I have a Dell XPS desktop and my hard drive crashed recently.I went out a purchased a new hard drive and installed it, But I have a problem.I bought the computer from my brother a few months ago, and being the idiot he is, he removed all the stickers on the computer ( including the CD key )I have acquired a Dell Windows 7 Ultimate recovery disk, and I was wondering if this will install the OS on my computer without requiring me to input a CD Key ( will it recognize that my PC is in fact a Dell PC and not require CD key input?). Also keep in mind that I am not positive that the original OS was Ultimate, it may have been pro or home.If anyone has any insight it would be greatly appreciated. Just a note for everyone saying to use a keyfinder, it doesn't always work. For big-box companies, like HP or Dell, they set up ONE computer with a special CD-key (called a Manufacturer key), which is pre-activated, and that key will NOT activate another copy of Windows, even on the same computer. The recovery CD will put that key back in, activated, but if you install Windows from a CD, even the same edition, that key won't work. That is why they have the OEM key on the sticker on the bottom.
Dell Windows 7 Recovery Disk Iso Maker Free
Unless he/she reinstalled Windows MANUALLY using the sticker, the key finder method won't work. Unfortunately, I run into this a lot at work, so I would have to agree with @Greg about ordering the recovery CDs as the quickest and easiest route.