? ? Did my "License" die with my HD ? ?

[Guest 2Dumb2Backup]

I bought a computer with XP home on it. Of course, I didn't ever make the

recovery disc they tell you to make, so when my hard drive crashed (hard) I

don't have anything to re-install from. My question is this... Do I have to

go buy Windows all over again, or (as I would contend) since I bought a

"license" for Windows, and (as I would further contend) my license didn't die

with the hard drive, can I just buy a new hard drive, download Windows XP

Home edition as I had previously and install it "unlocking" it with my

"product key" which luckily is on a sticker stuck to the top of my computer??

If so, then please point me to where I would download this file from. I

thank you in advance for your time and consideration.

I promise to create a recover disc immediately after reconstituting this

computer!!

[Guest Pegasus \(MVP\)]

Re: ? ? Did my "License" die with my HD ? ?

 

 

"2Dumb2Backup" <2Dumb2Backup@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote in message

news:C1263E16-F9C0-4FFA-BC4F-FD4A18BADF0B@microsoft.com...

>I bought a computer with XP home on it. Of course, I didn't ever make the

> recovery disc they tell you to make, so when my hard drive crashed (hard)

> I

> don't have anything to re-install from. My question is this... Do I have

> to

> go buy Windows all over again, or (as I would contend) since I bought a

> "license" for Windows, and (as I would further contend) my license didn't

> die

> with the hard drive, can I just buy a new hard drive, download Windows XP

> Home edition as I had previously and install it "unlocking" it with my

> "product key" which luckily is on a sticker stuck to the top of my

> computer??

> If so, then please point me to where I would download this file from. I

> thank you in advance for your time and consideration.

> I promise to create a recover disc immediately after reconstituting this

> computer!!

 

The answer is "no" to both questions: Your product code is

still valid even though you will replace your hard disk, and

you cannot download WinXP home from anywhere even

though you appear to think that you did. You either need

a WinXP installation CD or the recovery CD supplied by

the manufacturer of your PC.

[Guest Phisherman]

Re: ? ? Did my "License" die with my HD ? ?

 

On Sun, 2 Sep 2007 09:58:04 -0700, 2Dumb2Backup

<2Dumb2Backup@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote:

>I bought a computer with XP home on it. Of course, I didn't ever make the

>recovery disc they tell you to make, so when my hard drive crashed (hard) I

>don't have anything to re-install from. My question is this... Do I have to

>go buy Windows all over again, or (as I would contend) since I bought a

>"license" for Windows, and (as I would further contend) my license didn't die

>with the hard drive, can I just buy a new hard drive, download Windows XP

>Home edition as I had previously and install it "unlocking" it with my

>"product key" which luckily is on a sticker stuck to the top of my computer??

>If so, then please point me to where I would download this file from. I

>thank you in advance for your time and consideration.

>I promise to create a recover disc immediately after reconstituting this

>computer!!

 

 

You can't download XP from Microsoft. Your purchased PC should

include a bootable Windows CD, or at least a Recovery CD.

[Guest Bruce Chambers]

Re: ? ? Did my "License" die with my HD ? ?

 

2Dumb2Backup wrote:

> I bought a computer with XP home on it. Of course, I didn't ever make the

> recovery disc they tell you to make, so when my hard drive crashed (hard) I

> don't have anything to re-install from. My question is this... Do I have to

> go buy Windows all over again, or (as I would contend) since I bought a

> "license" for Windows, and (as I would further contend) my license didn't die

> with the hard drive, can I just buy a new hard drive, download Windows XP

> Home edition as I had previously and install it "unlocking" it with my

> "product key" which luckily is on a sticker stuck to the top of my computer??

 

 

No, your license didn't die with the hard drive. An OEM license is

bound to the computer as a whole, not to any single component. So you

shouldn't have to purchase a new WinXp license.

 

However, your primary recourse is the computer's manufacturer. Only

they can provide the correct installation/Recovery media, with all of

the necessary device drivers for the computer's components. Contact

them for a replacement CD. (You might be able to get an unbranded,

generic OEM installation CD to work with your Product Key, if you can

find one. You'll still have to download any necessary device drivers

from the manufacturer's support web site.)

 

> If so, then please point me to where I would download this file from.

