Will a factory OEM key work with a retail re-installation?

gregrocker said:

Clean Reinstall Factory OEM steps

Big pile of info... nice! Thanks!

whs said:

The geeks have probably stolen the product key and installed some pirated key that will expire all of a sudden. If that is the case, you have a problem and might have to call Microsoft. In any case, it is the key on the COA sticker that counts.

Another possibility is that the system was upgraded at a later time and Jelly Bean shows the upgrade key. Ask your friend.

Ask my friend..? Heh. I'd be better off asking my cat. He's a great guy, but he knows little about computers, and most of what he knows is wrong. As long as he can get to his fantasy football websites, he's as happy as a clam. And his wife is even worse... I could give them back a waffle iron with an etch-a-sketch strapped to it and she wouldn't know the difference. :)

I suppose I'll just try the sticker key first, if that doesn't work I'll try the other. And if that's a no-go, I'll call MS.

The reason the keys don't match is because the key audited from the HD is the OEM-SLP factory mass-activation key used at the factory for offline activation, while the key on the COA sticker is the OEM-COA key which is to be used for clean reinstall by the consumer.

When you use the key from the COA sticker it changes the activation from the manufacturer's control to MS Activation Servers. The first time it may require a robocall to exchange a series of numbers which marries the hardware signature to the key. Reactivation after that is easily done online.

There are benefits to having MS manage your activation beyond just getting the vastly superior clean reinstall.

MS will protect your right to use either 32- or 64-bit with each license whereas the manufacturer might think it can limit you in violation of the EULA. Your activation is also not at the mercy of often incompetent OEM tech support - although if forced to call them under warranty I would not tell them you clean reinstalled as they may use it as an excuse to not help you even though they can't invalidate your hardware warranty. Save your Recovery disks in case you need to ship it back under warranty.

What I need to know is whether a Dell OEM supplied key will work with a retail installation...

If you mean the Dell key on the sticker on the machine ...Yes, it will work.

You might need to add drivers later - but d/l them first and put on a cd - just in case the nic card drivers are not included in 7 install media already.

Then just do the usual boot the dvd and install the edition the key is for (probably home premium ).

Pop the key in.

You should at least get to the desktop.

Then check in device manager and install any drivers still needed form the cd you made.


[unless they do things differently in your country - Dell key activates just fine online like any bought product key]

How to use Dell Recovery Partition,make Recovery Disks & how to order Recovery Disks.
Dell - Support

Thanks for all the help, everybody. The re-installation went smoothly... the product key on the case sticker worked fine, and the flames were minimal. The fire marshal says the smoke damage will clear up in a few days. :) (heh... kidding)

You're welcome.

Glad it went well.