XP after new motherboard and HD

[mdt]

Geek Squad replaced the HD and motherboard in my HP 4/5 years ago. HD crashed
again and is unrepairable. GS said they didn't know about "tattooing" 4 years
ago, so my Recovery Discs don't work. HP tells me I have to buy XP again. The
online retailers that have it for the lowest price tell me Microsoft will ask
me for receipts for all my computer components. What the Hell? I'm pissed
enough that HP and Microsoft didn't give me the XP discs to begin with. I
still have my original Key Code. Is there any other option besides paying
Best Buy $200+ for XP, which I supposedly already bought? Thanks

 

[Alias]

Geek Squad replaced the HD and motherboard in my HP 4/5 years ago. HD crashed
again and is unrepairable. GS said they didn't know about "tattooing" 4 years
ago, so my Recovery Discs don't work. HP tells me I have to buy XP again. The
online retailers that have it for the lowest price tell me Microsoft will ask
me for receipts for all my computer components. What the Hell? I'm pissed
enough that HP and Microsoft didn't give me the XP discs to begin with. I
still have my original Key Code. Is there any other option besides paying
Best Buy $200+ for XP, which I supposedly already bought? Thanks

Here's some cheaper prices:

XP Home:

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16832116056

XP Pro:

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16832116400

Or you can use Ubuntu for FREE. Get it at http://www.ubuntu.com/

Alias

 

[John]

Geek Squad replaced the HD and motherboard in my HP 4/5 years ago. HD
crashed
again and is unrepairable. GS said they didn't know about "tattooing" 4
years
ago, so my Recovery Discs don't work.

What exactly does that mean? So you do have a recovery discs but it will not
work. Have you tried using it? What happens?

HP tells me I have to buy XP again. The

You may have to pay a small fee to ship the recovery discs. HP can't charge
you the full amount.

What the Hell? I'm pissed
enough that HP and Microsoft didn't give me the XP discs to begin with. I

Most companies won't give us OS install discs (or recovery discs). Some
allows us to create recovery discs (eg: Sony). Others charge us extra (about
$10) for recovery CDs/DVDs.

 

[Colin Barnhorst]

It sounds like XP was preinstalled on your computer (called an "OEM copy").
Since an OEM license is limited to the one computer it comes on and you are
being told that the changes to your computer make it in effect a new
computer for licensing purposes, it sounds like you will not be able to use
the product key you have at all.

However objectionable that is, your most practical recourse is a new copy of
the OS. A retail copy at Best Buy is not the least expensive alternative.
A system builder (OEM) edition should save you some money. If it turns out
that you have to buy a new copy of XP then I recommend NewEgg. You didn't
say which version of XP you use, but here are links:
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16832116056
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16832116400
These copies of XP are not the same as the retail ones Best Buy sells off of
the retail shelf. You cannot transfer the license to a new computer like
you can with a retail version (that's why they are cheaper), but you also
don't have to pay $200 either. If you think Windows will come preinstalled
on your next computer anyway then I would save the bucks on an OEM copy now.

 

[mdt]

Hidden away on the specs tab at NewEgg is this:

"Qualifying proof of purchase must be recent receipts showing the purchase
of a mother board, hard drive, RAM and a CPU. The components can be on
multiple receipts; not necessarily all on one receipt nor on the same receipt
as the qualifying Windows XP/Office 2003 that you purchased." I talked to
their cust. Service even. They said the recipt this is a Microsoft
requirement.

I ordered the Ubutnu discs yesterday, but that's a 6-10 week wait.

I tried my recovery discs and it says they don't belong to my HP PC. From
what I can tell, it's due to Geek Squad not properly tattooing the mb when it
was replaced. It's basically an anti-piracy measure, but I've bought and paid
for all my equipment. That means replacement recovery cds won't work either.

 

[mdt]

It was pre-installed. And it happens to be NewEgg that told me about the
recipt thing. Is this really enforced or are they saying that because its the
law? I talked to Customer Service too. What gets me is the "and". I have a
recipt for the new HD, but not for anything else.

