Hello Tri Bill,
What edition of XP did you buy online? Is it a retail license or OEM license?
If you have a Dell, and the Dell has a Certificate of Authenticity on it, there was no need to buy a new Windows license---all you needed was a Dell OS Reinstallation CD.
Please refer to the link below and run the MGA Diagnostics tool:
http://go.microsoft.com/fwlink/?linkid=52012
You will be prompted to either “Run” or “Save” the tool. Choose to “Run” the tool and follow the on-screen prompts. You will receive an “Internet Explorer-Security Warning” dialog box for the “Windows Genuine Advantage Diagnostic Tool”; you must choose to “Run” this tool when prompted.
Once you are presented with the Diagnostics tool choose “Continue” to run the diagnostic report. If the “RESOLVE” button is available after running the diagnostics, please click “RESOLVE” to allow the diagnostic tool to attempt a repair.
1. After running the MGA Diagnostic tool, click on the “Windows” tab and then click on “Copy”.
2. Please return to this post and “Paste” the results here for additional review.
Next look on the computer itself, in the documentation you received with the computer or with your retail purchase of Windows to see if you have a Certificate of Authenticity (COA). If you have one, tell us about the COA. Tell us:
1. What edition of Windows XP is it for, Home, Pro, or Media Center, or another version of Windows?
2. Does it read "OEM Software" or "OEM Product" in black lettering?
3. Or, does it have the computer manufacturer's name in black lettering?
4. DO NOT post the Product Key that may be printed on the CoA.
Not sure what to look for? See this page for reference: http://www.microsoft.com/resources/howtotell/en/coa.mspx
NOTE: The data collected with the Genuine Diagnostics Tool does NOT contain any information that can personally identify you and can be fully reviewed, by you, before being posted.
For great advice on all topics XP, visit http://www.annoyances.org/exec/forum/winxp
