PCWORLD XP CDs

  • Thread starter Thread starter swagman
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swagman

Good morning,

I recently bought a PC from PCworld that in cluded in the price an
installed version of XP home editiom. No OS CDs were supplied with
machine although instructions on how to create a "recovery disk" were.

Do I have the right to insist on their supplying me with the XP CDs?

Cheers
 
swagman said:
Good morning,

I recently bought a PC from PCworld that in cluded in the price an
installed version of XP home editiom. No OS CDs were supplied with
machine although instructions on how to create a "recovery disk" were.

Do I have the right to insist on their supplying me with the XP CDs?

Cheers
Click to expand...

I would follow the instructions to see what kind of recovery disk is
created. But dammit, they should just supply you with one.
 
I would follow the instructions to see what kind of recovery disk is
created. But dammit, they should just supply you with one.
Click to expand...

Thanks for the reply, I've followed PCWorld's instructions for creating
a recovery disk, but like you, I feel that if I've paid for XP I am
entitled to the actual CD that contains the software.
 
Thanks for the reply, I've followed PCWorld's instructions for creating
a recovery disk, but like you, I feel that if I've paid for XP I am
entitled to the actual CD that contains the software.
Click to expand...

No you're not. All the OEM has to do in order to fulfil its contractual
obligations to Microsoft is to provide you with a method of returning your
machine to the factory-gate condition......
that's one of the reasons why OEM software is so much cheaper......
 
Thanks Gordon,

It seems my one remaining hope is for someone to expose you as an
employee of PCWorld.

Cheers
 
I know what you mean mate. But like gordon said aslong as they supply you
with a method of restoring your system they are ok.

Nothing better than a nice shiney cd to add to your collection
 
swagman said:
Thanks Gordon,

It seems my one remaining hope is for someone to expose you as an
employee of PCWorld.

Cheers
Click to expand...

What PCWorld does and what HP/Dell/Emachines, et al also do is common
nowadays and it sucks big time. Next time, get yourself a white box with
a copy of XP that doesn't have PCWorld/HP/Dell/Emachines, et al's junk
on it.

Personally, if I were you, I would purchase a generic XP OEM, wipe the
PCWorld's hard drive to get rid of all the crap they put there and do a
clean install.

Alias
 
hehe, no I don't work for PCWORLD. Like Alias said it might be worth getting
a copy of XP Home and reloading that cause they stick SO much crap on the
systems.
 
swagman said:
Cheers,

Why do they do this, the cost of supplying a cd must only be a few
pence.
Click to expand...

Faster and cheaper, not to mention the total lack of regard for their
paying customers.

I won't buy a brand name computer. The last time I did that was an HP
who had removed one of the ram slots on the ASUS motherboard and tweaked
it so that it can't take any more than 256 MB RAM. The DVD player didn't
work but, because I had taken them up on their offer for Windows ME,
they said I was out of warranty due to the OS change and the coupon for
Windows Me came with the computer! So, I wiped the disk and installed a
generic XP OEM and it runs better than it ever did with the HP recovery
disc.

Alias
 
swagman said:
Cheers,

Why do they do this, the cost of supplying a cd must only be a few
pence.
Click to expand...

It's more than a few pence. XP cd's can only be officially duplicated by a
special process. Probably would cost them 50 pence. There's also some added
costs in packaging, actually stuffing the cd's into the box with the pc etc.
I don't know how many pc's they sell but say 20,000 a year and it's a
significant savings. The real cost saver comes with their tech support. If
they can't solve your problem in five minutes or less they will tell you to
restore to the factory configuration which will wipe out everything on your
hard drive. Next time you buy a pc think about why the cheap ones are cheap
and do some comparison shopping :-)
 
swagman said:
I recently bought a PC from PCworld that in cluded in the price an
installed version of XP home editiom. No OS CDs were supplied with
machine although instructions on how to create a "recovery disk" were.

Do I have the right to insist on their supplying me with the XP CDs?
Click to expand...

Yes.
 
swagman said:
Thanks for the reply, I've followed PCWorld's instructions for creating
a recovery disk, but like you, I feel that if I've paid for XP I am
entitled to the actual CD that contains the software.
Click to expand...

Agreed.
 
Thanks for the reply, I've followed PCWorld's instructions for creating
a recovery disk, but like you, I feel that if I've paid for XP I am
entitled to the actual CD that contains the software.
Click to expand...

Then why didn't you insist on it when you took delivery? If mail
order, you'll probably have to pay them for one at this point.
 
swagman said:
Good morning,

I recently bought a PC from PCworld that in cluded in the price an
installed version of XP home editiom. No OS CDs were supplied with
machine although instructions on how to create a "recovery disk" were.

Do I have the right to insist on their supplying me with the XP CDs?
Click to expand...

Not really. What you had a "right" (and, in point of fact, a
responsibility) to do was to ensure that the terms of the purchase, to
include the type of recovery mechanism, met with your needs *before*
making the purchase. Many's the time I've laughed in a salesman's face
and told him "No full installation CD, no sale." I invariably follow
this statement by leaving the store and seeking out one of that vendor's
competitors.

Legally, the OEM has met it's contractual obligation to Microsoft
by providing a means of returning the PC to its ex-factory state,
whether it's a Recovery CD or a Recovery Partition. They are not
legally obliged to provide a true installation CD as part of the sale.
Reputable, customer-service aware OEMs, like Dell, MPC, and Gateway, do
provide a full OEM installation CD, that does permit custom
installations and repairs. Many uncaring OEMs, especially those who
sell their computers through department stores and chain outlets, such
as Compaq, HP, eMachines, and Sony, however, in an effort to save
pennies and reduce their support costs by having to hire support people
that can only say "Boot from the Recovery CD to return your PC to its
original condition," provide only a CD bearing a disk image of the hard
drive as it left the factory. These Recovery/Restore CDs cannot perform
normal installations, nor can they be used to do any sort of customizations.

Essentially, it boils down to "You get what you pay for."


--

Bruce Chambers

Help us help you:



They that can give up essential liberty to obtain a little temporary
safety deserve neither liberty nor safety. -Benjamin Franklin

Is life so dear or peace so sweet as to be purchased at the price of
chains and slavery? .... I know not what course others may take, but as
for me, give me liberty, or give me death! -Patrick Henry
 
Faster and cheaper, not to mention the total lack of regard for their
paying customers.
Click to expand...
And obviously encouraged by Microsoft as they allow it in their agreement
with these manufacturers. Just another way Microsoft "cares" for its
customers.



--
From a Wintard helping another Wintard with his Windoze Problem:
"You might also want to try one of the numerous EXCELLENT
registry cleaners, and perhaps a ram washer."
View Some Common Linux Desktops ...
http://linclips.crocusplains.com/index.php
 
Alias said:
Not really. White boxes are cheaper than the HP/Dell/Packard Bell
computers.

Alias
Click to expand...


Sometimes, but not always. The smaller vendors can't buy components in
the volume that the larger OEMs can use, so they very often have higher
costs to pass along.


--

Bruce Chambers

Help us help you:



They that can give up essential liberty to obtain a little temporary
safety deserve neither liberty nor safety. -Benjamin Franklin

Is life so dear or peace so sweet as to be purchased at the price of
chains and slavery? .... I know not what course others may take, but as
for me, give me liberty, or give me death! -Patrick Henry
 
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