[SOLVED] Reading Product Key

Garthh · 10-31-2009, 10:53 AM

My wife's custom died [mother board].
I got a dell optiplex GX1 with no hard drive
Installed the HDD maxtor 40g [Diamond max] & told bios to boot from disc.
I got stuck on the product registry key screen
I have a windows xp sp1 disc & the registry key form the custom machine.
I get an error [invalid number].
how do I proceed?
I can only get to continue install or recovery...
At recovery I only get to choose
C:/WINDOWS>
I either need to discover the dell product code or reset so I can use the code that matches the disc.
When I try to follow the procedure for discovering the key as if I were at the dos prompt, I get an invalid command error.
I don't need any of the data on the HDD, just a functioning xp pc.

**simpswr** · 10-31-2009, 11:17 AM

The Dell should have a sticker like this with the Product Key on it. You will have to use an OEM version to match it

Garthh · 11-01-2009, 01:03 AM

of course it should, but 9+ years is a long time

dai · 11-01-2009, 01:28 AM

the only place you can get it from is from the sticker or the original hard drive

**simpswr** · 11-01-2009, 06:53 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Garthh

of course it should, but 9+ years is a long time

Does that mean it is there or not?

Chevy · 11-01-2009, 09:51 AM

What you are trying to do violate Microsoft's license agreement. You cannot transfer an OEM operating system to another machine.

Your only option is to go buy another XP license or repair the failed machine.

Garthh · 11-02-2009, 11:00 AM

What I'm trying to do is put a used HDD in a formally functioning Dell, for which the former owner can't remember where all that info went since his stroke.

Or to look at it another way I'm trying to install a used motherboard into my wife's dead custom for which there is a legitimate license.

Probably gonna turn it into a linux machine. I'll give it a couple more days & see if anyone comes up with a solution 1st

**simpswr** · 11-02-2009, 11:49 AM

Are you puiting a hard drive in the Dell or tryng to install the Operating System from the Dell on a non-Dell pc?

The first is duck soup, the second violates the EULA.

Garthh · 11-02-2009, 05:42 PM

I'm trying to put a used HDD in the DELL
So far I'm gonna make a Master Boot http://www.ultimatebootcd.com/ + seatools so far
Do you have any suggestions?

**simpswr** · 11-02-2009, 05:53 PM

You can get a reinstallation guide specific to your Dell here
http://support.dell.com/support/topi...n&s=dhs&~ck=mn

No need for third party HS . . Just boot from the Dell Reinstallation disc and get 'r done!

Garthh · 11-03-2009, 06:48 AM

now we're getting somewhere.
I chatted w/dell support, the machine in question started life as a NT machine
When I put the service tag # eymu4 into their system that is indeed the newest OS that is an option for drivers.

So do I burn a CD with these drivers & boot to that?

**simpswr** · 11-03-2009, 07:01 AM

Do they offer XP drivers for that machine? If so, use those . . if not, many NT drivers work with XP

Garthh · 11-03-2009, 09:27 AM

Thanks for your help Simpswr [Rich]
I'm short on cash being unemployed & only have a few blank CD's to play with, so I'll go over what I think you're telling me to do & what the Dell does...

I should go to the Dell support & download the drivers, Burn this & possibly seatools [or other HDD utility] on a CD.

Below is what happens, right now

1] the HDD jumper is set to master

2] Press on button

3] B/W screen

4] secondary HDD drive not found

5] f1 to continue, f2 for set up [dell bios]

6] set bios to boot from XP CD...

7] Reboot

back to step 5 press f1

8] blue screen w/white lettering, Windows XP home edition set up

Enter to continue, R to go to recovery console

Continuing takes me to the validation screen....

R takes me to recovery prompt

**simpswr** · 11-03-2009, 09:39 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Garthh

Thanks for your help Simpswr [Rich]
I'm short on cash being unemployed & only have a few blank CD's to play with, so I'll go over what I think you're telling me to do & what the Dell does...

I should go to the Dell support & download the drivers, Burn this & possibly seatools [or other HDD utility] on a CD.

Below is what happens, right now

1] the HDD jumper is set to master . . Try setting the drive to Cable Select

2] Press on button

3] B/W screen

4] secondary HDD drive not found

5] f1 to continue, f2 for set up [dell bios]

At this pooint, press F2 to enter BIOS (Setup) . . reset to defaults, then set first boot device as CD Drive

6] set bios to boot from XP CD...

