Re-Install of DELL OEM Windows 7 Home Premium

[Mizmelzy]

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? :huh:

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

 

[biggles1000]

I've never heard of this 'pre-activated' stuff before, but then again I've never heard of OEM activation methods.
Did you buy this laptop directly from Dell? And also, is there any chance you have another Windows 7 disc?
I'm not sure if moving the bios clock forward three days will trick it into thinking it can activate, but I guess it's worth a shot.

 

[Mizmelzy]

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

 

[fafhrd]

Check beneath the battery - Newer Dell Models hide their COA and windows product key there.

 

[Bill2]

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

 

[SIW2]

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.

 

[Arc]

You may try a factory restore .

 

[SIW2]

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.

 

[Mizmelzy]

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

 

[Bill2]

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?

 

[Mizmelzy]

For curiosity I did look on the disk for a PID.txt and didn't see it. Would it be in the main directory or in a folder on the disk?

 

[Mizmelzy]

The 64bit Says Operating System Already installedon your computer. Reinstallation DVD Windows 7 Home Premium 64bit (32bit for the other one). This software is already installed on your computer. Use this DVD only to reinstall the operating system on a Dell PC.

Melissa

 

[fafhrd]

The PID.txt (Product ID) would be for the factory Install, you should not use it now you have found your key under the battery, unless you reset to factory defaults in the future, when it will again be automatically inserted.

 

[Bill2]

The 64bit Says Operating System Already installedon your computer. Reinstallation DVD Windows 7 Home Premium 64bit (32bit for the other one). This software is already installed on your computer. Use this DVD only to reinstall the operating system on a Dell PC.

Melissa

In that case, it should have activated automatically.

I dont think they use PID.TXT any longer, look for AUTOUNATTEND.XML.

 

[Mizmelzy]

No I wasn't planning on using it now, just wondering if it was on the disk. I didn't see it.

 

[Mizmelzy]

I didn't see AUTOUNATTEND.XML either.

Don't know why it didn't automatically activate either.

Melissa

 

[Bill2]

Just a minor quirk I'd say. Please image the install using either the builtin backup/restore utility or something like macrium or acronis. That way if things go wrong, you can just restore from the image without bothering about reinstalling drivers/apps or reactivating.

 

[Mizmelzy]

I did find a OEM.xrm-ms in the set up files which does have the product ID.

Melissa

 

[Mizmelzy]

I have already planned on doing that. I bought Acronis already so I could back up mystuff

Thanks again for all the help.

Melissa

 

[Arc]

Just a minor quirk I'd say. Please image the install using either the builtin backup/restore utility or something like macrium or acronis. That way if things go wrong, you can just restore from the image without bothering about reinstalling drivers/apps or reactivating.

That's what I do After installing all the necessary apps and customizations, it is to follow the tutorial http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/663-backup-complete-computer-create-image-backup.html .