What to do with License sticker?

I have a dell's PC at home and I bought it as a second hand some time ago. Yesterday I noticed that it has got a sticker on it with WIN XPP key on it. I was wondering if I could still use that key and update my windows from Home to professional... I know I need a CD to install the Pro first but what if I get a cd from my friend and use my own key?

 

I'm not sure. I do know that CD keys used to work for various products, but I'm not sure if that's still in play. Secondly, with activation (unless you have a corporate or collegiate version), I would think that alone would make it pretty tough---assuming the key's been registered with MS---to make a jump from home to Pro.
I'm not sure, but that might violate the EULA too.

 

But why Dell attach those key with the systems?

 

So the key doesn't get lost, which I can see happening very easily.

 

I think the key on your dell would only work with Windows XP Pro OEM. So if your friend had the retail or corporate edition, it wouldn't work *i think*.

 

im sure that the keys supplied with ready made pc's only work with the win xp cds provided for that computer. so u can only use that key with a win xp cd that was made for dell. it wud have dell recovery cd or sumthing written on it

 

I recently installed XP from my mates CD with a CD on the back of an old PC..

I'm not sure about activation and stuff because the hard drive was broken and didnt start up, However it accepeted the key, I also know some people who have written the CD from school computers down and used that, And it worked fine.

 

ive tried many keys like that and none worked

 

Ok! because of the EULA, I will not touch that key as I dont want to stuck in any case just because of these silly things......

 

Good idea.