7] Reboot

back to step 5 press f1

8] blue screen w/white lettering, Windows XP home edition set up

Enter to continue, R to go to recovery console

Continuing takes me to the validation screen....

Don't know what you are calling the validation screen. Try using this guide and tell me where you are stumped.

http://www.techhandbook.com/windows/...g-Windows.html

R takes me to recovery prompt

Garthh · 11-04-2009, 11:05 AM

When the HDD jumpper is set to CS,
On the 1st B/W screen:
Primary 0 hard drive disc not found
Secondary 1 Hard drive disc not found
press f1 to continue, f2 setup
I was following the advice from Raptor PA in the hard ware section, to put it on master to get past the above screen. I then moved over here & started a new thread, since it's a software, OS installation/recovery issue

I went through the tech handbook
the 1st thing I notice is I never see the HDD partition screen [after continuing {booting from XP Install CD} with the HDD jumper set to master]
Scrolls through all the installations of drivers & such
The screen I'm describing as the validation screen is figure 14 in the tech hand book, where the product key is entered.

**simpswr** · 11-04-2009, 12:46 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Garthh

When the HDD jumpper is set to CS,
On the 1st B/W screen:
Primary 0 hard drive disc not found Do you have the drive on the end of the Ribbon?

Secondary 1 Hard drive disc not found That is ok, since there is no hard drive on the secondary c=hannel . . just a CD/DVD Drive?

press f1 to continue, f2 setup
I was following the advice from Raptor PA in the hard ware section, to put it on master to get past the above screen.

That is fine . . he was troubleshooting the hardware. Dells will usually prefer the drives be set to Cable Select and the Master be on the end of the ribbon . . is that what you have now?

I then moved over here & started a new thread, since it's a software, OS installation/recovery issue

I went through the tech handbook
the 1st thing I notice is I never see the HDD partition screen [after continuing {booting from XP Install CD} with the HDD jumper set to master]
Scrolls through all the installations of drivers & such

That is because you interupted a prior installation. If you want to start fresh, you have to "Press any Key to Boot from CD when you first boot

The screen I'm describing as the validation screen is figure 14 in the tech hand book, where the product key is entered.

What disc are you installing from and what key are you using? . . The Key has to match both the versions ( Home, Pro or MCE ) and the "Flavor" (OEM, Full Retail or Upgrade)

Garthh · 11-05-2009, 07:04 AM

Very good,
Different errors...
HDD set to CS & end of ribbon.
Didn't find either HDD, but Allowed me to f1 [continue] get to blue screen for set up
Ran for a couple of minutes, hung on
blue & white screen:
Set up did not find any Hard drives on your system
f3 to quit
& back to B/W screen

The XP CD is a full retail that came with the same machine that the HDD is from.
The CD came in a paper sleeve with a red sp1 sticker & the product key code [similar to the image you posted in your 1st reply]

**simpswr** · 11-05-2009, 01:44 PM

The only stickers I have seei are on OEM versions of XP . . which will not work on a Full Retail install cd.

I would try new ribbons on the hard drive . . something is wrong there

**spike2me** · 11-05-2009, 01:49 PM

boot into the Bios and make sure the HDD is being recognized there. If not switch the jumper from CS to Master, or vice versa,change IDE cable, Switch to Secondary channel etc. If you have done all these scenarios, then try changing out the PSU. I had this problem once, and the PSU would power the computer but not enough to recognize a HDD. Swapping out PSU immediately recognized the HDD.

**simpswr** · 11-05-2009, 02:43 PM

10-31-2009, 10:53 AM	#1 (permalink)
Garthh Registered User Join Date: Apr 2009 Location: Sierra Nevada's Posts: 26 OS: XP-sp3, Vista-sp2	[SOLVED] Reading Product Key My wife's custom died [mother board]. I got a dell optiplex GX1 with no hard drive Installed the HDD maxtor 40g [Diamond max] & told bios to boot from disc. I got stuck on the product registry key screen I have a windows xp sp1 disc & the registry key form the custom machine. I get an error [invalid number]. how do I proceed? I can only get to continue install or recovery... At recovery I only get to choose C:/WINDOWS> I either need to discover the dell product code or reset so I can use the code that matches the disc. When I try to follow the procedure for discovering the key as if I were at the dos prompt, I get an invalid command error. I don't need any of the data on the HDD, just a functioning xp pc.

