On 16/09/05, Greg Wallace <jgregw@acsalaska.net> wrote:
On Thursday, September 15, 2005 @ 8:17 AM, Sunny wrote:
I had just had the same thought. I added memory with no problem either but, like you, my Windows software was on this Dell machine when I bought it. I actually had to fully restore it once from an ASR backup. During the first phase, when you would normally be prompted for a registration number, I didn't have to do that. Not sure how that works. At the time, I had two Dell machines with Windows and two installation CDs. I re-installed the other Windows op system from one of the CD's also. Either I got lucky and happened to use the correct CD each time (they're just in a stack of CDs I have) for each machine or there's something built into the CDs themselves (or in the computer firmware) that knows I'm legit. If either CD works for either machine, it's probably something built into the firmware on the machine(?).
Greg Wallace
I have the feeling that Dell may do the same as Compaq once did. That is, they added some sort of coding into the BIOS which denoted that the machine was as it was supposed to be. I found this out when I tried to install Win2k from an unused Compaq branded disk. It never would install as it kept asking for a Compaq PC and stating that it could go no further as this PC is not Compaq. DOH!!!! -- ============================================== I am only human, please forgive me if I make a mistake it is not deliberate. ============================================== Take care. Kevan Farmer 34 Hill Street Cheslyn Hay Staffordshire WS6 7HR