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Install retail, switch to OEM key?

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29 replies

by seanferd

Closed to new repliesThis discussion is closed. It stays readable, but it takes no new replies.

XP Professional.

Donated Dell laptops, drives not wiped, (I'll do it for them anyway) but at least encrypted. Dell Windows XP Pro product keys on the affixed COA tags.

Can I install a retail copy of XP Professional, then change to the OEM product key for activation? I've seen both yea and nay answers, and 20 methods to do similar things, but I don't have that kind of time to test. No, I don't have any VLK disks.

For example, would this work per http://blogs.techrepublic.com.com/window-on-windows/?p=1334 ?

Or are we looking at ordering a bunch of sets of Dell recovery disks? (Yeah, they want to stick with Windows, or this would be just too easy.)

So, yea or nay? (Attn: Seagulls - no posts on subjects which will earn you the TR Community Letter of Doom. We won't answer your password questions. Srsly.)

Or just stop by and say Boo for a Thumb.
(No guarantees of immediate gratification after Sunday, when I will be incommunicado for an indeterminate interval. O noes, no Internets!)

29 replies

by cg it

their cheaper I believe their around $30.00 to $40.00 USD vs $100.00 for OEM license.

plus once you install the OEM license, that's it. It stays with the comp.

by seanferd

I was hoping to do at least a couple Linux installs (and FreeBSD if I get to keep one), but we're mostly looking for (cheapest + Windows).

by bizintelligence

I tried installing with Windows XP retail cd but it didn't work so I had to find dell cd..

Cheers !

by seanferd

Was it just because of missing drivers or what? You should be able to install a retail version on anything. (Or do you just mean changing the product key didn't work?)

by santeewelding

One or two or three? One or two or three hundred?

Just a few and I would toss them (they're encrypted, you said). Unless they figure they pay you so little it's worth having you do this to a commodity item.

Myself, I've never understood how anyone could go with an OEM setup on anything. I do; but I don't.

No thumb necessary. I am of no help.

by seanferd

Twenty, maybe a lot more. This company throws away computers like gum wrappers.

Actually, what I'm looking to do is use one Retail CD, image one machine, copy the image to other machines (all the same), then just use the OEM key from the NB to activate Windows.

It may be that editing setupp.ini is all that is required, but then again, maybe not.

by bincarnato

I have tried this before and it doesn't work. You should only need one recovery disk set for each model notebook you have, not really one per notebook. I have also seen where a Dell OS CD will work on multiple models but if you have 10 different models it would be a nightmare to try and figure out. Another time saving idea, Ghost... Do one drive and then ghost...

by seanferd

Yes, all the NBs are the same, and I was planning on imaging. I just thought if one can switch a VLK channel install to OEM when changing the product key, the same might be done for a retail install.

by brenton keegan

To my understanding I don't believe that you can use an OEM key with a retail install, either for activation or installation.

The reason behind this is that the licensing terms for the OEM are different than retail. Quite simply, it's a difference license.

by seanferd

I know it is possible to change the channel in some cases, but retail → oem isn't looking good.

by seanferd

I have been known to install them with a hammer.

by seanferd

Now they just need to get off their duffs and order them.

by seanferd

They aren't going to buy a bunch of retail copies of XP (where would you even get that many?) if I can get one set of recovery disks, image one system, then blow that image onto the rest and change the license keys per http://blogs.techrepublic.com.com/window-on-windows/?p=1334 .

Can't exactly say when I might get these, as these people are slow as molasses in winter if the subject isn't child literacy or education. I don't work for them, I'm donating time, and I just take their phone calls as they come.

I had just thought I might be able to start right away using the method outlined in the article, but using the retail disk I already own.

by santeewelding

When, next, I am questioned by some ass hole about the authenticity of my thumbs, I will give them your telephone number.

You deal with it.

by santeewelding

Sounds appropriate, though.

We'll have to wait until Seanferd rejoins.

Maybe he is writing all this down, erasing, writing it all down again, until he gets it right.

by seanferd

First two minutes of this one
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zjv7oEqv92U

Or this one has better sound quality, but comes with a weird anime video channel.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BHMIduI2hUs

by who am i really

it has to be full re-install with an OEM FDOWNPC* System Builder Disc
*(For Distribution Only With A New PC / or qualifying hardware)

as long as the OEM disc is of the same or higher service pack and same version
as the original pre-installed OS was
the COA Key that came with the system will work

those COA keys on the bottom / side of major Mfg. systems Dell, HP/ Compaq, Acer aren't even used in the original install

if you use a key finder on an original OEM pre-installed OS the keys don't match,
because they use a volume license install your Dell will have the Same Pre-installed COA Key as my Dell
but they must supply the key on the case,
in case you need to reinstall,
because if you try and use the Volume License key from the pre-installed OS when attempting to reinstall
with the OS recovery CD a Retail CD, or an OEM CD it fails to validate with invalid Key
you actually can't complete the installation
you must use the COA from the Sticker

however, you don't need a recovery CD if you use an OEM For Distribution Only With A New PC aka system builder CD
the Sticker with the COA Key will be accepted
but Retail OS CDs don't always accept the OEM COA keys and will not accept the Volume License Key from the pre-installed OS

I've a few HP & Dell systems that all are running with the Mfg. supplied COA sticker key that were installed with an OEM system builder XP CD

by seanferd

Yes - I have noticed how Dell and HP use a volume license on the factory install install. I can't use a keyfinder in this particular instance anyway, as the drives are encrypted.

So perhaps a system builder OEM sounds like a better idea than a recovery disk set. Any method which doesn't involve buying an new CD for each machine would be great.

by seanferd

I'll take the heat. But what about all those times you offered a helpful post and didn't get a Thumb? Think of it as TR "good karma".

Of course, I do see that I can actually take a Thumb back with the same button...

by seanferd

But thank you for all the pointers so far.

I probably won't be back until Saturday next, when I will dole out any more Thumbs for posts. They don't have to be relevant, it's a free Thumbs call.

by ansugisalas

If you haven't had time yet, you should start with just one, doing it the easiest potentially successful way, see how it rolls.

by seanferd

I will be trying on just one laptop - the one I have to play with in the interim.

I've been off on a job where I have no internet access and no real personal time, but these folks haven't got the CDs yet (at least as of last Thursday). They don't seem to be in any rush to do this. I sure hope that when they do get the disks, it is during a week which I'm at home!

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