Unfortunately the OP was sent a Vista upgrade.
The sticker was probably on the shrink-wrap which is normal.
And it seems the OP threw away the shrink-wrap.

--
Jupiter Jones [MVP]
http://www3.telus.net/dandemar
http://www.dts-l.org


"john" wrote in message
...
"bgosper" wrote in message
...
I BOUGHT A DELL pc. It came with a free upgrade to Vista when it
came out. I
received the upgrade pack from Dell but there was no product key or
it got
thrown out--it came shrink wrapped on a piece of cardboard!! I have
done the
install but now am stuck because it wants the product key to
continue. I
can't reverse it so the PC is basically useless. What do I do??
Dell says I
am screwed basically. Can I get it back? If not how do I get
another one? Do
I have to buy a new full edition??


are you sure you threw it out?
you didn't say if this was a laptop or a desktop, but regardless,
the last couple of Dells I purchased both had the Product Key on a
sticker on the PC itself - in my case, laptops had a sticker on the
bottom...

the Dell upgrade DVD comes in a paper sleeve, shrink wrapped to a piece of
cardboard. The new sticker (product key) is on the cardboard so you can
remove it and affix it to the bottom of the computer once the upgrade is
done. Your original materials that came with your computer will include a
way to restore your PC to factory state (i.e. revert back to the original
install of XP that came on your PC.) If you've thrown out the packaging
from your upgrade disk then unless you can convince someone at Dell to give
you a new key (Very unlikely) then you've probably screwed up your free
upgrade.


"bgosper" wrote in message
...
I BOUGHT A DELL pc. It came with a free upgrade to Vista when it came out.
I
received the upgrade pack from Dell but there was no product key or it got
thrown out--it came shrink wrapped on a piece of cardboard!! I have done
the
install but now am stuck because it wants the product key to continue. I
can't reverse it so the PC is basically useless. What do I do?? Dell says
I
am screwed basically. Can I get it back? If not how do I get another one?
Do
I have to buy a new full edition??

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"bgosper" wrote:

I BOUGHT A DELL pc. It came with a free upgrade to Vista when it came out. I
received the upgrade pack from Dell but there was no product key or it got
thrown out--it came shrink wrapped on a piece of cardboard!! I have done the
install but now am stuck because it wants the product key to continue. I
can't reverse it so the PC is basically useless. What do I do?? Dell says I
am screwed basically. Can I get it back? If not how do I get another one? Do
I have to buy a new full edition??

Do you have trial access to Vista?
Try installing a diagnostic like Lavalys' Everest and the Software page will
read you your key for that product.


"bgosper" wrote:

I BOUGHT A DELL pc. It came with a free upgrade to Vista when it came out. I
received the upgrade pack from Dell but there was no product key or it got
thrown out--it came shrink wrapped on a piece of cardboard!! I have done the
install but now am stuck because it wants the product key to continue. I
can't reverse it so the PC is basically useless. What do I do?? Dell says I
am screwed basically. Can I get it back? If not how do I get another one? Do
I have to buy a new full edition??

My thoughts exactly (well, almost, I recommended Everest...but this is much
cheaper). Good call, Rich.

"Rich Elgin" wrote:

Go to this link http://www.belarc.com/free_download.html and download and
run this Belarc Advisor.
It will give you a list of all your hardware and software installed on your
system.
In the software section it will display your Vista product ID and Key.

Rich
"bgosper" wrote in message
...
I BOUGHT A DELL pc. It came with a free upgrade to Vista when it came out.
I
received the upgrade pack from Dell but there was no product key or it got
thrown out--it came shrink wrapped on a piece of cardboard!! I have done
the
install but now am stuck because it wants the product key to continue. I
can't reverse it so the PC is basically useless. What do I do?? Dell says
I
am screwed basically. Can I get it back? If not how do I get another one?
Do
I have to buy a new full edition??

Paste the product key sticker onto your PC tower, so you can easily access
it.

"warn8r" wrote in message
...
My thoughts exactly (well, almost, I recommended Everest...but this is
much
cheaper). Good call, Rich.

