This doesn't sound right, so I thought I'd ask here.
Someone claimed earlier today that if someone has a valid license key, there's a way to download the entire OS off of Microsoft's site.
This just sounds wrong, and I can't readily find anything on Microsoft's site that would validate the claim.
Yes, I am asking this in regards to the computer I described in the Analysis and Malware Removal Forum. I've contacted the company and I'm this close (holding thumb and forefinger ¼" apart) to demanding a return authorization and refund.
Never mind, I found my own answer on the very next site I checked:
http://social.answers.microsoft.com/Forums/en-US/xpinstall/thread/0365dec7-8f6b-4bf3-9d0c-9ca1a4e8a5dd
I'm going to move this topic to the correct forum :)
yes, from microsoft itself, you can download desktop and windows server, office and other server, etc software.
but,
that's not available to private folks.
you negotiate a price for 1 or 2 years of licensing for what you believe you already have and
will need in the future.
you pay again when that contract is up. it's called "truing up."
again, you pay for each pc you own, even if it came with a windows desktop os pre-installed.
you can also buy software advantage, so that if your os or office package is superseded by a new model
you can download and install the new one. that usually covers 3 years.
software advantage also covers downgrades, so if the pc arrives with win 7, but your shop is xp,
you can legally downgrade to xp. (no one is selling xp anymore.)
Quote from: roddy32 on October 13, 2010, 11:58:34 AM
I'm going to move this topic to the correct forum :)
Thanks.
As for this being about a computer I just got: being in a college town, I asked a local repair place about it. They said yes they could get me an OS CD, but with no guarantees it would work with the exact version/license key for the operating system. I've also tried contacting the company, every time I call during normal business hours I get voice mail, even for the tech support number. I've left a message with no reply so far. To the online return desk it goes!
os cds come in 3 varieties -
1, is sold with a motherboard or cpu or whole pc, for example. those are called oem disks and are provided by microsoft to "white box" (mom and pop) manufacturers so they can sell a running pc to you and me.
2, a bit higher up on the food chain is the cd that comes with (or used to come with) the new pc from dell, hp, ibm, toshiba, etc.
licenses for both 1 and 2 live and die with the hardware with which they were sold, so when your dell dies, so does its xp, vista or win7 license
3, last but not cheapest is the retail version sold at your favorite big-box store. you actually own the license for it and can uninstall it from one machine and install it on another. (but good luck with that.)
Hi, just thought I'd stop by with an update. Not OS-related, but I started this thread about my latest computer misfortune and asked for help here, I might as well provide what I hope is the end of the ordeal.
I finally reached the company shortly after my last post here. I was told the only way to get a refund was to return the first computer and try a different one. The second was a total lemon, and they then tried to claim that I didn't buy either computer from them, that they sell computers on behalf of other companies and only provide warranty service (yeah right).
I called the order dept. of the online retailer with what happened. After explaining my story, 20 minutes on hold later I received–a return authorization! And I've been promised a full refund! Assuming I get said refund (should be early next week), I'll be back with which company was helpful, and which one to totally avoid.
Thanks for the update. Fingers crossed that the refund is prompt.
cool. let us know.
I received my refund!
The company I've added to my list of companies to avoid is something called TechTurn: http://www.techturn.com/
I hadn't heard of them before, either.
Only reason I bought something "from" them was because it was through Tiger Direct, which was the company who was completely helpful in this whole ordeal. Of course, when I called to get the return authorization, the rep asked me if I'd like to have a credit towards another computer. I said no thanks, I'm a college student who's reprioritizing expenses, having to rely on the university computer centers isn't the best situation in the world but at least I know they're going to work (and its a lot cheaper than buying another computer which may or may not work).
I'm 99% sure the way for others to avoid buying from them is to check which company is providing the warranty.
Congratulations on getting the refund!
Have you provided feedback to Tiger Direct? If Tiger Direct has a vendor that is providing inferior products, I'm sure they would want to know. Yours could have been an isolated situation; then again, perhaps a couple others have reported the same thing and your report would tip the scale.
gee, i'm surprised that happened through tiger direct, they're a reputable company.
but glad you got it all straightened out.