Reinstalling Windows 7 after hard drive wipe - product key incorrect?

Hi, I recently purchased a Dell Xps 1340 laptop that came with windows 7 32 bit professional. After a few months, I needed to wipe the hard disk, and so I did. Before I did, I extracted my product key with a program that I downloaded off the internet. I got the following information:

Windows 7 Professional
Product Part No.: X15-37377
Installed from 'OEM' media.
Product ID: ******* match to CD Key data
CD Key: *********
Computer Name: ***-PC
Registered Owner: ***
Registered Organization:

Anyway, I had a RETAIL windows 7 professional disc, and I installed this onto my dell laptop. However, it keeps telling me that my product key is wrong when I try to activate. I have tried both 32bit and 64bit

any idea why this is happening? is it because I'm using a RETAIL windows 7 disc? If I try a dell oem disc, will that work with my product key?

thanks

The Key that came with your dell is OEM and you should use a dell restore disk.

Dell products since they sell is such high quantities actually have a volume license embedded onto the motherboard. Any Dell Windows 7 disk will be able to install and use the product key automatically.


....imagine if they didint have this and your job was to type in unique serial numbers all day at a Dell plant. NUTS!

thanks for the replies. My friend has a dell 64bit OEM Windows 7 ultimate disc that came with his machine... can I use this to reinstall windows on my laptop? (i.e will it 'pick up' the key that's on my motherboard and use that and activate?)

thanks