 

 

Unless you have a very expensive MSDN subscription (in which case you

wouldn't be asking), there are no *legitimate* sources from which one

can download a Microsoft operating system. You'd be wise to avoid

illicit sources, as you're likely to get more (in the terms of malware

and/or mysterious credit card charges) than you bargained for. You need

to contact the computer's manufacturer.

 

 

 

--

 

Bruce Chambers

 

Help us help you:

http://dts-l.org/goodpost.htm

http://www.catb.org/~esr/faqs/smart-questions.html

 

They that can give up essential liberty to obtain a little temporary

safety deserve neither liberty nor safety. -Benjamin Franklin

 

Many people would rather die than think; in fact, most do. -Bertrand Russell

[Guest Alias]

Re: ? ? Did my "License" die with my HD ? ?

 

Phisherman wrote:

> On Sun, 2 Sep 2007 09:58:04 -0700, 2Dumb2Backup

> <2Dumb2Backup@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote:

>

>> I bought a computer with XP home on it. Of course, I didn't ever make the

>> recovery disc they tell you to make, so when my hard drive crashed (hard) I

>> don't have anything to re-install from. My question is this... Do I have to

>> go buy Windows all over again, or (as I would contend) since I bought a

>> "license" for Windows, and (as I would further contend) my license didn't die

>> with the hard drive, can I just buy a new hard drive, download Windows XP

>> Home edition as I had previously and install it "unlocking" it with my

>> "product key" which luckily is on a sticker stuck to the top of my computer??

>> If so, then please point me to where I would download this file from. I

>> thank you in advance for your time and consideration.

>> I promise to create a recover disc immediately after reconstituting this

>> computer!!

>

>

> You can't download XP from Microsoft. Your purchased PC should

> include a bootable Windows CD, or at least a Recovery CD.

 

His included a hidden partition that is now gone.

 

--

Alias

To email me, remove shoes

[Guest Zilbandy]

Re: ? ? Did my "License" die with my HD ? ?

 

On Sun, 02 Sep 2007 11:21:52 -0600, Bruce Chambers

<bchambers@cable0ne.n3t> wrote:

>No, your license didn't die with the hard drive. An OEM license is

>bound to the computer as a whole, not to any single component....

 

Is the motherboard a single component?

 

--

Zilbandy

[Guest DL]

Re: ? ? Did my "License" die with my HD ? ?

 

If the win cd is supplied by the PC maker and its a bios locked cd then it

will only work with a motherboard supplied by that PC supplier

 

"Zilbandy" <zil@zilbandyREMOVETHIS.com> wrote in message

news:8juld3d7od18i2t48c2ps5ipmh267q40bn@4ax.com...

> On Sun, 02 Sep 2007 11:21:52 -0600, Bruce Chambers

> <bchambers@cable0ne.n3t> wrote:

>

>>No, your license didn't die with the hard drive. An OEM license is

>>bound to the computer as a whole, not to any single component....

>

> Is the motherboard a single component?

>

> --

> Zilbandy

[Guest Bruce Chambers]

Re: ? ? Did my "License" die with my HD ? ?

 

Zilbandy wrote:

>

> Is the motherboard a single component?

>

 

 

Usually, yes. I'm not aware of any motherboards that come in pieces. Why?

 

 

--

 

Bruce Chambers

 

Help us help you:

http://dts-l.org/goodpost.htm

http://www.catb.org/~esr/faqs/smart-questions.html

 

They that can give up essential liberty to obtain a little temporary

safety deserve neither liberty nor safety. -Benjamin Franklin

 

Many people would rather die than think; in fact, most do. -Bertrand Russell

[Guest Uncle Grumpy]

Re: ? ? Did my "License" die with my HD ? ?

 

Zilbandy <zil@zilbandyREMOVETHIS.com> wrote:

>>No, your license didn't die with the hard drive. An OEM license is

>>bound to the computer as a whole, not to any single component....

>

>Is the motherboard a single component?

 

That's a really DUMB question.

[Guest 2Dumb2Backup]

Re: ? ? Did my "License" die with my HD ? ?

 

This happened to be a Compaq. I own another Compaq a couple of years newer

and a little faster. It is still working. Should I be able to make a

"recovery" disc from that computer and then use it to install on the new hard

drive of the dead computer?

Thanks again to everyone for all their comments and assistance.

