Dell xp home Coa update question, Do I need to do this?

[jazzisjazz]

I am fixing a system for a friend.

I searched the forums and most of the related information also deals with slip-streaming or creating custom install cds. I am hoping that the answer to my question is simpler.

The machine the friend brought to me was a Dell Dimension 8400 with an original XP Home coa sticker attached. It was however loaded with XP PRO the last time I saw it running. ( It probably wasn't legal and there was no reinstall cd for it - he bought it second hand. )

The hard drive in it crashed fatally.

I bought a Dell XP Home Edition Re-installation Disc to match the coa on the side of his case ( It is for Home Edition ) thinking that he would just need to update the coa in the OS install at some point to match his. I thought that would make his XP Home install legit and would allow him to get updates and restore his pc if it was ever needed again.

I have installed all XP updates and at no point have I been asked for a coa key. The machine is already activated as far as I know from installing MS Security Essentials and previous updates. It was a requirement for SP3 I think.

After all the updates were done, the coa code I found using Belarc Advisor doesn't match the one on the side of his case.

Should it?

If so do I need to use the Microsoft site to change the key information or some other tool?

Any help appreciated.

[cluberti]

It's likely that the CD is pre-activated using the BIOS (since it's a Dell BIOS that matches one the CD recognizes, it's pre-activated).

[jazzisjazz]

Forgive me for what may be a stupid question, but does that mean I don't need to do anything else except

return the system to my friend?

And if you don't mind my asking, Cluberti, where did you find your avatar graphic?

Edited June 24, 2010 by jazzisjazz

[Ponch]

I bought a Dell XP Home Edition

... at no point have I been asked for a coa key.

...the coa code I found using Belarc Advisor doesn't match the one on the side of his case.

Should it?

Wouldn't that be black magic ?

The key used is included in the unattended part of XP install by the CD and is valid for Dell only. As Cluberti says, it is pre-activated, so yes, you can give it back, job done. It might be rechecked online by some "MS genuine" algorythme but it will not be changed (if that is what you had in mind) by any update.

[cluberti]

The keys don't match because one is the Dell pre-activated key that is validated by the BIOS after install, so them not matching is expected. At this point, the system is good to go and you can return it to your friend as-is.

As to the avatar, I found it years ago and I honestly don't remember where at this point.