installing a new hard drive

[Sparky]

I have windows xp preloaded by Time Computers. I have a faulty hard drive and
require to reinstall xp home on this. Time Computers went bust and the name
taken over by another company. Will Microsoft supply a disk for doing this as
I paid for and have a geniune licence?

 

[Alias]

I have windows xp preloaded by Time Computers. I have a faulty hard drive and
require to reinstall xp home on this. Time Computers went bust and the name
taken over by another company. Will Microsoft supply a disk for doing this as
I paid for and have a geniune licence?

Nope, they sure won't. The OEM who bought Time Computers is responsible
for that. If they refuse, your only alternatives are to buy XP again or
install something like Ubuntu, www.ubuntu.com, which is free. If you buy
XP again, you will also have to download the drivers for your
motherboard, video card and audio card. With Ubuntu, not necessary.

Alias

 

[Sparky]

Many Thanks foryour reply. It is very much appreciated. Thankyou.
I noticed this website and they claim to supply for Time Computers. Are they
legit?

 

[DL]

I dont know about that specific site, you can in anycase source legit,
generic OEM cd's from may places, not least Ebay - provided you check the
seller - also your local PC shop may provide you with a Generic WinXp cd -
provided you have the origonal Key, which is usually located on the back of
your PC

 

[Sparky]

ah So any wWindows xp home disk will do as long as I use my own key.
That is a good idea. Thanks.
I emailed Microsoft and await a reply as I feel they should supply (even for
a small charge) as licence was paid for.
Wonder how this would stand leagally if they refused and I challenged?

 

[HeyBub]

Nope, they sure won't. The OEM who bought Time Computers is
responsible for that. If they refuse, your only alternatives are to
buy XP again or install something like Ubuntu, www.ubuntu.com, which
is free. If you buy XP again, you will also have to download the
drivers for your motherboard, video card and audio card. With Ubuntu,
not necessary.

But Ubuntu is NOT Windows XP.

If someone has a flat tire on a Chevrolet, telling them to spend their time
with a playground slide is not helpful at all.

Not at all.

 

[Colin Barnhorst]

According to:
http://support.microsoft.com/kb/326246/en-us

You can order a replacement OEM cd:

"End-User Media Replacement Form
If you purchased your software from a System Builder who is no longer in
business, you can complete the End-User Media Replacement Form and submit
the form by e-mail or by fax. Be aware that there is a $30.00 U.S. charge
for media replacement. Shipping costs, handling fees, and applicable taxes
may apply. To submit a media replacement form, follow these steps:
United States, Canada, Latin America, or South Americaa. To download the
End User Media Replacement Form, visit the following Web site:
http://download.microsoft.com/download/b/a/b/babc90a1-b794-4a94-84f5-cbc37827ddca/Americas
End User Media Replacement Form.doc
(http://download.microsoft.com/download/b/a/b/babc90a1-b794-4a94-84f5-cbc37827ddca/americas
end user media replacement form.doc)
b. Submit the media replacement form by e-mail to
(e-mail address removed) or by fax to (661) 244-4401."

 

[Alias]

But Ubuntu is NOT Windows XP.

No, it's better.

If someone has a flat tire on a Chevrolet, telling them to spend their time
with a playground slide is not helpful at all.

When someone has a flat tire with a Chevrolet, I'll keep that in mind.

Not at all.

My suggestion would help the OP solve his problem. No matter how you
slice it or post irrelevant apple/orange analogies, that *is* helpful. I
also suggested he could buy XP and download the drivers if that's the
route he wanted to take.

Alias

 

[Patrick Keenan]

ah So any wWindows xp home disk will do as long as I use my own key.
That is a good idea. Thanks.

Sorry, but it's not a good idea because it isn't true.

Product keys have a scope that is limited to disks of a specific type. OEM
CDs will not work with retail keys, and retail CDs don't work with OEM keys.

I emailed Microsoft and await a reply as I feel they should supply (even
for
a small charge) as licence was paid for.

You can feel that if you like, but it's unlikely they will share your
feeling. OEM versions are cheaper because the manufacturer has full
responsibility for support.

Wonder how this would stand leagally if they refused and I challenged?

How this would stand is that you'd waste time and money.

Your legal beef is not with Microsoft, it's with the system vendor, who was
obliged to provide you with some sort of reinstall method. If they didn't,
it's not MS's fault. Put another way, your contract was not with MS, it
was with the system vendor.

Your worst-case scenario now is that you would have to buy a new retail or
OEM XP license. This will probably cost at most $150. $150 doesn't get
very far when applied towards legal costs.

Do be careful purchasing from online resellers. We regularly see here
people who have purchased on eBay only to find that they can't activate the
product, and have no recourse. I would personally only buy a replacement
license from a physical store I can go back to.

HTH
-pk

 

[demdike]

The product key on the side of the machine will allow you to install
an OEM version of Windows XP. If you borrow an XP OEM disk from
someone and use your own key, it will work. Some manufacturer's OEM
keys (eg Dell) won't work this way, but Time's will. The only thing to
watch out for is that the most recent batch of XP OEM disks use a
different key sequence and won't work - they are the Service Pack 2c
variant. Earlier ones WILL work.
You will still have to download the drivers though afterwards
Using a Time recovery CD won't work because the image was on the hard
drive: all the CD did was unlock the image
Finally the company listed above selling the recovery disks are NOT
selling authentic Time disks, nor are they licenced to do so. Even if
you could get an original Time disk it wont work for the reason given
above. Borrow an OEM CD and isntall from that - you ARE legally
licenced as long as the OEM sticker is still on the machine
Demdike