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pradeep1
06-17-05, 01:14 AM
I purchased a crappy Toshiba laptop in OCT 2001 and it had Windows XP Pro. preinstalled. I paid for that OS and I have a license key sticker on the bottom of my laptop. Toshiba was smart, they only gave me disks with the OS on a Toshiba "clean wipe" disk, which basically means that if you hose your laptop, you can put these disks in and it will restore you to factory original setting with a clean wipe and clean OS install. However, these stupid disks don't work on any machine other than their Toshiba laptops.

Now since I have a license for Windows XP Pro that I paid for, what can I do? Can I call Microsoft and ask them to send me some disks? or is their a source to buy the install disks legally for a nominal cost and then activate the OS on a new machine. The Toshiba laptop was wiped of Windows XP a long time ago and now is sitting around running Win2K, so no licensing issues with multiple uses or anything.

Any ideas?

Thanks,

Pradeep
Drec
06-17-05, 01:19 AM
Not really much you can do, MS will not send you a new disc for an OEM version, only the retail version, i have try'd this before with no luck. But the key should work fine if you where to somehow find an XP install disc

btw :welcome:
pradeep1
06-17-05, 02:08 AM
Not really much you can do, MS will not send you a new disc for an OEM version, only the retail version, i have try'd this before with no luck. But the key should work fine if you where to somehow find an XP install disc

btw :welcome:

Thanks for the quick reply Drec. I've posted this on another forum and according to them, I am SOL. Now.....where fo find an XP install disc? ;)
pik4chu
06-17-05, 09:47 AM
Thanks for the quick reply Drec. I've posted this on another forum and according to them, I am SOL. Now.....where fo find an XP install disc? ;)
there is no legit (read legal) way to get a disk, that is why you are SOL.
nikhsub1
06-17-05, 10:30 AM
Yeah, with an MS OEM intall, that OS is FOREVER tied to that hardware, period end of story. It can not be moved or transferred to another machine. That is the big difference between OEM and retail.
flixotide
06-17-05, 04:59 PM
Yeah, with an MS OEM intall, that OS is FOREVER tied to that hardware, period end of story. It can not be moved or transferred to another machine. That is the big difference between OEM and retail.

I second the folding master from hell.. (thats Nikhsub1 btw)

OEM licenses may not be used on other computers.. I see a lot of people trying to sell their Windows XP "license" from their old gear, but the buyer gets ripped, as its an illegal sale.

Feel free to drop me a PM oon this should anyone claim otherwise, I'm pretty deep into M$ licensing :-)

Cheers, Flix
bth
06-17-05, 10:43 PM
Often OEMs get the OS in bulk and, I believe (this is personal opinion), part of that restriction is that OS is sold as part of the machine -- which means you can't transfer it.

The typical user doesn't notice a difference since most people wouldn't have a need to transfer the OS. The OEMs out there save a lot of money, bundle it into a (hopefully) lower system price, and voila.

It would be cool if OEMs gave the choice of an OEM disc or retail (for some extra scratch) -- but I've never seen it.

Brian
Audioaficionado
06-19-05, 03:39 PM
If you are a student in college or highschool, you can get an accademic version for $80 at newegg.
moz_21
06-19-05, 04:23 PM
How does the OEM version apply to a purchase from Newegg? Is it still "tied to the hardware"? As in, whatever computer I initially installed it on, it has to stay on there? I couldn't nuke the hdd and install to a different comp?
Kendan
06-19-05, 04:54 PM
How does the OEM version apply to a purchase from Newegg? Is it still "tied to the hardware"? As in, whatever computer I initially installed it on, it has to stay on there? I couldn't nuke the hdd and install to a different comp?


supposedly. but, the OEM that PC makers get is even cheaper than those. They get a huge discount and tie it to that one computer. For those that just buy an OEM copy, try to get support from an OEM XP when you tell them you moved it from one computer to another, You wont get support. So to MS it is tied to the hardware you bought it with/first installed it to.


To the OP,

You are better off going to find an education discount copy if you are still in school. Check your bookstore because some get it insanely cheap.
ManOman
06-21-05, 10:06 AM
My wife just graduated with her Masters this year, but while she was in school, she was able to get a free copy of MS Office XP, and XP Pro for only $15.
Hopefully you're still in school and attend a school that's as generous as hers was :)
pik4chu
06-21-05, 10:49 AM
My wife just graduated with her Masters this year, but while she was in school, she was able to get a free copy of MS Office XP, and XP Pro for only $15.
Hopefully you're still in school and attend a school that's as generous as hers was :)
lol? :D

aye, I went to town when I was still a studen. didnt get stuff for that cheap but was still awsome.
moz_21
06-21-05, 11:53 AM
supposedly. but, the OEM that PC makers get is even cheaper than those. They get a huge discount and tie it to that one computer. For those that just buy an OEM copy, try to get support from an OEM XP when you tell them you moved it from one computer to another, You wont get support. So to MS it is tied to the hardware you bought it with/first installed it to.

Ok, but will they activiate it once I tell them I've changed upgraded my computer?
Kendan
06-21-05, 12:05 PM
Ok, but will they activiate it once I tell them I've changed upgraded my computer?


Depends on the person you talk to and what you tell them you changed.
hafa
06-21-05, 12:11 PM
Your license entitles you to use one copy of the software on that machine. It matters not which disks you use. You may legitimately borrow a disk to reload the software, just as long as you use your license key.
kdrifter440
06-21-05, 04:41 PM
where do you get cheap windows software for college students?
Kendan
06-21-05, 08:15 PM
Check your school bookstore because sometimes they have it unbelievably cheap. Here is a link to Newegg for there's: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16837116192
Audioaficionado
06-21-05, 09:03 PM
What we do at work is buy unused/surplus corporate COAs at a good discount and then use those keys to install from an SP2 slipstreamed corporate CD created from an original SP1 corp install disk. Those COAs are each referanced to the specific machines they are installed on and kept filed for inspection if an audit was conducted. I could buy the same COAs for ~$150 ea from the same supplier if I needed more COAs for my home machines. Those COAs aren't OEM but full retail and can be ported from machine to machine as long as it is uninstalled frome the last machine before it's reinstalled on the new machine. One COA per installed machine is the leagal requirement for both home and business.
El<(')>Maxi
06-22-05, 03:06 AM
Newer DELL laptops ship without a CD, the OS rebuild is accomplished via System Restore. But, have a look on the C: drive and you will find an I386 folder. If you had copied it prior to nuking your drive I think you would have been fine running the install on any machine.