When you buy Microsoft Windows, you don't really get it (Vanity)

Self | 4/18/2007 | Self

[TomGuy]

I believe MS codes the install discs and product keys so the OEM must match.

When I bought the MS XP SP2 disk, I told the local computer store guy that I really needed SP1 because of some hw/sw conflicts with SP2. He agreed to burn me an SP1 disk for $5, since I was buying SP2 at full price. He told me the SP2 serial/authorization would work on both disks.

[BearCub]

So make a copy of someone else's CD. That's perfectly legal as long as you have a license for that version of Windows.

I see your point, though. Very irritating.

[TChris]

When I bought the MS XP SP2 disk, I told the local computer store guy that I really needed SP1 because of some hw/sw conflicts with SP2. He agreed to burn me an SP1 disk for $5, since I was buying SP2 at full price. He told me the SP2 serial/authorization would work on both disks.

Yeah, that makes sense. SP1 and SP2 aren't different versions or anything.

Actually, that would make sense for a change in copyright law. A license for a product should automatically be a license for any prior version of the same product instead. That way, if I pay for Windows Vista, it should be legal to dump it and use XP instead, with the same license, as long at that license for Vista isn't being used anywhere. That would be a nice option, IMO.

[scottdeus12]

GET A MAC DUDE!! THEY ROCK!!! I was a windows guy in my previous life, an since I've owned a few Macs, I will NEVER go back to PC's.

[TChris]

So make a copy of someone else's CD. That's perfectly legal as long as you have a license for that version of Windows.

Read my previous posts.

I don't think anything but an Acer disc would work with the Acer product key. (The Windows Legal product key sticker actually has Acer's name on it too.)

Microsoft doesn't want me to use any other disc.

My only option is to pay for Windows twice and buy an OEM Windows XP MCE2005 disc online.

[Abby4116]

I just bought a new HP laptop (with vista) and the restore partition on the disk is NTFS and 6.6 gb. The C drive is 105 gb. (Advertised total drive 120)

The last laptop I bought that came with full Windows disks was a 486 omnibook with Windows 95. Thinkpad, Dell and this HP all have their own OEM disks.

[Liaison]

I had the same problem with a Sony Viao. The OS crashed do to a recommended update by Microsoft to load roll-up 2 for Microsoft programs for MS Media edition 2005. Later I found out AFTER the crash, from deep within Microsoft FAQ files, that i should not have loaded the roll-up on a Sony Viao for it would do that (lost the use of all my optical drives). All i could get from Sony was a “ghost” copy of the OS to reset my new hard drive to factory spec from a year and a half ago.

!!!What’s pissing me off is that I now have to use roll-up 2 to load media player 11. the same set of programs that killed my comp in the first place!!!!

[EagleUSA]

But a system restore disc is not the same as the actual Windows disc.

---

Of course it is not. We know that. But most licensed OEMs can only furnish a restore disk, and not an actual retail install disk. The only place I have seen that is if you buy a locally assembled computer and as part of the deal, you get an OEM retail install disk. Otherwise for buyers of Toshiba, Sony etc, you just get a restore disk because that is the way they are licensed by MS and well as a way to ensure you have any proprietary drivers needed for things like touch pads, etc.

[Abby4116]

My only option is to pay for Windows twice and buy an OEM Windows XP MCE2005 disc online. I believe you can buy an XP upgrade disk and do a clean install (not OEM). A new license comes with the upgrade disk.

[LiveFree99]

Last year I bought a new Dell desktop and they did provide the Windows installation disk. I needed it when my hard drive crapped out a couple months after purchase (Dell replaced it F.O.C.) and I had to install Windows on the new drive.

[TChris]

!!!What’s pissing me off is that I now have to use roll-up 2 to load media player 11. the same set of programs that killed my comp in the first place!!!!

When Microsoft says it cares about its customers, they aren't talking about you and me.

Corporations with a billion in annual revenues probably get their attention, but not end users.

[TonyM]

It is all about squeezing every penny of profit they can out of a PC sale. This means sneaking in the cheapest parts they can to unknowledgeable consumers. They put in cheap and inadequate power supplies, slow memory, non-upgradable motherboards, and so on, whatever they feel they can get away with. They all do it, Dell, Gateway, and others. I have also found it better in the long run to build my own. I know some would be afraid to try to build their first PC, but it is not nearly as hard as you may think and it is much easier than it was only a few years ago. There are all kinds of helpful “how to” articles to help guide you through the process. This way you get to research and select each component yourself. You also purchase your own full copy of the operating system. I hear a lot of people remark that you don’t save any money building your own PC. They are correct, but that is not the point. The point is you end up with a much better PC, rather than a box of cheap parts.

As far as laptops go, just as someone suggested, just figure in the cost of buying a full OS and install in over the one that comes on the laptop. From my experience they always load a bunch of pre-installed garbage anyway and that is a good way to clean it and start with a totally clean system.

[Blue Highway]

There is a way to burn a bootable CD from a fresh OS install with the recovery CD IIRC.

[SealSeven]

Norton GoBack. The best recovery pgm out there IMO.

[ShadowAce]

Check this out

[NoDRodee]

Been working on an Apple laptop for the 1st time this week, doing an DB for a fiend with Filemaker pro. I really like that Apple so much nicer then the Dell I own. Next computer I go with will be an Apple.

I’m tiered of MS, Vista is a big flop, what they offer on Vista is nothing, upgrade just to upgrade!

[rdb3]

That reminds me of the old Win98 trick with the *.cab files.

[doodad]

I think you meant to address someone else, but all your info is good. I even get laptops at local shops so I can control the content/parts

[an amused spectator]

I'm with you. I've been struggling with bloatware problems relating to copier/printer/scanners in Windows. I tried to print off a one page document the other day and after 20 minutes, I was able to get HP 1510 all-in-one to puke out my page.

It's not like I was my mainframe shop's personal printer guy for 11 years or anything like that (making sure that several hundred users could print from our system).

Maybe I need to put in another 4-5 years in the position.

What the hell do freaking computer civilians do?!!?

I'm going to seriously start working with Linux.

[webboy45]

I bought a Dell XPS system and it came with the Windows XP installation disk. The system died a few days ago, still under warranty. Dell sent a new motherboard and someone to install it. But the new motherboard didn’t completely fix the problem. So Dell support says they’ll send me a brand new replacement computer if I want. It came with Vista, and it has the Vista installation disk as well. BTW, because they had to send a Vista machine they upgraded my memory from 512 MB to 2GB free of charge. This is the 8th computer my family has bought from Dell, and only one complaint (a network card they wouldn’t replace).