Getting invalid License Key code after a disk replacement

[Neil Turner]

My Hard disk crashed and I cannot find my Dell restore
disks. I am using a copy of windows 2k pro to reinstall
the OS on a new disk. The License key codes on the bottom
of the computer do not work with a standard version of
Win 2k Pro. I get an invalid key code message during the
installation, then it aborts.

Neil

 

[Lanwench [MVP - Exchange]]

You can't use your OEM CD-key with a retail copy of Win2k Pro. You need to
get a replacement recovery disk from Dell (my recommendation) or you'd need
to use the retail CD's CD-key - but the latter is not legal unless you've
bought a license for Win2k Pro or removed that copy from whatever computer
it was originally installed with.

Never lose your recovery CDs!!!