10-31-2009, 11:17 AM	#2 (permalink)
simpswr Moderator Hardware Team Join Date: May 2007 Location: Houston, Texas Posts: 12,253 OS: XP, Vista, Win 7	Re: Reading Product Key The Dell should have a sticker like this with the Product Key on it. You will have to use an OEM version to match it __________________ Rich MemTest86 \| BenchTest \| Virus/Trojan/Spyware Help How to post a Screen Shot \| PC running slow?

11-01-2009, 01:03 AM	#3 (permalink)
Garthh Registered User Join Date: Apr 2009 Location: Sierra Nevada's Posts: 26 OS: XP-sp3, Vista-sp2	Re: Reading Product Key of course it should, but 9+ years is a long time

11-01-2009, 01:28 AM	#4 (permalink)
dai Manager, Hardware Forums Join Date: Jul 2004 Location: west australia Posts: 56,614 OS: win 7 32x 64x rtm	Re: Reading Product Key the only place you can get it from is from the sticker or the original hard drive __________________

11-01-2009, 09:51 AM	#6 (permalink)
Chevy Retired Join Date: Jul 2003 Location: Notlob Posts: 5,452 OS: Vista Ultimate My System	Re: Reading Product Key What you are trying to do violate Microsoft's license agreement. You cannot transfer an OEM operating system to another machine. Your only option is to go buy another XP license or repair the failed machine.

11-02-2009, 11:00 AM	#7 (permalink)
Garthh Registered User Join Date: Apr 2009 Location: Sierra Nevada's Posts: 26 OS: XP-sp3, Vista-sp2	Re: Reading Product Key What I'm trying to do is put a used HDD in a formally functioning Dell, for which the former owner can't remember where all that info went since his stroke. Or to look at it another way I'm trying to install a used motherboard into my wife's dead custom for which there is a legitimate license. Probably gonna turn it into a linux machine. I'll give it a couple more days & see if anyone comes up with a solution 1st

11-02-2009, 11:49 AM	#8 (permalink)
simpswr Moderator Hardware Team Join Date: May 2007 Location: Houston, Texas Posts: 12,253 OS: XP, Vista, Win 7	Re: Reading Product Key Are you puiting a hard drive in the Dell or tryng to install the Operating System from the Dell on a non-Dell pc? The first is duck soup, the second violates the EULA. __________________ Rich MemTest86 \| BenchTest \| Virus/Trojan/Spyware Help How to post a Screen Shot \| PC running slow?

11-02-2009, 05:42 PM	#9 (permalink)
Garthh Registered User Join Date: Apr 2009 Location: Sierra Nevada's Posts: 26 OS: XP-sp3, Vista-sp2	Re: Reading Product Key I'm trying to put a used HDD in the DELL So far I'm gonna make a Master Boot http://www.ultimatebootcd.com/ + seatools so far Do you have any suggestions?

11-02-2009, 05:53 PM	#10 (permalink)
simpswr Moderator Hardware Team Join Date: May 2007 Location: Houston, Texas Posts: 12,253 OS: XP, Vista, Win 7	Re: Reading Product Key You can get a reinstallation guide specific to your Dell here http://support.dell.com/support/topi...n&s=dhs&~ck=mn No need for third party HS . . Just boot from the Dell Reinstallation disc and get 'r done! __________________ Rich MemTest86 \| BenchTest \| Virus/Trojan/Spyware Help How to post a Screen Shot \| PC running slow?

11-03-2009, 06:48 AM	#11 (permalink)
Garthh Registered User Join Date: Apr 2009 Location: Sierra Nevada's Posts: 26 OS: XP-sp3, Vista-sp2	Re: Reading Product Key now we're getting somewhere. I chatted w/dell support, the machine in question started life as a NT machine When I put the service tag # eymu4 into their system that is indeed the newest OS that is an option for drivers. So do I burn a CD with these drivers & boot to that?

11-03-2009, 07:01 AM	#12 (permalink)
simpswr Moderator Hardware Team Join Date: May 2007 Location: Houston, Texas Posts: 12,253 OS: XP, Vista, Win 7	Re: Reading Product Key Do they offer XP drivers for that machine? If so, use those . . if not, many NT drivers work with XP __________________ Rich MemTest86 \| BenchTest \| Virus/Trojan/Spyware Help How to post a Screen Shot \| PC running slow?

