Question about "no Win XP CD is supplied" and my rights?

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Guest

Ok, I'm not certain whether this is the place to ask, but...

I recently purchased a Hi-Grade PC through Littlewoods.com, and although
Windows XP HE is pre-installed and available on a "recovery partion" on the
HDD, no CD is supplied at all.

I find this very unsatisfactory, as I've paid for Windows XP as part of the
PC package.

I'd like to ask for advice on whether I have any rights to demand an actual
Windows XP CD?

Thanks!
 
Captain said:
Ok, I'm not certain whether this is the place to ask, but...
Click to expand...

Yes, it's a good place.
I recently purchased a Hi-Grade PC through Littlewoods.com, and although
Windows XP HE is pre-installed and available on a "recovery partion" on the
HDD, no CD is supplied at all.
Click to expand...

It's on your computer.
I find this very unsatisfactory, as I've paid for Windows XP as part of the
PC package.
Click to expand...

Next time you buy a PC, either build your own, or insist on a CD
*before* you fork over the cash.
I'd like to ask for advice on whether I have any rights to demand an actual
Windows XP CD?

Thanks!
Click to expand...

You can try but, being as they already have your money, it's unlikely
they will send you one. You may be able to buy one from them at a lower
price.

You can, however, burn the ISO on the hidden partition to a CD.

Alias
 
As far as "rights" are concerned, I am not sure. But I will tell you
this is becoming common practice; even with big companies such as Dell,
HP, and Gateway. Here is the best thing; on some machines, not only are
the customers not provided the recovery CD, they are made to create
their own with a "recovery utility" installed on the working partition.
My advice is if you are in this boat, create your "recovery disc" as
soon as possible. Once you PC starts to experience problems, it may be
too late.

I will share this with you. Being a Desktop Support Technician, roughly
around 50% of my clients have their original OEM recovery disc when
asked; others have no idea where they are. I guess the companies thought
they might save some money if they stopped providing the disc to the
consumers. That is the only reason I can think of for not providing the
recovery CDs.
 
Michael said:
As far as "rights" are concerned, I am not sure. But I will tell you
this is becoming common practice; even with big companies such as Dell,
HP, and Gateway. Here is the best thing; on some machines, not only are
the customers not provided the recovery CD, they are made to create
their own with a "recovery utility" installed on the working partition.
My advice is if you are in this boat, create your "recovery disc" as
soon as possible. Once you PC starts to experience problems, it may be
too late.

I will share this with you. Being a Desktop Support Technician, roughly
around 50% of my clients have their original OEM recovery disc when
asked; others have no idea where they are. I guess the companies thought
they might save some money if they stopped providing the disc to the
consumers. That is the only reason I can think of for not providing the
recovery CDs.

--
Michael D. Alligood,
MCSA, MCDST, MCP, A+,
Network+, i-Net+, CIW Assoc.,
CIW Certified Instructor
Click to expand...

That and total disregard for their paying customers.

Alias
 
Michael said:
As far as "rights" are concerned, I am not sure. But I will tell you
this is becoming common practice; even with big companies such as Dell,
HP, and Gateway. Here is the best thing; on some machines, not only are
the customers not provided the recovery CD, they are made to create
their own with a "recovery utility" installed on the working partition.
My advice is if you are in this boat, create your "recovery disc" as
soon as possible. Once you PC starts to experience problems, it may be
too late.

I will share this with you. Being a Desktop Support Technician, roughly
around 50% of my clients have their original OEM recovery disc when
asked; others have no idea where they are. I guess the companies thought
they might save some money if they stopped providing the disc to the
consumers. That is the only reason I can think of for not providing the
recovery CDs.

--
Michael D. Alligood,
MCSA, MCDST, MCP, A+,
Network+, i-Net+, CIW Assoc.,
CIW Certified Instructor
Click to expand...

The company has every right to decide what they are going to sell for
what price. Its your right to either accept or decline their offer. Do
research ahead of buying.
 
Captain said:
Ok, I'm not certain whether this is the place to ask, but...

