Have an OptiPlex GX620 need to activate windows installed from Dell DVD

Hi  3000guy,

Good day and welcome to the community!

Thanks for reaching out to us and am sorry for any trouble. The main reason why the recovery disk doesn't work because the system is originally installed with XP Pro. The system will not recognize the activation key. You will need a full version of the Windows 7 with activation code for it to work. And you will need to do a clean install. Hope this helps. Glad to assist.

Thanks and Regards,

the system was given to me with XP Pro. I bought a dell recovery disk for win 7 and installed it.    I am getting hassles from Microsoft saying we have illegal copy. I went to the MS site I used to use, and they say go to Dell support. I found a Dell system manager, & installed it, but can not get it to execute. How do I activate this copy of win7 pro?

Buy an OEM copy of Windows 7 Professional from a reputable e-tailer like Newegg and use the product key to activate.

Hi Hi  3000guy,

Just a follow up. If further help is needed, just let me know and I'm glad to assist.

Thanks and Regards,

So the only way to upgrade  is to spend big bucks for the complete product? Can I get the upgrade, or do we have to get the full product? Does the computer still take care of the product key? How critical is it that it be done? Is it just going to harass us, or is there some time clock ticking that will shut us down?

Windows 7 Home Premium SP1 64bit (OEM) System Builder DVD 1 Pack

www.amazon.com/.../B004Q0PT3I

  Windows 7 Home Premium SP1 32bit (OEM) System Builder DVD 1 Pack

So the only way to upgrade  is to spend big bucks for the complete product? Can I get the upgrade, or do we have to get the full product? Does the computer still take care of the product key? How critical is it that it be done? Is it just going to harass us, or is there some time clock ticking that will shut us down?

3000guy

You need, as already stated, to buy either an OEM copy of Win 7, or the full retail version, the OEM copy costs less.

The cost of buying the OEM WIN 7 Home Premium media version, is often less than buying the Upgrade media version.

http://www.newegg.com/Microsoft-Operating-Systems/BrandSubCat/ID-1149-368

You need to shop around for the best price using Google.

To use the upgrade version of windows, you will need the qualifying media to upgrade to, that you may not have.

But, you might be able to use the following hack [at your own risk] for use an upgrade media for a clean install of Win 7, as shown here:

 http://winsupersite.com/article/windows-7/clean-install-windows-7-with-upgrade-media-128512

The preferred version is the double install method, but this often requires you to manually obtain the product key to activate Win 7 at no charge, on the phone from Microsoft.

With either the OEM, or retail copy of Win 7, you will need to enter the MS product key, that's listed in package the DVD came in, when it is requested by the installation of Win 7.

Quote:

'How critical is it that it be done? Is it just going to harass us, or is there some time clock ticking that will shut us down?'

Yes, you usually have 30 days to enter the correct product key and activate, before the operating system becomes non-functional.

Bev.

Dell Windows XP, Vista and 7 use system locked preinstallation keys and automatically activate when loaded via a correct Dell BIOS.

The GX620 was only sold with Windows Vista and Windows XP so a Dell Windows 7 Reinstallation DVD won't activate on this system (and even if they did you would be incorrectly licensed, it would be accidental piracy). I wrote a wiki which explained System locked Preinstalaltion in details but it had to be removed unfortunately.

Anyway you need to spend the money to purchase the upgrade license (Windows 8 is cheaper than Windows 7 for this due to promotional deals) or you can get the system builders license as mentioned by the others.

And yes after 9 days it will harass you a lot it will automatically log you out unless you activate the product.