2d2bu

 

"Bruce Chambers" wrote:

> 2Dumb2Backup wrote:

> > I bought a computer with XP home on it. Of course, I didn't ever make the

> > recovery disc they tell you to make, so when my hard drive crashed (hard) I

> > don't have anything to re-install from. My question is this... Do I have to

> > go buy Windows all over again, or (as I would contend) since I bought a

> > "license" for Windows, and (as I would further contend) my license didn't die

> > with the hard drive, can I just buy a new hard drive, download Windows XP

> > Home edition as I had previously and install it "unlocking" it with my

> > "product key" which luckily is on a sticker stuck to the top of my computer??

>

>

> No, your license didn't die with the hard drive. An OEM license is

> bound to the computer as a whole, not to any single component. So you

> shouldn't have to purchase a new WinXp license.

>

> However, your primary recourse is the computer's manufacturer. Only

> they can provide the correct installation/Recovery media, with all of

> the necessary device drivers for the computer's components. Contact

> them for a replacement CD. (You might be able to get an unbranded,

> generic OEM installation CD to work with your Product Key, if you can

> find one. You'll still have to download any necessary device drivers

> from the manufacturer's support web site.)

>

>

> > If so, then please point me to where I would download this file from.

>

>

> Unless you have a very expensive MSDN subscription (in which case you

> wouldn't be asking), there are no *legitimate* sources from which one

> can download a Microsoft operating system. You'd be wise to avoid

> illicit sources, as you're likely to get more (in the terms of malware

> and/or mysterious credit card charges) than you bargained for. You need

> to contact the computer's manufacturer.

>

>

>

> --

>

> Bruce Chambers

>

> Help us help you:

> http://dts-l.org/goodpost.htm

> http://www.catb.org/~esr/faqs/smart-questions.html

>

> They that can give up essential liberty to obtain a little temporary

> safety deserve neither liberty nor safety. -Benjamin Franklin

>

> Many people would rather die than think; in fact, most do. -Bertrand Russell

>

[Guest Richard in AZ]

Re: ? ? Did my "License" die with my HD ? ?

 

I would expect that the disks from the newer machine have entirely different sets of hardware

drivers.

Why do you contact Compaq and see if you can buy a set of restore disks for your model.

I know HP sells restore disks for older PCs for about $16 USD (including shipping).

Then your would have a set of the correct disks.

 

"2Dumb2Backup" <2Dumb2Backup@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote in message

news:B55F76E1-7389-48EC-894D-5D054BD5365E@microsoft.com...

> This happened to be a Compaq. I own another Compaq a couple of years newer

> and a little faster. It is still working. Should I be able to make a

> "recovery" disc from that computer and then use it to install on the new hard

> drive of the dead computer?

> Thanks again to everyone for all their comments and assistance.

> 2d2bu

>

> "Bruce Chambers" wrote:

>

>> 2Dumb2Backup wrote:

>> > I bought a computer with XP home on it. Of course, I didn't ever make the

>> > recovery disc they tell you to make, so when my hard drive crashed (hard) I

>> > don't have anything to re-install from. My question is this... Do I have to

>> > go buy Windows all over again, or (as I would contend) since I bought a

>> > "license" for Windows, and (as I would further contend) my license didn't die

>> > with the hard drive, can I just buy a new hard drive, download Windows XP

>> > Home edition as I had previously and install it "unlocking" it with my

>> > "product key" which luckily is on a sticker stuck to the top of my computer??

>>

>>

>> No, your license didn't die with the hard drive. An OEM license is

>> bound to the computer as a whole, not to any single component. So you

>> shouldn't have to purchase a new WinXp license.

>>

>> However, your primary recourse is the computer's manufacturer. Only

>> they can provide the correct installation/Recovery media, with all of

>> the necessary device drivers for the computer's components. Contact

>> them for a replacement CD. (You might be able to get an unbranded,

>> generic OEM installation CD to work with your Product Key, if you can

>> find one. You'll still have to download any necessary device drivers

>> from the manufacturer's support web site.)

>>

>>

>> > If so, then please point me to where I would download this file from.

>>

>>

>> Unless you have a very expensive MSDN subscription (in which case you

>> wouldn't be asking), there are no *legitimate* sources from which one

>> can download a Microsoft operating system. You'd be wise to avoid

>> illicit sources, as you're likely to get more (in the terms of malware

>> and/or mysterious credit card charges) than you bargained for. You need

>> to contact the computer's manufacturer.

