Windows XP License

[Waguih Boctor]

Hello,

I have a friend who's an MD who was given a PC by a pharmaceuticals services
company in return for keeping in regular communication with the
pharmaceutical companies that this company services. The PC was delivered by
the manufacturer to that company with Windows XP Pro, and the product key is
clearly printed on tha back of the computer. However the company, as they
have always done in the past, created a ghost image of the hard drive then
reformatted it and installed a special version of Windows 98 SE because that
is the version that their special software works with. Their software takes
over the PC and places severe restrictions on what the user can install,
uninstall or run on the computer.

This company had previously given this MD a older computer several years
ago, which originally had Windows 98 SE on it, but at the time their
software only worked with Windows 95, so again they created a ghost image of
98 SE and delivered to him 95 with their software. WHen the time came to
upgrade the computer to the new version of their software, they sent him a
recovery CD that had the ghost image of 98 SE. He ran the recovery and ended
up with a ful license Windows 98 SE that had originally been shipped with
the machine.

That's the background, here now is the problem.

This services company has gone out of business. The on-line services with
which the computer was primarily used are terminated. So he now owns a
computer with a legitimate Windows XP Pro license, but no Windows XP Pro
installed, and he does not have the CD nor the ghost image, and there is
nobody at the company anymore. How can he go about getting a replacement CD
from Microsoft if that's possible. He has no idea even who the computer
manufacturer is as the pharmaceuticals services company has always relabeled
these computers.

Thanks for any advice you can give us.

 

[John Ski]

Subject: Windows XP License

From: "Waguih Boctor" (e-mail address removed)
Date: 10/2/2003 1:50 PM Eastern Daylight Time
Message-id: <#[email protected]>

Hello,

I have a friend who's an MD who was given a PC by a pharmaceuticals services
company in return for keeping in regular communication with the
pharmaceutical companies that this company services. The PC was delivered by
the manufacturer to that company with Windows XP Pro, and the product key is
clearly printed on tha back of the computer. However the company, as they
have always done in the past, created a ghost image of the hard drive then
reformatted it and installed a special version of Windows 98 SE because that
is the version that their special software works with. Their software takes
over the PC and places severe restrictions on what the user can install,
uninstall or run on the computer.

This company had previously given this MD a older computer several years
ago, which originally had Windows 98 SE on it, but at the time their
software only worked with Windows 95, so again they created a ghost image of
98 SE and delivered to him 95 with their software. WHen the time came to
upgrade the computer to the new version of their software, they sent him a
recovery CD that had the ghost image of 98 SE. He ran the recovery and ended
up with a ful license Windows 98 SE that had originally been shipped with
the machine.

That's the background, here now is the problem.

This services company has gone out of business. The on-line services with
which the computer was primarily used are terminated. So he now owns a
computer with a legitimate Windows XP Pro license, but no Windows XP Pro
installed, and he does not have the CD nor the ghost image, and there is
nobody at the company anymore. How can he go about getting a replacement CD
from Microsoft if that's possible. He has no idea even who the computer
manufacturer is as the pharmaceuticals services company has always relabeled
these computers.

Thanks for any advice you can give us.

If the Product Key is, in fact, a valid, non OEM MS Product Key, he can use any
XP CD he wants to. There is nothing on an individual CD that ties it to a
specific Product Key.

HTH,
John
"Any sufficiently advanced technology is indistinguishable from magic"
***Arthur C. Clarke***

 

[Willit]

Well, he has the Key and that's 99.9% of what he needs.
Use a pro CD and use the key no big deal. The issue is
whether it's a volume license or a retail. Probably a
volume and they are easy to find.

 

[Tech]

The Microsoft Order Desk should be able to assist you with your issue.

They can be reached at 800-360-7561. Their hours of operation are Monday
through Friday 5am-7pm PST.

The Microsoft Order Desk can help you with the following types of

questions:

* Ordering replacement disks or parts

* Ordering supplemental parts (disk conversion)

* Ordering a replacement manual

* Ordering a service release or service pack

* Checking on the status of an order for any of these items

For your convenience, you may check the status of an order placed online at
http://status.microsoft.upgrade.com.

If you received your original software from the manufacturer of your

computer, please contact your original equipment manufacturer for

replacement disks and manuals.

 

[Tech]

The Microsoft Order Desk should be able to assist you with your issue.

They can be reached at 800-360-7561. Their hours of operation are Monday
through Friday 5am-7pm PST.

The Microsoft Order Desk can help you with the following types of

questions:

* Ordering replacement disks or parts

* Ordering supplemental parts (disk conversion)

* Ordering a replacement manual

* Ordering a service release or service pack

* Checking on the status of an order for any of these items

For your convenience, you may check the status of an order placed online at
http://status.microsoft.upgrade.com.

If you received your original software from the manufacturer of your

computer, please contact your original equipment manufacturer for

replacement disks and manuals.

 

[kurttrail]

Hello,

I have a friend who's an MD who was given a PC by a pharmaceuticals
services company in return for keeping in regular communication with
the pharmaceutical companies that this company services. The PC was
delivered by the manufacturer to that company with Windows XP Pro,
and the product key is clearly printed on tha back of the computer.
However the company, as they have always done in the past, created a
ghost image of the hard drive then reformatted it and installed a
special version of Windows 98 SE because that is the version that
their special software works with. Their software takes over the PC
and places severe restrictions on what the user can install,
uninstall or run on the computer.

This company had previously given this MD a older computer several
years ago, which originally had Windows 98 SE on it, but at the time
their software only worked with Windows 95, so again they created a
ghost image of 98 SE and delivered to him 95 with their software.
WHen the time came to upgrade the computer to the new version of
their software, they sent him a recovery CD that had the ghost image
of 98 SE. He ran the recovery and ended up with a ful license Windows
98 SE that had originally been shipped with the machine.

That's the background, here now is the problem.

This services company has gone out of business. The on-line services
with which the computer was primarily used are terminated. So he now
owns a computer with a legitimate Windows XP Pro license, but no
Windows XP Pro installed, and he does not have the CD nor the ghost
image, and there is nobody at the company anymore. How can he go
about getting a replacement CD from Microsoft if that's possible. He
has no idea even who the computer manufacturer is as the
pharmaceuticals services company has always relabeled these computers.

Thanks for any advice you can give us.

Forget all the BS you've gotten so far. What you need is an OEM copy of
XP Pro, as that is the only version that will work with the Product Key
that came originally with the computer. Borrow an OEM CD from a friend,
and burn a copy for your doctor friend. The license to run XP is tied
to the PK, not to the CD of XP. Doing it any other way will end up
costing big bucks, giving MS mo' money than they are entitled to.

--
Peace!
Kurt
Self-anointed Moderator
microscum.pubic.windowsexp.gonorrhea
http://microscum.com
"Trustworthy Computing" is only another example of an Oxymoron!
"Produkt-Aktivierung macht frei!"

 

[Steve C. Ray]

Since there is a sticker on the case, it sounds as if the computer was
initially set up with a OEM version of XP. If this is the case, the license
is for that copy of XP, on that computer only. The license can't be used on
any other installation of XP. And if it was OEM, Microsoft does not support
it, all support comes from the seller of the computer.