where to get xp?

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Guest

I have a Compaq machine that used to have XP Home on it. I've been using it
exclusively for linux for the past year, but now want to install XP back onto
it. Unfortunately, no Windows cd came with the package when I bought it. I
don't know if this is standard practice, but it's causing me some problems
now (when I need the disk). I bought it at Staples, so it wasn't some
fly-by-night outfit.

I have three machines here, all running linux but had windows before, so
there is no shortage of serial numbers etc to use.

Can anyone give me any pointers on where to get access to a legitimate
Windows cd, or if I can download XP Home from the MS site?

Cheers!
 
Obtaining HP Recovery CDs
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How to Replace Lost, Broken, or Missing Microsoft Software or Hardware
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Carey Frisch
Microsoft MVP
Windows - Shell/User
Microsoft Community Newsgroups
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-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

:

| I have a Compaq machine that used to have XP Home on it. I've been using it
| exclusively for linux for the past year, but now want to install XP back onto
| it. Unfortunately, no Windows cd came with the package when I bought it. I
| don't know if this is standard practice, but it's causing me some problems
| now (when I need the disk). I bought it at Staples, so it wasn't some
| fly-by-night outfit.
|
| I have three machines here, all running linux but had windows before, so
| there is no shortage of serial numbers etc to use.
|
| Can anyone give me any pointers on where to get access to a legitimate
| Windows cd, or if I can download XP Home from the MS site?
|
| Cheers!
 
You should have received a "recovery" or reinstallation cd for XP. Ask at
Staples. That's your boot disk and should be kept handy. If they won't give
you the disk, you'll have to buy a new one. If you have your Product Key
certificate that should have been pasted on your computer tower or in your
paperwork, you could borrow an XP disk and use your own product key. XP
cannot be downloaded.
 
Mary said:
You should have received a "recovery" or reinstallation cd for XP. Ask at
Staples. That's your boot disk and should be kept handy. If they won't give
you the disk, you'll have to buy a new one. If you have your Product Key
certificate that should have been pasted on your computer tower or in your
paperwork, you could borrow an XP disk and use your own product key. XP
cannot be downloaded.
Click to expand...
I'm not sure if they will provide a disk or not, I'll have to ask.
Apparently there was a partitioned D drive on the hd that was supposed to
function as the recovery "disk". Since that got wiped, that wasn't going to
work anyways.

I'll give the previously mentioned links a try, or if necessary, contact
Staples.

Thanks
 
bricklen said:
I have a Compaq machine that used to have XP Home on it. I've been
using it exclusively for linux for the past year, but now want to
install XP back onto it. Unfortunately, no Windows cd came with the
package when I bought it. I don't know if this is standard practice,
but it's causing me some problems now (when I need the disk). I bought
it at Staples, so it wasn't some fly-by-night outfit.

I have three machines here, all running linux but had windows before,
so there is no shortage of serial numbers etc to use.

Can anyone give me any pointers on where to get access to a legitimate
Windows cd, or if I can download XP Home from the MS site?

Cheers!
Click to expand...

You will need to contact Compaq and have them send you the Restore
Disk(s) for your specific model machine. Either that or go to the store
and buy a retail copy of XP Home. You can d/l necessary drivers from
Compaq's tech support site for your computer. It will be a lot cheaper
to get the Restore Disk(s) from Compaq.

Malke
 
Downloading Windows XP is not a legal option. Nor, can your problem be solved by
Microsoft. Name brand systems like Compaq and Dell are shipped with OEM versions of
Windows XP, which are the responsibility of the seller, NOT Microsoft. If you are out of
your warranty period, you are probably out of luck when it comes to getting an OEM Windows
XP CD, or Recovery CDs, FREE from Compaq. You may also have voided your warranty by
removing the operating system and installing another OS. If the system did not come with
a Windows XP CD or Recovery CDs, but came with a CDR drive, there was probably a utility
for creating an OEM Windows XP CD (which you might not have been aware of), or a key
sequence to access a hidden partition to restore your system as shipped. But, if you
formatted your hard drive the utility is gone, and if you deleted the hidden partition the
second option is gone. If the hidden partition still exists, there might be a way to
access it. You could try posting to the group:

alt.sys.pc-clone.compaq

If your system is STILL under warranty you might be able to get Compaq to send you
Recovery CDs. A client had a similar problem with a DELL system, and after a phone call
the OEM Windows XP CD and driver CDs arrived 2 days later. If your warranty period has
expired, or Compaq is uncooperative, you might have to purchase Windows XP and do a clean
install.
 
=?Utf-8?B?YnJpY2tsZW4=?= said:
Can anyone give me any pointers on where to get access to a legitimate
Windows cd, or if I can download XP Home from the MS site?
Click to expand...