"Rich Elgin" wrote:

Go to this link http://www.belarc.com/free_download.html and download and
run this Belarc Advisor.
It will give you a list of all your hardware and software installed on
your
system.
In the software section it will display your Vista product ID and Key.

Rich
"bgosper" wrote in message
...
I BOUGHT A DELL pc. It came with a free upgrade to Vista when it came
out.
I
received the upgrade pack from Dell but there was no product key or it
got
thrown out--it came shrink wrapped on a piece of cardboard!! I have
done
the
install but now am stuck because it wants the product key to continue.
I
can't reverse it so the PC is basically useless. What do I do?? Dell
says
I
am screwed basically. Can I get it back? If not how do I get another
one?
Do
I have to buy a new full edition??

If he got an upgrade mailed to him it is on the package no on the computer.

"Frank Saunders, MS-MVP OE/WM" wrote:

"bgosper" wrote in message
...
I BOUGHT A DELL pc. It came with a free upgrade to Vista when it came out.
I
received the upgrade pack from Dell but there was no product key or it got
thrown out--it came shrink wrapped on a piece of cardboard!! I have done
the
install but now am stuck because it wants the product key to continue. I
can't reverse it so the PC is basically useless. What do I do?? Dell says
I
am screwed basically. Can I get it back? If not how do I get another one?
Do
I have to buy a new full edition??

Is the product key not on a label on the side of the computer (bottom if
it's a laptop)?

--
Frank Saunders, MS-MVP OE/WM
http://www.fjsmjs.com

First of all the upgrade is sent out by Moduslink second it is sent out in a
casing that looks like a CD comes with and the PK on it with the direction
for the costemer to take it of and stick to the computer. not a plastic and
card board .That is how I recived my upgrade.

"warn8r" wrote:

Do you have trial access to Vista?
Try installing a diagnostic like Lavalys' Everest and the Software page will
read you your key for that product.


"bgosper" wrote:

I BOUGHT A DELL pc. It came with a free upgrade to Vista when it came out. I
received the upgrade pack from Dell but there was no product key or it got
thrown out--it came shrink wrapped on a piece of cardboard!! I have done the
install but now am stuck because it wants the product key to continue. I
can't reverse it so the PC is basically useless. What do I do?? Dell says I
am screwed basically. Can I get it back? If not how do I get another one? Do
I have to buy a new full edition??

"bgosper" wrote:

I BOUGHT A DELL pc. It came with a free upgrade to Vista when it came out. I
received the upgrade pack from Dell but there was no product key or it got
thrown out--it came shrink wrapped on a piece of cardboard!! I have done the
install but now am stuck because it wants the product key to continue. I
can't reverse it so the PC is basically useless. What do I do?? Dell says I
am screwed basically. Can I get it back? If not how do I get another one? Do
I have to buy a new full edition??

"bgosper" wrote:

I BOUGHT A DELL pc. It came with a free upgrade to Vista when it came out. I
received the upgrade pack from Dell but there was no product key or it got
thrown out--it came shrink wrapped on a piece of cardboard!! I have done the
install but now am stuck because it wants the product key to continue. I
can't reverse it so the PC is basically useless. What do I do?? Dell says I
am screwed basically. Can I get it back? If not how do I get another one? Do
I have to buy a new full edition??

I had exactly the same thing happen---only I did not throw away my product
key, Dell sent me the incorrect one. I too got locked out of my computer, it
telling me my originally installed Vista Home Premium -- that was on it when
they sent it -- was an illigal version. I called 800-microsoft, who then
gave me the number to the server for my area. Believe it or not, though I
was prepared for a fight, the guy on the other end of the phone was very
courteous, apolegetic, and helpful. My vista premium is back up, and since I
didn't feel like dealing with the upgrade anymore last night I still don't
have ultimate, but he assured me that all I have to do is call back and they
will find the correct product key then walk me through it. I asked him to
write to you but unfortunately he was in an inbound call center. Microsoft
has a dept. dedicated just to this problem. I was scared to death when I
read all of this stuff, thank goodness ms stands behind their product!