Windows Vista CD Key Built into CD Dell Provides?

Is the activation and cd key automatically built into the Vista DVD dell provides?

 

I think something in the BIOS allows it to install on a Dell without a key and activation.

Your key should be on the underside of your notebook.

 

Its an OEM thing...

 

I noticed that the product IDs of both the replacement and the new laptop are identical. What are the first three digits of your product IDs? I just want to see if they are the same.

 

AFAIK any Dell OS reinstallation CD works on any Dell. No need for activiation.

 

Even if a Dell did not come with Vista, a Dell Vista CD would install onto it?

 

Ok I was just worried that if I installed Vista onto another Dell and it had the same product ID... :/

Thanks for the help.

 

So if one buys a Dell with Ubantu (do they still do that?) you could just borrow someones Dell Windows CD and install Windows without having to put in a key or activate?

I don't plan on doing this, but it seems they would have to have someone to stop people from doing that.

 

Well considering none of my drivers are installed so there is no way to connect to the internet... and it shows Windows is activated with a product ID... it would seem like it is possible. Though if you are caught... your dead.

 

It's built into the BIOS, if the Installer detects the signature in the BIOS it will automatically get the key and will not require activation at all, but you have to use a Dell OEM Viusta DVD for this, any other Vista DVD will not work with the embedded signature

 

If you use the Dell Vista DVD on a system that didn't ship with Vista however, you will have to activate it. As others have said, it is a motherboard signature that the installation looks for. It will still install fine on another Dell, but it won't automatically activate.

 

I had a dell oem cd for my wife's Dell. And my friend had same thing but didnt get dvd because he bought his "opened box" from Bestbuy. and it installed on his laptop just fine. No key asked. So keys doesnt matter as long as its dell oem cd.

 

Pretty Much!

Dell OEM Cd just checks to see if you are installing Vista on a DELL computer.

 

There is a product key, it's just slipstreamed and the OS is pre-activated. You can use a utility like Winkey Finder to reveal the actual product key if you're so inclined. I'm actually sort of curious if the product key is unique to each system (possibly randomly generated within a specific Dell-identifying framework) or if it's a common key that 1000's of Dells are using simultaneously.

 

Yes, it would. But you must have a newer version of BIOS. I installed Vista Ultimate onto my XPS M1210 with was "Capable of Windows Vista". So if you update your BIOS with the latest one, you can install it with a Dell Recovery DVD.

 

Anyone care to say the first digit of their product ID for Vista Home Premium? I suspect they are the same for all OEM versions.