[bradyg23]

Following a hard drive failure I replaced the hard drive and am now attempting to reinstall Windows XP using the CD that shipped with the original computer (Dell Inspiron 8100). It installed fine. No prompts for license key.

Now that the system is up I browsed to Windows Update and it attempted to verify my license, and that failed. It is definitely the CD that shipped with the computer.

Should I contact Microsoft on this?
Should I contact Dell on this?

Or is there a way to get it to recognize the CD as valid?

Thanks,
Brady

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Did you format the drive or have you got two copies of windows and get asked which one to load?

[Retired Tech]

Did you format the drive or have you got two copies of windows and get asked which one to load?

[bradyg23]

I only have the copy of Windows that shipped with the original computer (the Dell repair and recovery disk).

The current harddrive is brand new, since the old one failed.

[Retired Tech]

The first people to ask are Microsoft

As long as you connected the same type of drive using the existing cable it should run, you may find the drive manufacturer has a utility for preparing the drive for installation if you want to look or post the make and model

[bradyg23]

Dell Inspiron 8100. Where could I find out about a drive prep tool?

Thanks for your help!
Brady

[Retired Tech]

Do you have the make and model of the drive, not the PC

[bradyg23]

Ah, sorry. The original was a:

IBM Travelstar: IC25N030ATCS04-0
30GB

I ordered the exact same model to replace it from ComputerGeeks.com.

[Retired Tech]

Check part two to see if you missed anything

http://www.hitachigs...onandFormat.pdf

[dsenette]

keith...don't want to butt in...but something's got me confused
bradyg23... windows is installed and operational right? it's just when y ou go to windows update...the validation tool tells you you're not running genuine windows right?

[Retired Tech]

Your drive is in this list

http://www.pc.ibm.co...t-drivenum.html

Clicking support and downloads takes you to Hitachi

http://www.hgst.com/...b937c27aac4f0a0

The drive fitness / disc manager is capable of checking and doing a low level format

http://www.hgst.com/...ownload.htm#DFT

The CD image will probably be easiest

[Retired Tech]

Good point, though if windows is the only thing on a new drive, I would wipe it and start over, it should have asked for the product key

[dsenette]

not with a dell recovery disk (which i'm slightly amazed worked on a new hd)

I only have the copy of Windows that shipped with the original computer (the Dell repair and recovery disk).

it may be because the windows on the recovery disk is a HIGHLY modified OEM version of windows...GENERALLY the licensing and activation info is stored on a seperate partitioin on the drive that ships with the machine...this may be where the problem is coming in...

edit: forgot to add the "to my knowledge" there

[bradyg23]

Yes, Windows is installed and functional. There is no prompt for a license key. The part you mentioned about a separate partition on the drive would make sense.

It acted as a completely normal install (I've installed Windows dozens of times) except for not asking for a key.

[Retired Tech]

At least I managed to misread the first post and keep doing it throughout

Sorry for the tour of the internet

[dsenette]

HAHAHA

i would contact dell AND microsoft about this issue as i have no idea how to fix it...i would call dell first as it's more of a proprietary thing..