Hardware/Software Question Please

[Bob Newman]

(This was also posted to the "laptop" newsgroup)

I am purchasing a Compaq CPQ R3140US laptop that comes standard with XP home
version. I am a registered owner of the full version of XP Pro & would like
to reformat and install it. Compaq tells me that even if I have any
necessary drivers I would have to purchase the XP Pro from them as it is
"tweaked" for their laptop and my standard XP Pro would not run properly. I
am a novice in such matters but it sounds screwy to me and it think they may
just trying to make a sale of the software. Does such a thing sound
plausible or am I being scammed?

 

[Jean]

I am purchasing a Compaq CPQ R3140US laptop that comes standard with XP home
version. I am a registered owner of the full version of XP Pro & would like
to reformat and install it. Compaq tells me that even if I have any
necessary drivers I would have to purchase the XP Pro from them as it is
"tweaked" for their laptop and my standard XP Pro would not run properly. I
am a novice in such matters but it sounds screwy to me and it think they may
just trying to make a sale of the software. Does such a thing sound
plausible or am I being scammed?

That's the problem with Compaq ... you never know if your own windows will
work on it.
I can't remember if I EVER installed a win on compaq without problems.
As they said: drivers. That's probably the most important problem I think


You can always try to install it, and see. Compaq gives a recover CD for
when the whole software got scr*wed up ...

Good luck ;-)

J.

 

[CBFalconer]

I am purchasing a Compaq CPQ R3140US laptop that comes standard
with XP home version. I am a registered owner of the full
version of XP Pro & would like to reformat and install it.
Compaq tells me that even if I have any necessary drivers I
would have to purchase the XP Pro from them as it is "tweaked"
for their laptop and my standard XP Pro would not run properly.
I am a novice in such matters but it sounds screwy to me and it
think they may just trying to make a sale of the software.
Does such a thing sound plausible or am I being scammed?

Why don't you buy it without the XP. Microsoft is no longer able
to enforce the Windoze sale with each machine, and if your issue
doesn't work you can always buy it later. Or you could install a
real OS, such as Linux.

This will also avoid your being supplied with a 'restore' CD,
which doesn't have the complete installable OS, but has various
Compaq/HP peculiar nonsense. The other thing it will avoid (the
Linux choice) is the insufferable MS license (EULA), which allows
them to supervise you and your data at their choice, and to insist
on your buying upgrades at any time.

 

[kony]

(This was also posted to the "laptop" newsgroup)

I am purchasing a Compaq CPQ R3140US laptop that comes standard with XP home
version. I am a registered owner of the full version of XP Pro & would like
to reformat and install it. Compaq tells me that even if I have any
necessary drivers I would have to purchase the XP Pro from them as it is
"tweaked" for their laptop and my standard XP Pro would not run properly. I
am a novice in such matters but it sounds screwy to me and it think they may
just trying to make a sale of the software. Does such a thing sound
plausible or am I being scammed?

As a prospective customer, you should be demanding to know what is
necessary to get the laptop to work with retail XP, exactly what
"tweaked" means... they'd better know or else how the he!! are they
supposed to be supporting their products? Perhaps they've taken the
attitude that any user problem is an occasion to pop in the restoration CD
and wipe out everything on the partition to restore the factory image...
it's cheaper for them but costs you much time and potentially data.

If they won't provide this info, move on to another make.

 

[Bob Newman]

Do Toshia and HP (I assume) do this also?

Bob

As a prospective customer, you should be demanding to know what is
necessary to get the laptop to work with retail XP, exactly what
"tweaked" means... they'd better know or else how the he!! are they
supposed to be supporting their products? Perhaps they've taken the
attitude that any user problem is an occasion to pop in the restoration CD
and wipe out everything on the partition to restore the factory image...
it's cheaper for them but costs you much time and potentially data.

If they won't provide this info, move on to another make.

 

[Jean]

Why don't you buy it without the XP. Microsoft is no longer able
to enforce the Windoze sale with each machine, and if your issue
doesn't work you can always buy it later. Or you could install a
real OS, such as Linux.

I would install FreeBSD then ;-)

This will also avoid your being supplied with a 'restore' CD,
which doesn't have the complete installable OS, but has various
Compaq/HP peculiar nonsense. The other thing it will avoid (the
Linux choice) is the insufferable MS license (EULA), which allows
them to supervise you and your data at their choice, and to insist
on your buying upgrades at any time.

But for that too ... the main problem is "strange drivers"

 

[DaveW]

It's possible that you would be missing the hardware drivers for some of the
components in the laptop if you install a standard copy of XP Pro. And
they, good corporation that they are, are under no requirement to provide
the drivers to you, saying that you are using non-approved software with
your laptop. Not very nice, is it.

 

[Trent©]

(This was also posted to the "laptop" newsgroup)

I am purchasing a Compaq CPQ R3140US laptop that comes standard with XP home
version. I am a registered owner of the full version of XP Pro & would like
to reformat and install it. Compaq tells me that even if I have any
necessary drivers I would have to purchase the XP Pro from them as it is
"tweaked" for their laptop and my standard XP Pro would not run properly. I
am a novice in such matters but it sounds screwy to me and it think they may
just trying to make a sale of the software. Does such a thing sound
plausible or am I being scammed?

Sounds KINDA plausible...because of some of the software they
install...plus some of the drivers.

Why not just upgrade over the original install? That might avoid 90%
or so of the problems that you might have.

Anyway...good luck.


Have a nice week...

Trent©

Follow Joan Rivers' example --- get pre-embalmed!

 

[Bob Newman]

I have the full version. I'm not sure but I don't think it will just
upgrade.

Bob

 

[kony]

Do Toshia and HP (I assume) do this also?

Bob

I don't know, nor known what "tweaked" means for the purpose of this
thread.

Likely Compaq has not supplied a full set of drivers, a situation I'd
never advise a system to be bought under. You might contact Toshia and HP
and inquire whether they provide the full set of XP drivers needed,
seperate from a factory restore image.

Something else to consider is that you may've been talking to a level 1
tech or salesperson who's never even touched the particular notebook
you're looking at buying, or, LOL, these days they may've never even been
within 2000 miles of one. You might check Compaq's website for the
product support section, see what's available so far as manual and driver
downloads, and likewise check other manufacturer's sites for their product
support.

You might also find more info about specifics of installing a standard
Windows XP on a Compaq (or other brand) laptop in brand-specific
newsgroup.

 

[xoom]

(This was also posted to the "laptop" newsgroup)

I am purchasing a Compaq CPQ R3140US laptop that comes standard with XP home
version. I am a registered owner of the full version of XP Pro & would like
to reformat and install it. Compaq tells me that even if I have any
necessary drivers I would have to purchase the XP Pro from them as it is
"tweaked" for their laptop and my standard XP Pro would not run properly. I
am a novice in such matters but it sounds screwy to me and it think they may
just trying to make a sale of the software. Does such a thing sound
plausible or am I being scammed?

guess you can install the xp pro u have. its sudn't hurt.

 

[Noozer]

"Bob Newman" <[email protected]> wrote in message

You are being scammed... I'd report the salesman to his manager.

BUT... If you have XP Pro already installed on a different machine then you
can't legally install it onto a second machine.