>>

>>

>>

>> --

>>

>> Bruce Chambers

>>

>> Help us help you:

>> http://dts-l.org/goodpost.htm

>> http://www.catb.org/~esr/faqs/smart-questions.html

>>

>> They that can give up essential liberty to obtain a little temporary

>> safety deserve neither liberty nor safety. -Benjamin Franklin

>>

>> Many people would rather die than think; in fact, most do. -Bertrand Russell

>>

[Guest Plato]

Re: ? ? Did my "License" die with my HD ? ?

 

Phisherman wrote:

>

> >I bought a computer with XP home on it. Of course, I didn't ever make the

> >recovery disc they tell you to make, so when my hard drive crashed (hard) I

> >don't have anything to re-install from. My question is this... Do I have to

> >go buy Windows all over again, or (as I would contend) since I bought a

> >"license" for Windows, and (as I would further contend) my license didn't die

> >with the hard drive, can I just buy a new hard drive, download Windows XP

> >Home edition as I had previously and install it "unlocking" it with my

> >"product key" which luckily is on a sticker stuck to the top of my computer??

> >If so, then please point me to where I would download this file from. I

> >thank you in advance for your time and consideration.

> >I promise to create a recover disc immediately after reconstituting this

> >computer!!

>

> You can't download XP from Microsoft. Your purchased PC should

> include a bootable Windows CD, or at least a Recovery CD.

 

Not neccessarily, as many new PCs dont come with CDs now so they leave

it up to you to make the recovery CD ASAP.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

--

http://www.bootdisk.com/

[Guest Plato]

Re: ? ? Did my "License" die with my HD ? ?

 

=?Utf-8?B?MkR1bWIyQmFja3Vw?= wrote:

>

> I bought a computer with XP home on it. Of course, I didn't ever make the

> recovery disc they tell you to make, so when my hard drive crashed (hard) I

 

Now your stuck with either asking, or demanding, a recovery CD from your

PC maker. It may or may not cost.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

--

http://www.bootdisk.com/

[Guest Zilbandy]

Re: ? ? Did my "License" die with my HD ? ?

 

On Sun, 02 Sep 2007 15:31:46 -0500, Uncle Grumpy

<unclegrumpy@ameritech.net> wrote:

>>Is the motherboard a single component?

>

>That's a really DUMB question.

 

Why is it a dumb question?

 

--

Zilbandy

[Guest Bruce Chambers]

Re: ? ? Did my "License" die with my HD ? ?

 

2Dumb2Backup wrote:

> This happened to be a Compaq. I own another Compaq a couple of years newer

> and a little faster. It is still working. Should I be able to make a

> "recovery" disc from that computer and then use it to install on the new hard

> drive of the dead computer?

> Thanks again to everyone for all their comments and assistance.

> 2d2bu

>

 

 

If they're identical models with identical motherboards (very unlikely,

after two years), it might work. It'd be a long shot. Have you tried

to contact Compaq (HP, now) to ask about obtaining a replacement

Recovery CD?

 

 

--

 

Bruce Chambers

 

Help us help you:

http://dts-l.org/goodpost.htm

http://www.catb.org/~esr/faqs/smart-questions.html

 

They that can give up essential liberty to obtain a little temporary

safety deserve neither liberty nor safety. -Benjamin Franklin

 

Many people would rather die than think; in fact, most do. -Bertrand Russell

[Guest Alias]

Re: ? ? Did my "License" die with my HD ? ?

 

Zilbandy wrote:

> On Sun, 02 Sep 2007 15:31:46 -0500, Uncle Grumpy

> <unclegrumpy@ameritech.net> wrote:

>

>>> Is the motherboard a single component?

>> That's a really DUMB question.

>

> Why is it a dumb question?

>

 

Don't mind him; his screen name says it all.

 

--

Alias

To email me, remove shoes

[choka]

Re: ? ? Did my "License" die with my HD ? ?

 

You should backup your cd keys more than products. If your system still runs you can use special software to recover your Windows key. Most of them support some versions of Windows and some other Microsoft products. Also there is a products like "Recover Keys" ( Recover Lost Product Keys for Microsoft Windows 2000, XP, 2003, Vista, Office, SQL, Exchange - CD-Key Retrieve - Overview ) that support all Windows versions and 300+ of other major software packages.