xp is missing

[zobeit]

I recently bought at an auction one of many HP Pavilion
A250Y computers.

This (these) machines were part of a 'summer 2003' build
and the company that had bought them went broke. In order
to 'purge the data' the auction house had the hard drive
completely erased.

When I tried to do a system restore (F10) nothing
happened. It seems even the system restore files are gon.
Contacting HP gave me the information that all of the
specificic drivers (keyboard, audio, cd, etc are
available as downloads on their site. but as this is
a 'debranded' machine HP has not made restore discs
available. Also they state that the HD is a safer place to
store the restore files than on CD's.

My difficulty beeing that all the drivers for my hardware
are XP specific, as that is what the computer was shipped
with, but is not there now.

I have, after several hours of flipping from screen to
screen been unable to come up with any windows support
that is not 'posted' information. and as I do not have
the 'key' I will have to pay the 35 bucks to speak to
a 'real' person at Microsoft.

*Bureaucracy at its finest.

I don't feel that I should have to purchase a second copy
of XP, but am willing to cover the cost of replacement
discs.

Any ideas??

*Bureaucracy: a system of administration marked by
officialism, red tape, and proliferation

 

[Michael Solomon \(MS-MVP Windows Shell/User\)]

Microsoft can't help you unless you purchased an XP CD at retail. You have
an OEM setup and warranty work is the responsibility of the builder. In
your case its second hand and that's a case of "Let the buyer beware." I'm
not sure even Microsoft's $35 per issue option will be of any use because
you are looking for something that is not their responsibility even if you
had a retail version of XP.

HP's assertion is crap and I'm being polite. I won't debate the issue of
which media is less volatile, if you don't have off disk storage of your
data and your drivers, you are walking a tightrope without a net. If the
hard drive fails and hard drives do fail, I lost 3 in one year, you lose
everything. At least if you have CDs you have a secondary source of backup
beyond some partition on your hard drive.

Be that as it may, Microsoft does not supply or create drivers for hardware.
The drivers come from the hardware manufacturers. It doesn't matter for
what operating system, in this case, XP. The drivers, even those included
natively with XP are supplied by the hardware manufacturers.

If you know the HP model to which your system corresponds, you might be able
to download drivers that way from the HP website. However, you should
realize, the devices in your system are not from HP. HP doesn't
manufacture, modems, soundcards, graphics cards, etc. If you know the
manufacturer of these items, you can go to the manufacturer's websites and
download the drivers. Unfortunately, you may have OEM versions of the
hardware but many manufacturers can tell you to what your hardware
corresponds and you may be able to use the retail drivers.

Understand, this is not an XP issue, it's an HP issue and, in this case, has
nothing to do with bureaucracy. Microsoft did not build the machine,
Microsoft did not supply the hardware, all of this is supplied by the
vendors and drivers are the sole responsibility of the manufacturers.

 

[Jupiter Jones [MVP]]

If the computers did not come with Windows XP, you did not buy windows
XP.
You would not be purchasing a second copy, you would be buying the
initial copy since the seller chose not to supply Windows with the
computer they sold.
Microsoft can not help with OEM Windows so save your money.
If you have a problem with that, contact the seller, HP had a warranty
etc with the original buyer and you are not part of that agreement.

All the drivers are available on HPs website.

As a second hand buyer of OEM, you get absolutely nothing from HP or
Microsoft, the seller is your only recourse.
Make a complaint through the appropriate channels if the computer was
misrepresented.

 

[Guest]

Thanks Michael

I agree, this is an HP problem, not Microsoft. My
reference to bureaucracy aluded to the length of time
spent on Microsoft sites going round in circles, and not
to my problem of missing xp.

HP's claim of a 'debranded machine' is their way of
avoiding any responsibility.

All the drivers are available through HP, but are only for
XP. I will try and sorce hardware manufacturers for non XP
drivers.

I will NOT be purchasing a second copy of XP for this
machine out of principal.

As Microsoft requires registration of XP they KNOW this
machine is licenced for a copy even if the copy is lost
and/or HP is stupid in keeping the restore disks on the
hard drive. - many oem machines now do this. However, this
is the most expensive version of windows yet, despite it
being pirate proof.

The cost of Microsoft to make this information and support
available I'm sure is less than the cost of making a can
of Cocoa-cola.

If they will not provide this minimum level of support,
even as you say this is not their problem, they are
certainly not a company that appreciates their customers
and do not desirve them any more than HP.


Thanks again for the response.

 

[Michael Solomon \(MS-MVP Windows Shell/User\)]

It's not that they won't, they can't. There's simply no way for them to
handle the drivers, given all the different machines and variations in
hardware.

As to XP itself, what is it that you would expect from Microsoft? Are you
asking that they supply you with XP or replace what apparently wasn't
supplied with the computer? With all due respect, that's something the
buyer of a used computer should check. If you knew this prior to purchase,
I would think it would have been a deal breaker or at least given you the
option of seeing what you might do with regard to the OS prior to purchase.

Just working these boards makes me well aware of the crap the manufacturer's
are pulling by either not supplying any disks or only a recovery CD which by
the way is optional. Every manufacturer has the option so supplying a full
XP CD with their computers.

 

[Guest]

Mr. Jones;

In my response to Mr Solomon I adressed the issues you
assert.

Primarily, This HP, when constructed included XP as a
registeded application to the machine. This registration
has not been altered or changed. Microsoft now REQUIRES
this registration.

For Microsoft to use this as only a one way street
obviously asserts that one of us (Microsoft or me) is
going the wrong way. And as you say it must be me, then I
will have to find another street.

Thanks.

 

[Guest]

This is taking to much time so I'll be brief.


I believe Microsoft has no legal responsibility in this.
However, as Microsoft SHOULD be able to ascertain that
this HP has a copy of XP regestered for it, common good
will desires would dictate that Microsoft could/would be
willing to provide a copy for the cost of the CD's. After
all they have made their bucks on the original.

If you disagree with this premise, thats fine. As I stated
to mister Jones, Microsoft apears to be providing a one
way street with product registration, certainly with no
benefit to the user.

 

[Jupiter Jones [MVP]]

Here is a way to look at OEM that may make it a little clearer.
Think of OEM as being manufactured, sold and supported by the seller
and Microsoft having no part of it.
No more than Ford would help you for free with a GM automobile.
Even though it says Microsoft, the specific licensing of OEM places
all support (except Windows Update etc) to the seller.
That is one of many reasons why OEM is cheaper than retail...Microsoft
is out of the deal.

This is not to say I like the way all OEMS do it, however it is a
choice the OEMs make based on their assessment of their customer needs
and desires.

From what I can see, if you want cheap support, get the seller to
transfer ownership to you.
This would likely need to be done between original owner and HP since
you were not part of the original contract.
If that is not possible, you need to buy the OS.

E-bay may be a good source for an inexpensive OS...buyer beware.

--
Jupiter Jones [MVP]
An easier way to read newsgroup messages:
http://www.microsoft.com/windowsxp/pro/using/newsgroups/setup.asp
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