I wonder if somebody can help me. My Inspiron 17-3721 laptop with Windows 7 Professional was sent to the Dell Repair Depot because its touchpad broke. The repair went fine, but my laptop was returned to me without the labels which were on the top and reverse sides of the palm rest (i.e. the battery compartment). The Windows Certificate of Authenticity, "Windows 7" sticker, Intel sticker, etc., are all missing. My best guess is that they were thrown out at the Depot along with the palm rest which they were attached to.
I have now spent over two months in discussions with Dell Technical Support, trying to get at least my Windows Certificate of Authenticity back - or have it replaced with a new one. I believe it is important to have this certificate, for many reasons. Dell insists that I can get the COA numbers through a program like NirSoft ProduKey. I don't believe that to be true, since my operating system was installed by Dell. The key finder software would only detect the generic Dell product key, wouldn't it? Dell is offering to send me a blank "replacement COA" with the key found by the software written on it. Am I correct in thinking that this would be the wrong product key? Their only other option, they say, is to replace my laptop, but, according to Dell, the replacement Windows 7 system would probably have no COA on it. Replacing a laptop without a COA with another Windows 7 laptop without a COA sounds silly to me. Then there is the matter of having to do an awful lot of work transferring all my stuff to a different computer, possibly losing the warranty which I have paid for, and potentially getting a second-hand laptop. I simply have no idea what kind of computer I would be sent. They can't tell me what model it would be, for example. Under those circumstances, I can't agree to return my current laptop to Dell. I haven't been able to convince Dell that the key finder software is coming up with the wrong key, despite sending them links to articles, examples, and so on. I have sent Technical Support links to Microsoft's OEM Partner Center, where there is advice on replacing COA's. Still, Technical Support tells me that there is nothing more they can do.
This is an open case, so I have been hesitant to involve others, until now. I felt that the team deserved the chance to do their very best. Now it seems we have reached the end of the road. Am I understanding the issue correctly? What can I advise Dell's Technical Support to do if they want to replace my COA with a new one? Perhaps they would do it if they knew exactly what steps to take. Your ideas and advice are much appreciated.