Re-Install of DELL OEM Windows 7 Home Premium

I had to reinstall Windows 7 Home Premium onto my Dell Studio 1558. I did a clean install, and use the OEM disk that they had sent me previously because I didn't get it with my laptop originally.

When I asked for the Windows 7 Disk, they sent me one for the 32bit version and the 64bit version. Not sure if it matters which I install. But I reformatted the hard drive and did a clean install of Windows 7 32bit Home Premium.

It installed fine no problems. But when looking in the system information, it says that it will automatically be activated in 3 days. Then it says Activate now. I clicked that and got an error that the Product Key I typed in was invalid to activate. I didn't have to type a product key because it's an OEM CD and product key is already set up.

I called Microsoft hoping they could shed some light, they said to call Dell. I call dell, and they said it was already activated. Well if it's already activated then why doesn't it say so? Why is it telling me the Product Key is Invalid for activation?

When I do searches everyone keeps mentioning finding the product key which is stickered to the laptop. I have no stickered product key. It's already apparently set up in the OEM disk. I know Windows 7 activates differently from XP. But if it's telling me that the product key is invalid for activation now, what difference will 3 days make in registering. I guess I'm not understanding something. If it's already pre-activated, shouldn't it show as being activated already? Why when I try to activate it now is it telling me that the product key is invalid for registration?

I just want to make sure that in 3 days I'm not going to get a nag screen to activate.

Anyone have any knowledge about this? Thanks!

Dell Studio Laptop 1558 500gb hd 4gig of ram Intel Core i3 Windows 7 Home Premium

Thanks!
Melissa

Yes I bought it directly from dell. I have two Windows 7 Disks for Home Premium one for the 64bit version and one for the 32bit version. It shouldn't matter which one you install. I don't know why they sent me both.

But I called them and they are telling me it's already activated, but I don't think they know what they are talking about. This system is telling me that it's not activated. I wonder if it makes a difference if they replaced the hard drive? They did that shortly after I got it because I was getting a hard drive error. I don't think it will but you never know.

Melissa

Can you tell us what the disks that dell sent you look like- that is what they say?

I don't know if Dell still do this - they used to include a file pid.txt ( in the sources folder on the dvd, If I remember correctly - the product key is in there and is installed with the o/s ).

You needed to activate online - just like with a retail key.

Have a look on the dvd - see if PID.txt is there - if it is - enter that key and see if it does the job.

Okay I found the product key under the battery. I input that product key and it activated successfully. For whatever reason it wasn't just automatically activating as dell said it would. So that did the trick! Thanks for all the help!

The disks that I got from Dell one was like a pea green and one is brick red which is the 64bit version.

For next time I'll know I have to input the product key which is under the battery.

Melissa

Mizmelzy said:

Okay I found the product key under the battery. I input that product key and it activated successfully. For whatever reason it wasn't just automatically activating as dell said it would. So that did the trick! Thanks for all the help!

The disks that I got from Dell one was like a pea green and one is brick red which is the 64bit version.

For next time I'll know I have to input the product key which is under the battery.

Melissa

No no I dont want to know the colour. What is written on the disks?