In 2002 I got a Dell pc with XP. A few months ago I had a friend of a friend install a new motherboard. In doing so he wiped the hard drive and installed an invalid copy of Windows. I have my valid copy from Dell, but can't install it because I don't have the product KEY. Should I bite it and spend the hundred fifty bucks to validate or try and reinstall my original copy? Anyone?I'd say call up Dell, explain your story and hopefully they'll send you a new key.Also, do you still have all the stickers on your computer? ONE should be the product key.If you phone windows , they will give you a new CODE ..... just click on activate by phone ..... or i can give you a actual number.... depending on where you are in the world..... and then just follow the steps .... it should say invaild on the phone and then they will ask you for the 1st like 6 digits of your code or something ....... then they will give you a fresh activation code...You may need the original computer RECIEPT to GET new key