Most office supply and computer stores sell XP cds. Time to buy one.
 
bricklen said:
I have a Compaq machine that used to have XP Home on it. I've been using it
exclusively for linux for the past year, but now want to install XP back onto
it. Unfortunately, no Windows cd came with the package when I bought it. I
don't know if this is standard practice, but it's causing me some problems
now (when I need the disk). I bought it at Staples, so it wasn't some
fly-by-night outfit.

I have three machines here, all running linux but had windows before, so
there is no shortage of serial numbers etc to use.

Can anyone give me any pointers on where to get access to a legitimate
Windows cd, or if I can download XP Home from the MS site?

Cheers!
Click to expand...



Contact the computer's manufacturer.

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 and Gateway, do
provide a full OEM installation CD, that does permit custom
installations and repairs. Many uncaring OEMs, such as Compaq, HP, 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:



You can have peace. Or you can have freedom. Don't ever count on having
both at once. - RAH
 
Bruce Chambers said:
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 and Gateway, do
provide a full OEM installation CD, that does permit custom
installations and repairs. Many uncaring OEMs, such as Compaq, HP, 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."
Click to expand...

Sadly, Dell has discontinued supplying OEM Windows CDs. About four months ago a client
got a system which had a utility for burning a Dell OEM Windows XP CD. But, the utility
was set for only one use. Then it was deleted. When the created CD got scratched,
phoning Dell tech support was a nightmare. Although the commercials have American college
types assuring quality 24/7 tech support, the truth is that Dell, to cut corners, has
subcontracted tech support to Central America. There was definitely a language barrier
between myself and the tech person. It was very frustrating. He kept telling me to
create the CD, and I would tell him that the utility for creating the CD had disappeared
from the Start menu. After which he directed me to a web page that gave directions for a
repair install. My jaw dropped. I then asked him to read the first line under the
heading. He read "Insert your Windows XP CD..." I then stopped him, and asked how I was
supposed to insert a CD that I did not have? He then asked me to use the utility to
create the CD, which I had already told him had disappeared from the Start menu. I hung
up the phone, went to the Dell Support web site, and did a chat session. In very few
words I explained the problem. The chat tech person explained that the utility for
creating the Windows XP CD is deleted after it is used once. He then wrote that since the
system was under warranty that Dell would send A Windows XP CD, which did arrive in 2
days. But, another client purchased a Dell system this month, and her system did not even
come with the utility for creating the Dell OEM Windows XP CD. It came with one of those
hidden partitions like the HP systems I hated. She phoned Dell and said it was
unacceptable, and Dell sent a Windows XP CD. So, Dell has changed its policy about their
OEM Windows XP CDs 3 times this year. The third time is not the charm in this case.
 
t.cruise said:
Sadly, Dell has discontinued supplying OEM Windows CDs. About four months ago a client
got a system which had a utility for burning a Dell OEM Windows XP CD. But, the utility
was set for only one use. Then it was deleted. When the created CD got scratched,
phoning Dell tech support was a nightmare. Although the commercials have American college
types assuring quality 24/7 tech support, the truth is that Dell, to cut corners, has
subcontracted tech support to Central America. There was definitely a language barrier
between myself and the tech person. It was very frustrating. He kept telling me to
create the CD, and I would tell him that the utility for creating the CD had disappeared
from the Start menu. After which he directed me to a web page that gave directions for a
repair install. My jaw dropped. I then asked him to read the first line under the
heading. He read "Insert your Windows XP CD..." I then stopped him, and asked how I was
supposed to insert a CD that I did not have? He then asked me to use the utility to
create the CD, which I had already told him had disappeared from the Start menu. I hung
up the phone, went to the Dell Support web site, and did a chat session. In very few
words I explained the problem. The chat tech person explained that the utility for
creating the Windows XP CD is deleted after it is used once. He then wrote that since the
system was under warranty that Dell would send A Windows XP CD, which did arrive in 2
days. But, another client purchased a Dell system this month, and her system did not even
come with the utility for creating the Dell OEM Windows XP CD. It came with one of those
hidden partitions like the HP systems I hated. She phoned Dell and said it was
unacceptable, and Dell sent a Windows XP CD. So, Dell has changed its policy about their
OEM Windows XP CDs 3 times this year. The third time is not the charm in this case.
--

T.C.
t__cruise@[NoSpam]hotmail.com
Remove [NoSpam] to reply
Click to expand...

That's not very good news, but thanks for the update.

--

Bruce Chambers

Help us help you:



You can have peace. Or you can have freedom. Don't ever count on having
both at once. - RAH
 
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