Which key is genuine and useful!

I do believe the SLP key by itself is useless. There is more to SLP activation than just having the key. There are some extra added bits on OEM branded install media. SLP installs don't activate online and authenticate more than just the product code used. Otherwise millions of people could use that key and get a free upgrade to Ultimate.

Jumanji, if you copy the $OEM$ folder and ei.cfg file from the sources folder on the Dell disk to the new sp1 disk, the sp1 disk should now do the OEM SLP activation like the original Dell disk did. Any custom Dell wallpapers, screen savers, etc, that were on the original Dell disk should transfer too. :)

jumanji said:

Thanks for the info, alphanumeric. Good to know that. (The Dell disk does not have any other customisation other than a) built-in OEM-SLP activation and b) Multilanguage. It is some 5.2GB)

I presume that most OEMs will only send the Recovery Disks and not the OEM Reinstall Disk like Dell.

It would seem that that is the way things are going. My theory is its to reduce pirating windows. You are pretty limited to what you can do with a recovery set but not so much with actual OEM branded install media. I won't say anymore because I don't want to give people any ideas, but thats my theory as to why.