Missing digits from Dell product key

How many CAN you read?

I'd say $49 seems reasonably cheap, depending on which flavour of Windows you've got. ;)

I doubt if you'd pick up a reliable secondhand OS for that amount of money.

Of course, you do realise that [i]DELL[/i] are only responsible for the machine (if it were still under warranty) - your OS is the domain of Microsoft, [b]NOT[/b] [i]DELL[/i].

Afterthought.

to try the reactivate by phone option.

Technically you only have a valid license if you replaced a defective motherboard and didn't upgrade it. So be careful of what you say to them. Here is the MS take on it.

If the motherboard is upgraded or replaced for reasons other than a defect, then a new computer has been created and the license of new operating system software is required. If the motherboard is replaced because it is defective, you do NOT need to acquire a new operating system license for the PC.

So once again during the phone call - You replaced the defective motherboard.

If you used the Dell supplied Recovery Disc there is no need to Activate.

Dell uses a Volume License that [b]Doesn't[/b] Require Activation so what did you use to install with?

But no matter what you do not need the Product Key to Activate the Product what you need to do is Ring M$ and quote the Code that is displayed on the Screen and they will give you a Confirmation Code to Activate the Product with. You'll be instructed to type in the code that they give you and click on Activate. After that all you need do is Click on Finish and the system is off an running.

So instead of trying to Activate over the Internet chose the Activate Manually Option and ring M$ on the Phone Number displayed on the screen and that is all that is required. ;)

Col