensed operating system.

 

RE: Thrift store Dell, posted on August 8, 2008 at 05:26:54
Flash
Audiophile

Posts: 33
Joined: February 11, 2002
 Give this a shot:

http://support.dell.com/support/topics/global.aspx/support/dellcare/en/backupcd_form?c=us&l=en&s=gen&redirect=1

Mike

 

Here's Your Solution, posted on August 8, 2008 at 06:45:33
thetubeguy1954
Audiophile

Posts: 6112
Location: Orlando, Fla
Joined: January 7, 2001
 As an ex-PC repair tech who nows just works out of my house to help support my audio addiction I have all sorts of tech-tools. I have a small program that will read the encrypted XP code and tell you what it is. I can most likely send it to you as an attachment to an email.

Then install the program, click on the Icon and write the registration number down it provides you. Now click on the box that is asking you to re-registar XP. At one point it will ask you to insert the registration number ---{it's quite possible that it will accept the code the program gave you and re-registar XP by itself}--- if it doesn't re-registar XP it will give you a 1-800 # to call ---{someone in India will most likely pick up the phone}--- they'll ask you the make and model of the PC you're using and then they'll ask you how many times has this OS been installed or how many PCs is it installed on.

You just tell them it's only installed on this one PC ---{afterall to the best of your knowledge that's true, no?--- don't say I don't know or I just bought this PC used as that will stop the process dead in it's tracks! Once you tell them it's installed on only one PC they'll give you a long Alpha-Numeric registration number and once you enter that XP is registared and up and running!

Thetubeguy1954

A Rational Subjective

 

RE: Here's Your Solution, posted on August 8, 2008 at 09:54:59
K-Bob
Audiophile

Posts: 614
Location: Missouri
Joined: December 21, 2000
 Is that program called Registration Finder?

--

Mucking around the low-end since 1986.

 

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