dell and microsoft product activation via microsoft Nationwide

hard drive went belly-up in Dell computer. install new harddrive and re-install the appropriate version of windows. Now the fun begins (product activation). 1st we try the easy way, use key from license stuck on computer. Oh NO, invalid product key. Call Microsoft (it is their activation processs after all). After over an hour with MS and multiple repeats of both the product key and installation ID, MS says call dell. 5 minutes with Dell, sevice tag not yours, no support for a product which they are calling a laptop (it's a desktop) and customer info not matching. At this point only alternate (if I want Windows) is re-purchase a copy at retail price.