Windows Vista OEM Activation for DELL

With the recently released Service Pack 1 for Windows Vista, many people obviously want to install Windows with a slipstreamed DVD. However, somehow MS messed up the Vista servicing stack, and therefore, it is not possible to slipstream the update and create your own SP1 install media.

So what if you want to install Windows Vista Service Pack 1 as OEM installation? You may acquire a legal copy of a DVD with SP1 already applied, and make it a fully valid OEM copy all by yourself. Be aware that this procedure applies to DELL installations only, as we have no information where the othere OEMs store their certificates.

Preparations needed before you reinstall:

  • Copy the folder [SYSTEM32]\OEM to a safe place
  • Find out your Windows serial using JellyBean 2

You may wipe your Windows installation now and reinstall the operating system without a serial number. Be sure to select the correct edition of your license when installing, though!

After installing Windows without a serial number, do the following:

  • Restore the folder [SYSTEM32]\OEM from your backup
  • Start an elevated command prompt (e.g. run [SYSTEM32]\cmd.exe as Administrator)
  • Change into the [SYSTEM32]\OEM directory and type the following commands:
    • slmgr -ilc [CERTIFICATE]
    • slmgr -ipk [PRODUCTKEY]
    • slmgr -ato

Execution of each commands takes a while, so be patient and wait for a message box to pop up before you type the next command in the chain. Also, the following pathes are assumed:

  • [SYSTEM32] is the path to your system directory, typically C:\Windows\System32
  • [CERTIFICATE] is the name of your cert file you backed up before reinstalling, in this case DELL.XRM-MS
  • [PRODUCTKEY] is the key you wrote down before reinstalling

Be aware that this guide only works on DELL machines. Also, it is imperative you already have a working OEM installation of Windows Vista you can get the installation key from. We do not support piracy of any kind, and we will not hand out any certificate files or serial numbers! This is solely for people who want to install a fresh copy of Vista SP1 without waiting for the OEM to deliver new media.

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