Dell service tag = key?

[Rick Law]

I hope someone here can help.

To restore DELL (Latitude E6430) from Dell's downloaded OS image, one must enter the "service tag" number.  Would that be the same as the COA/CD Key or different?

I am considering a used Win7 Latitude E6430 on eBay.  I can describe the COA sticker and ask the seller if it is there; but I can't describe the tag number sticker (if any) - so I am not sure what to ask question to ask.

Thanks!

[RGB255_0_0]

Service tag is not COA. You should find it underneath the laptop, under the battery or in the BIOS/UEFI.

If the system is Windows 8 or newer there is no COA.

[stmdude]

The bottom of the laptop probably looks like this:
http://en.community.dell.com/cfs-file/__key/communityserver-discussions-components-files/3518/0083.LATITUDE.jpg
( That's an E6420, but it should look very similar )

The thin white sticker just above the red vertical arrow would be the service tag.

The bigger whiteish sticker under the battery is the COA.

However, when/if you get it, you can see the service-tag in the BIOS, or read it out from Windows, so I wouldn't be worried about it, even if the sticker would be missing.

[Rick Law]

Thank you both!

See the photo, I know exactly what to ask the seller!  Thanks.

[Electro Detective]

IIRC: If you go to Dell's support site and enter the service tag,

one of the page options displays how the machine was originally shipped with full specs,

and whether or not it had a Windows operating system, or meant to be run with a freebie Linux distro

[GreyWoolfe]

It also told DELL tier 2 support what components were used in the manufacture, such as which particular manufacturer/model number of LCD screen.  This was back from 1999 to 2004 when I was a certified DELL Systems Specialist doing warranty repairs.  I assume it wouldn't be any different now.

Reminds me of a large cable company sales exec who used someone else's service tag for a repair and was rather discomfited when I told him that the wrong LCD screen shipped because the wrong service tag was used and that it would take an additional 2 days to get the proper part and set an appointment.

[Rick Law]

Thanks guys!  Very useful info.

I have not used a "DELL" for a long time.  I decide to hit "buy now" on that DELL just to have a Win7 machine around...

[Electro Detective]

1. You will need a real deal Dell 7 OEM disc if you want auto activation via the Dell 7 SLIC, assuming it has one, 

2. otherwise if using just a generic 7 OEM disc, use the COA sticker key stuck somewhere on the laptop, install... then phone MS or activate online

3. If you're lucky there may be a hidden recovery partition on the Dell and you can do a clean install and instant activation with that,
no disc required, and no driver headaches 

All the above are legit methods IIRC, so no door knocks, suits, and helicoptors hovering overhead to worry about at 6 am 

Usually you can't go wrong with a Dell laptop,
batteries can be a coin toss sometimes, like all the brands

 

[rudika79]

Follow this instruction: https://techdoors.wordpress.com/2012/09/26/activating-windows-7-oem-way/ .

I managed to reinstall couple Dell machine which I bought from E-Bay. Even I can upgrade to Windows 10. I didn't have lucky to use the supplied COA sticker.

Rudolf