From NewEgg:

"Qualifying proof of purchase must be recent receipts showing the purchase
of a mother board, hard drive, RAM and a CPU. The components can be on
multiple receipts; not necessarily all on one receipt nor on the same receipt
as the qualifying Windows XP/Office 2003 that you purchased."

 

[Alias]

Hidden away on the specs tab at NewEgg is this:

"Qualifying proof of purchase must be recent receipts showing the purchase
of a mother board, hard drive, RAM and a CPU. The components can be on
multiple receipts; not necessarily all on one receipt nor on the same receipt
as the qualifying Windows XP/Office 2003 that you purchased." I talked to
their cust. Service even. They said the recipt this is a Microsoft
requirement.

That sucks.

I ordered the Ubutnu discs yesterday, but that's a 6-10 week wait.

It really isn't. You'll get them sooner than that. You can also download
it and burn it to a CD and use that.

I tried my recovery discs and it says they don't belong to my HP PC. From
what I can tell, it's due to Geek Squad not properly tattooing the mb when it
was replaced. It's basically an anti-piracy measure, but I've bought and paid
for all my equipment. That means replacement recovery cds won't work either.

If you have a friend who has a generic OEM copy of the version you have,
Home or Pro, your product key should work with it. I trust you have the
motherboard CD.

Alias

 

[mdt]

I should have gotten a motherboard CD? I'm just screwed huh?

 

[mdt]

I tried my recovery discs and it says they don't belong to my HP PC. From
what I can tell, it's due to Geek Squad not properly tattooing the mb when it
was replaced. It's basically an anti-piracy measure, but I've bought and paid
for all my equipment. That means replacement recovery cds won't work either.

 

[Alias]

I should have gotten a motherboard CD? I'm just screwed huh?

Yes, you need it to install XP. You don't need it to install Ubuntu. Go
back to the Geek Squad and ask them where they hell it is, along with
the motherboard's manual. Be sure to take your receipt.

Alias

 

[Dave Cohen]

Geek Squad replaced the HD and motherboard in my HP 4/5 years ago. HD crashed
again and is unrepairable. GS said they didn't know about "tattooing" 4 years
ago, so my Recovery Discs don't work. HP tells me I have to buy XP again. The
online retailers that have it for the lowest price tell me Microsoft will ask
me for receipts for all my computer components. What the Hell? I'm pissed
enough that HP and Microsoft didn't give me the XP discs to begin with. I
still have my original Key Code. Is there any other option besides paying
Best Buy $200+ for XP, which I supposedly already bought? Thanks

I see you have quite a few responses. Personally, I would wait until you
get the Ubuntu CD before spending any more money. I have Ubuntu running
in a multi os setup but never use it. It may or may not take some effort
and research to get up and running depending on your hardware, but most
problems seem to be soluble provided you're reasonably nimble and you
seem to be.
I don't use it simply because a) I'm quite happy with winxp and more
important b) I have some winxp apps to which I am committed and I don't
have an incentive to learn the linux equivalents if they exist.
However, my not using it has nothing to do with it's basic functionality
and for someone with no pre-existing bias will be quite happy with it.
In the event I'm forced into Vista with all of it's baggage, I will switch.
Dave Cohen

 

[Lil' Dave]

From responses so far, and your subsequent responses to those, GS is what
screwed you. I submit that the motherboard installed, even though it may
have been a valid physical replacement, the bios signature was different.
As a a result, the factory (HP) OEM XP install won't install.

I'd submit a possible solution, but, since its not free, and, I don't want
to be another brunt of your anger, I'll bow out.

 

[mdt]

Thanks Dave. That was helpful.

From responses so far, and your subsequent responses to those, GS is what
screwed you. I submit that the motherboard installed, even though it may
have been a valid physical replacement, the bios signature was different.
As a a result, the factory (HP) OEM XP install won't install.

I'd submit a possible solution, but, since its not free, and, I don't want
to be another brunt of your anger, I'll bow out.
--
Dave

My vote in this primary was for the lesser
of many evils...