XP Reload

[Philip Andrews]

Thanks for taking the time to read this message.

Problem: A preloaded Windows XP Home PC was wrecked by
viruses and spyware. The original operating-system CD
wasn't supplied with the box and the dealer won't provide
it (he's been asked) and so far hasn't supplied the
original Activation Key either. The owner tried to reload
his machine from a borrowed CD copy of XP Home, which
asked for the Activation Code from the borrowed CD. He
can't use that key, obviously, so his PC has now timed out
on activation.

Questions:

If the Activation Key used by the supplier can be
obtained, can it be applied to this PC as it stands (i.e.
with a 'load' from a borrowed CD)?

If not, what would be the best course of action (short of
buying another copy of Windows XP Home, and reinstalling
from that disk)?

Does the PC's supplier have any legal right to withhold
the original Windows XP Home source disk?

Many thanks in advance for any help you can offer.

Cheers,

Philip Andrews

 

[David Dickinson]

Report the dealer to Microsoft and to the police and let him know that he's
committed a crime: grand theft. Under Microsoft licensing, he is supposed
to give you the CD with the computer. But because he's not, I suspect that
he is distributing cracked and illegal versions of the OS.

Do not be merciful on this guy. We've had crooks like that in my town with
the result being a lot of unhappy people.

David Dickinson
eis at softhome dot net

 

[Tumbleweed]

He doesnt have to give the CD just a way of getting the PC back to factory
state.

 

[tallyman]

If the PC came pre-installed with Windows, the supplier is obliged,
under Microsoft's licencing rules, to supply a COA - Certificate of
Authenticity - which is normally stuck to the case of the machine. You
can use any full version of XP Home to re-install and you just re-use
the key provided on the COA. If the supplier is refusing to supply I'd
suggest mentioning to him that you will have to contact Microsoft to
explain the situation and naming him as the supplier - he would risk
losing his agent status with MS

 

[Ken Blake, MVP]

In

Report the dealer to Microsoft and to the police and let him know
that he's committed a crime: grand theft. Under Microsoft licensing,
he is supposed to give you the CD with the computer.

Sorry, but this is *not* correct. OEM vendors are required by
their agreement with Microsoft to give you a means of
reinstalling, should it be necessary. They can do this in one of
three ways:

1. An OEM copy of Windows
2. A restore CD
3. A hidden partition on your drive, with restore information.

If he doesn't have 1 or 2, he may have number 3.

But because
he's not, I suspect that he is distributing cracked and illegal
versions of the OS.

That may in fact be correct, but you can't be sure of that just
by knowing that the purchaser got no CD.

 

[Philip Andrews]

Many thanks for all replies to my questions, particularly
to 'tallyman'. I will now find or obtain the COA and
attempt to dig this owner out of his ditch.

Best Regards,

Philip Andrews