Hi, I think my customer may be in a jam here, I have a dell laptop, fairly new, but with a totally dead hd. My cust gave me the go-ahead to install a new drive and vista. The kicker is his vista coa sticker is completely worn down, not readable. Ofcourse he has no orig cds. There is a express service number on it. So I called both dell and msft, no help, anybody ever run into this???
Vista key worn off, HD dead
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Morrison5891
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You can load the registry hives offline and get the product code for Vista that way
how do I do that with a dead hard drive?
ajc196
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Sheesh, didn't your mama learn you to use LimeWire?
I jest.
You have a few options.
1. Look up the service tag on Dell's support site and see if it is still eligible for getting OS discs resent. You probably have a 50/50 shot at that.
2. Switch the customer to a free OS. Ubuntu and JoliCloud are nice for average users.
3. Sell the customer Windows 7.
4. If you subscribe to TechNet, you could just sacrifice a Vista key.
Personally, option 3 sounds the best way to go.
I jest.You have a few options.
1. Look up the service tag on Dell's support site and see if it is still eligible for getting OS discs resent. You probably have a 50/50 shot at that.
2. Switch the customer to a free OS. Ubuntu and JoliCloud are nice for average users.
3. Sell the customer Windows 7.
4. If you subscribe to TechNet, you could just sacrifice a Vista key.
Personally, option 3 sounds the best way to go.
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Lone99star
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As he said SERVICE TAG
Lone99star
Lone99star
drewster
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If you are installing Windows with a Dell Factory installation disc on a Dell computer it will not ask you for a product key.
vdub12
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Dell should help you out on this one.
The key word here is "Should" the problem is dell is almost 100% outsourced and the time you will spend talking to them you might as well just pay for a new license yourself. I would try sourcing a Dell restore disk for Vista. If I had one I would image it for you but I don't. Call around to people you know and see if anyone has a restore disk. The biggest problem is most cookie cutter company's don't provide restore disks anymore unless you pay for them. Its BS I agree but i guess its the way things go now. Company's are trying so hard to save money I guess a .10 cent restore disk is not in there budget. This is why customers pay us do take care of there problems.
I don't want to post a direct link but Btjunkie has some Dell restore disks. Just search "dell vista". Hope that helps.
The key word here is "Should" the problem is dell is almost 100% outsourced and the time you will spend talking to them you might as well just pay for a new license yourself. I would try sourcing a Dell restore disk for Vista. If I had one I would image it for you but I don't. Call around to people you know and see if anyone has a restore disk. The biggest problem is most cookie cutter company's don't provide restore disks anymore unless you pay for them. Its BS I agree but i guess its the way things go now. Company's are trying so hard to save money I guess a .10 cent restore disk is not in there budget. This is why customers pay us do take care of there problems.
I don't want to post a direct link but Btjunkie has some Dell restore disks. Just search "dell vista". Hope that helps.
MobileTechie
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Exactly. Just use the Dell CD.
It's not a scam, just poor quality.
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I know this isnt much help to the OP at this moment in time, but on my database, I always write down the License key of the particular pc / lappy, just in case of this scenario. This has helped me out numerous times in the past, when this exact same thing happens. You probably do the same thing, same as most techs..
I would follow the dell cd route personally..
I would follow the dell cd route personally..
So a factory restore dell disk is legit, and legal? It won't lock him out eventually? Do they work on all dell systems? I don't want to do anything naughty on a customers lappy.
Snazzy PC Repairs
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As long as it's a Dell laptop, and you have a Dell branded CD for his particular operating system (XP/Vista/7), then yes, there's no problem using it.
If required, you can then download the service packs afterwards to get completely up-to-date.
If required, you can then download the service packs afterwards to get completely up-to-date.
cool, thanks so much for the info everybody! I can't believe dell wouldn't help me out even with the "express service code"
Sheesh, didn't your mama learn you to use LimeWire?
You have a few options.
4. If you subscribe to TechNet, you could just sacrifice a Vista key.
Personally, option 3 sounds the best way to go.
According to my understanding of the licensing agreement, option 4 is not a valid option......?
+1 to this. Dell OEM discs don't ask for the Key AND Dell Ships with the discs so the customer should have those around. If not you can proabably use any Dell CD but... well I try not to.
I installed vista with a oem dell cd, has the 30 day activation message on the computer properties page, is it not going to lock him out? This is a dell machine!?
customer can't find the disks, and apparently not, I just did use a oem dell dvd, it says he has 30 days
now what, dell won't help, even with the express service code.
vdub12
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Yes it will be fine
I believe technet are all retail iso's. You need to use an OEM iso for this situation.
Well activate it then
customer can't find the disks, and apparently not, I just did use a oem dell dvd, it says he has 30 days
Activate it. If it errors out on you call Microsoft's activation line and they will help you activate it. MS has never turned me down activating a copy of windows. They always make it happen.
I would never give an unactivated computer back to a customer.
it says the key is invalid, won't let me activate. Wants a new key. It is a dell cd too, but now I'm wondering if maybe I should have tried vista basic instead of premium, I have no way of knowing which was on here. Anybody know which base flavor vista vostro 1520's came with???
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