Hi
I have just purchased an OEM version of Win 7 64bit, which turned out to be a Dell reinstallation disc (this was not clearly stated on the website).
I have read all over the net that these cannot be installed on non-Dell PCs (which mine is - a home build).
However it installed fine, and I activated it with the supplied product key sticker.
So I'm confused now - do these Dell discs work on non-Dell PCs ?
OEM discs usually check BIOS before allowing the install. Maybe the disc has been modified (counterfeited) or maybe there are Dell disc versions that don't check anything. Those would sell well.
It seems like it would be easier to counterfeit the art work on a Dell disc than a Microsoft disc.
Maybe a rep from Dell will post to your thread.
If you are concerned about the validity of the licence, follow these steps and we can verify it for you and advise you further:
1. Download and save this tool to your desktop:
http://go.microsoft.com/fwlink/?linkid=52012
2. Run the tool, and then click Copy - ignore any errors if they appear
3. Use CTRL+V to paste the unedited results of the tool here in your next reply
Thanks
I assumed this was a legitimate copy, so obviously don't want it to become inactivated or similar by MS, as I bought in good faith.
Am happy with installation (to be honest I was relieved it installed OK as had read lots of badness about these discs after opening the package).
I left it installing & came back to Win 7desktop, so I can only assume the product key was not required for installation but I had to enter from activation app.
Sneaky if they managed to make a copy which by-passed requirement for Dell motherboard etc..
Just make sure its not an MSDN licence, because it will eventually 'deactivate' - guaranteed. It could be 2 hours or 2 weeks, its not possible to know. Up until that point, you won't notice anything different.
Follow the steps in post #3 I gave.
It contains no personally identifiable information that could be used by anyone. You can always delete it after I've had a look and let you know, if you really want to. Do NOT post the product key that you used to activate it - we don't need to see that.
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