11-03-2009, 09:27 AM	#13 (permalink)
Garthh Registered User Join Date: Apr 2009 Location: Sierra Nevada's Posts: 26 OS: XP-sp3, Vista-sp2	Re: Reading Product Key Thanks for your help Simpswr [Rich] I'm short on cash being unemployed & only have a few blank CD's to play with, so I'll go over what I think you're telling me to do & what the Dell does... I should go to the Dell support & download the drivers, Burn this & possibly seatools [or other HDD utility] on a CD. Below is what happens, right now 1] the HDD jumper is set to master 2] Press on button 3] B/W screen 4] secondary HDD drive not found 5] f1 to continue, f2 for set up [dell bios] 6] set bios to boot from XP CD... 7] Reboot back to step 5 press f1 8] blue screen w/white lettering, Windows XP home edition set up Enter to continue, R to go to recovery console Continuing takes me to the validation screen.... R takes me to recovery prompt

11-04-2009, 11:05 AM	#15 (permalink)
Garthh Registered User Join Date: Apr 2009 Location: Sierra Nevada's Posts: 26 OS: XP-sp3, Vista-sp2	Re: Reading Product Key When the HDD jumpper is set to CS, On the 1st B/W screen: Primary 0 hard drive disc not found Secondary 1 Hard drive disc not found press f1 to continue, f2 setup I was following the advice from Raptor PA in the hard ware section, to put it on master to get past the above screen. I then moved over here & started a new thread, since it's a software, OS installation/recovery issue I went through the tech handbook the 1st thing I notice is I never see the HDD partition screen [after continuing {booting from XP Install CD} with the HDD jumper set to master] Scrolls through all the installations of drivers & such The screen I'm describing as the validation screen is figure 14 in the tech hand book, where the product key is entered.

11-05-2009, 07:04 AM	#17 (permalink)
Garthh Registered User Join Date: Apr 2009 Location: Sierra Nevada's Posts: 26 OS: XP-sp3, Vista-sp2	Re: Reading Product Key Very good, Different errors... HDD set to CS & end of ribbon. Didn't find either HDD, but Allowed me to f1 [continue] get to blue screen for set up Ran for a couple of minutes, hung on blue & white screen: Set up did not find any Hard drives on your system f3 to quit & back to B/W screen The XP CD is a full retail that came with the same machine that the HDD is from. The CD came in a paper sleeve with a red sp1 sticker & the product key code [similar to the image you posted in your 1st reply] Last edited by Garthh; 11-05-2009 at 07:07 AM.

11-05-2009, 01:44 PM	#18 (permalink)
simpswr Moderator Hardware Team Join Date: May 2007 Location: Houston, Texas Posts: 12,253 OS: XP, Vista, Win 7	Re: Reading Product Key The only stickers I have seei are on OEM versions of XP . . which will not work on a Full Retail install cd. I would try new ribbons on the hard drive . . something is wrong there __________________ Rich MemTest86 \| BenchTest \| Virus/Trojan/Spyware Help How to post a Screen Shot \| PC running slow?

11-05-2009, 01:49 PM	#19 (permalink)
spike2me TSF Enthusiast Join Date: Apr 2009 Location: Los Angeles Posts: 2,643 OS: XP SP3, Vista SP2, Windows7	Re: Reading Product Key boot into the Bios and make sure the HDD is being recognized there. If not switch the jumper from CS to Master, or vice versa,change IDE cable, Switch to Secondary channel etc. If you have done all these scenarios, then try changing out the PSU. I had this problem once, and the PSU would power the computer but not enough to recognize a HDD. Swapping out PSU immediately recognized the HDD. __________________ Spike Baron A Plus, MCSE, MCAS (office 2007) MOUS, CNA

11-05-2009, 02:43 PM	#20 (permalink)
simpswr Moderator Hardware Team Join Date: May 2007 Location: Houston, Texas Posts: 12,253 OS: XP, Vista, Win 7	Re: Reading Product Key __________________ Rich MemTest86 \| BenchTest \| Virus/Trojan/Spyware Help How to post a Screen Shot \| PC running slow?