I recently purchased a Hi-Grade PC through Littlewoods.com, and although
Windows XP HE is pre-installed and available on a "recovery partion" on the
HDD, no CD is supplied at all.
Click to expand...


This has been a common practice (among low-quality OEMS who have no
concern for customer service, and wish to save a few pennies) for years.

I find this very unsatisfactory, ....
Click to expand...


Then why did you purchase the computer that way? It was, after all,
your decision. Surely you asked precisely what you were getting for
your money, didn't you?

.... as I've paid for Windows XP as part of the
PC package.
Click to expand...


Which you got. Did you specify that you wanted an installation CD as
part of the purchase?

I'd like to ask for advice on whether I have any rights to demand an actual
Windows XP CD?
Click to expand...


Not now, unless the CD was specified as part of the purchase. You
agreed to purchase a computer without the CD, and that's exactly what
you got, isn't it? You could have made the installation CD part of your
conditions for purchasing from this particular vendor _before_ making
the purchase, or taken your money elsewhere, but it's too late to change
your mind, now.

Legally, the OEM will have 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 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."

Mind you, I'm not defending the practice of not providing a true
installation CD along with the OS license. I think it an abhorant
business practice. I won't purchase a computer from a company that
doesn't do so; nor do I ever advise others to do so. However, as
always, it's ultimately up to each and every individual consumer to
ensure that he/she is fully aware of exactly what he/she is getting for
his/her money. With a few minutes of product research, or by asking a
simple question, you could have avoided this situation.


--

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

Many people would rather die than think; in fact, most do. -Bertrand Russell
 
Captain said:
Ok, I'm not certain whether this is the place to ask, but...

I recently purchased a Hi-Grade PC through Littlewoods.com, and although
Windows XP HE is pre-installed and available on a "recovery partion" on the
HDD, no CD is supplied at all.

I find this very unsatisfactory, as I've paid for Windows XP as part of the
PC package.

I'd like to ask for advice on whether I have any rights to demand an actual
Windows XP CD?

Thanks!
Click to expand...

The OEM seller has seemed to have met the requirements for
providing you with Windows XP and a means to restore it. Thus,
the contractural agreement between the OEM and Microsoft has
been met.

In terms of the possible fine print between the OEM seller and
the buyer, you, just what does it say that it will provide you?
Is providing a Windows XP cdrom written anywhere...just what, e.g.,
Windows XP recovery disc, etc.? If so, then you do have the right
to inquire whether or not the OEM will sell you a Windows XP cdrom.
 
This sleazy practice has become the industry norm. All you can do is make
sure to let the seller know what you think of this and that you won't be
using then again. These recovery partitions are useless in the event of a
drive failure. I just ordered an HP restore disk for one client with a
failed drive at a cost of $55.00 plus shipping and tax! I've serviced 5
hard drive failures in the last few weeks - it's a very common failure
point. In addition to the problem of hard drive failure, you lose optional
Windows components, the ability to boot to recovery console, the possibility
of slipstreaming updates, etc, etc, etc. All this so the seller can save
maybe 50 cents or a dollar.
 
Alias said:
That and total disregard for their paying customers.

Alias
Click to expand...
Well I'd have to aggree with what has been said here but the problem with
having a recovery partition on the hard drive is if the drive fails then your
stuffed since hi-grade will only replace the hard drive and not the software
that was installed on it and would have to buy another copy of windows xp
just to get everything as it was.
The only good thing is that hi-grade do supply (and should do anyway) a
recovery DVD so I suggest you call them up (the number you need should be on
the invoice you got with your computer) and then request that they send you a
recovery disc and if they don't do that or refuse to do so then mention the
facts about their repair terms (which are also on their website) and that if
they don't send a recovery disc then tell them that you'll report them for
bad consumer practices (or you can say that you'll call the BBC's watchdog
programme as that may get them to do something)

Also I might as well mention that you should get yourself an extra IDE
ribbon and put your hard drive on the primary channel and your optical drive
on the secondary channel since if your computer is set up like mine was
(optical drive in primary master and the hard drive in primary slave) then
you may start to have problems soon (all USB2 connections went down on my
computer but came back after changing the connections like I've just
mentioned)
 
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