How do I use an OEM install disk

[jacatone]

Bought a used laptop and it came with a sealed Dell WinXP Home OEM disk. On the packet it say's "May require the COA number to install" Does that mean if I don't have this number or it's wrong, I'm screwed? I thought OEM disks worked on anything? Thanks.

[Dia]

Certificate of authenticity number, aka the long annoying XP registration number that is on the sticker. If it was from a dell that sticker was probably on the back of the case, thats where they usually stick it. If you dont have it once you install youll have 30 days to register before windows locks itself.

[matthews]

OEM stands for Original Equipment Manufacturer, which is a version of Windows that the PC manufacturer puts on before the customer gets it. Retail, upgrade, and corporate keys will not work on OEM copies, and vice versa. Ususally if the sticker says Acer, Toshiba, Touch, etc. it is an OEM copy. OEM copies are quite common.

As Dia said, your COA number is the product key, or serial key that will either be on the case of the computer, or on a xp book or manual of some sort.

[glc]

The Dell COA for a laptop is on the bottom. You can use the reinstall disk and it should not ask for it and should not require activation because it's satisfied if it sees a Dell bios.

If the laptop was sold after some time in 2004, it will have Symantec Restore unless the restore and diagnostic partitions have been deleted. Access it by pressing Ctrl+F11 at startup.