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    reinstalling the OS

    Discussion in 'Dell' started by datachasm, Jul 26, 2006.

  1. datachasm

    datachasm Notebook Enthusiast

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    hi,

    i got a E1505 that came with XP MCE. my "genuine XP cd" that i ordered from Dell installs unwanted software at the end of the install process.

    im curious, if i borrowed a friends real MCE CD, can i use it to install a copy on my PC with my Dell issued CD key and be legal?
     
    datachasm, Jul 26, 2006
    #1
  2. j00ky

    j00ky Notebook Enthusiast

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    Yes, as long as you have a "genuine" windows key you shouldn't have any problems.
     
    j00ky, Jul 26, 2006
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  3. schmoken

    schmoken Notebook Guru

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    There will be a problem if your freind's copy is not OEM though.
     
    schmoken, Jul 26, 2006
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  4. Amber

    Amber Notebook Prophet NBR Reviewer

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    As far as I know, you will get the unwanted software no matter what MCE disc you use. It is a part of XP MCE. Just like XP Pro/Home install their applications, the same happens with MCE.

    Its not illegal to use someone else's disc as long as you have your own license. The problem is that your key that is assocated with your laptop will not work , and probably wouldn't work even if you had an OEM disc. I think the key is only associated with XP discs that are released from Dell - but not 100%
     
    Amber, Jul 26, 2006
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  5. Chele

    Chele Notebook Consultant

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    I think you will not doing anything wrong if you use another cd but you use your key, but as southern girl says maybe only dell cds are associated with their key.
     
    Chele, Jul 27, 2006
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  6. gridtalker

    gridtalker Notebook Virtuoso

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    Yes you can
     
    gridtalker, Jul 27, 2006
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  7. schmoken

    schmoken Notebook Guru

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    Hmmm. I figured this thread would have been shut down right away...

    Anyway, I went through all of this after I formatted my 1505.
    Any copy will work (assuming valid keys), but to avoid the activation BS, the XP copy needs to have an oem pid. A dell bios with an oem pid = no calling MS because I reinstalled my OS.

    Easiest way for you would be to make an iso of your friends cd, then use magic iso to edit the iso to change the pid code (google it), then burn that.
     
    schmoken, Jul 27, 2006
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  8. Amber

    Amber Notebook Prophet NBR Reviewer

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    I didn't shut it down because if you have a key, then technically you are legal. The way I see it is that anything can happen to an XP disc - it gets scratched/broken, etc.... Things happen, and you have to borrow a friends disc to do the install.

    As long as you enter your key in, I don't see why it should be shut down.
     
    Amber, Jul 27, 2006
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  9. VCman

    VCman Notebook Enthusiast NBR Reviewer

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    VCman, Jul 27, 2006
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