Windows XP Pro COA but No disk

[Guest Rob Rich]

Hi,

 

I have a COA attached to my gateway PC but no recovery disk.

 

I have contacted Gateway (MPC) and was told that they cannot help me because

I am not the original owner of the computer and its now out of warranty. I'm

not asking for support with this pc, I just want the recovery disks for

Windows XP. I'm even willing to purchase them.

 

Are they responsible for providing support for Windows XP that they

installed on one of their PC's? Just because its out of warranty, shouldn't

negate the fact that they provided the PC with windows XP. On the OEM System

Buidlers version, it specifically states that the builder of the pc is

responsible for providing support.

 

So can they refuse me support on this microsoft software?

 

Thanks

[Guest John]

Re: Windows XP Pro COA but No disk

 

 

"Rob Rich" <Rob Rich@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote in message

news:11D253AB-8DDB-47DE-8BC3-4BDE97E5F0E6@microsoft.com...

> I have a COA attached to my gateway PC but no recovery disk.

 

You may not need one. There may be a recovery partition on the HD. Take a

look at the following:

http://support.gateway.com/s/SOFTWARE/Medialess/FAQ/SUPPAGE01su44.shtml

> I just want the recovery disks for

> Windows XP. I'm even willing to purchase them.

 

You should be able to purchase recovery discs. Have you checked their site?

> So can they refuse me support on this microsoft software?

 

Sure if it's out of warranty.

[Guest Colin Barnhorst]

Re: Windows XP Pro COA but No disk

 

Also try http://www.restoredisks.com/

 

"Rob Rich" <Rob Rich@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote in message

news:11D253AB-8DDB-47DE-8BC3-4BDE97E5F0E6@microsoft.com...

>

> Hi,

>

> I have a COA attached to my gateway PC but no recovery disk.

>

> I have contacted Gateway (MPC) and was told that they cannot help me

> because

> I am not the original owner of the computer and its now out of warranty.

> I'm

> not asking for support with this pc, I just want the recovery disks for

> Windows XP. I'm even willing to purchase them.

>

> Are they responsible for providing support for Windows XP that they

> installed on one of their PC's? Just because its out of warranty,

> shouldn't

> negate the fact that they provided the PC with windows XP. On the OEM

> System

> Buidlers version, it specifically states that the builder of the pc is

> responsible for providing support.

>

> So can they refuse me support on this microsoft software?

>

> Thanks

>

[Guest Rob Rich]

Re: Windows XP Pro COA but No disk

 

 

Yeah there is no recovery partition on the HD.

 

So what is the minimum amount of time that a computer builder has to offer

support to the end user for the operating system license?

 

Or is that just not required? Can these large PC manufacturers just build a

PC, install windows xp with their volume licensing and then turn around and

not provide any end user support for the operating system?

 

 

 

"John" wrote:

>

> "Rob Rich" <Rob Rich@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote in message

> news:11D253AB-8DDB-47DE-8BC3-4BDE97E5F0E6@microsoft.com...

> > I have a COA attached to my gateway PC but no recovery disk.

>

> You may not need one. There may be a recovery partition on the HD. Take a

> look at the following:

> http://support.gateway.com/s/SOFTWARE/Medialess/FAQ/SUPPAGE01su44.shtml

>

> > I just want the recovery disks for

> > Windows XP. I'm even willing to purchase them.

>

> You should be able to purchase recovery discs. Have you checked their site?

>

> > So can they refuse me support on this microsoft software?

>

> Sure if it's out of warranty.

>

>

>

[Guest HeyBub]

Re: Windows XP Pro COA but No disk

 

Rob Rich wrote:

> Yeah there is no recovery partition on the HD.

>

> So what is the minimum amount of time that a computer builder has to

> offer support to the end user for the operating system license?

>

> Or is that just not required? Can these large PC manufacturers just

> build a PC, install windows xp with their volume licensing and then

> turn around and not provide any end user support for the operating

> system?

>

>

 

Sure. Why not?

 

Their only commitment is to provide the original purchaser with the ability

to restore the system to its pristine state.

 

You should have insisted on the same deal from the guy from whom you bought

the machine.

 

You should be able to pick up XP Home for a couple of hundred bucks. No

biggie.

[Guest Daave]

Re: Windows XP Pro COA but No disk

 

HeyBub wrote:

> You should be able to pick up XP Home for a couple of hundred bucks.

> No biggie.

 

A couple hundred bucks may be no biggie to you, but I'm sure it's a big

deal to most other people.

[Guest Daave]

Re: Windows XP Pro COA but No disk

 

Rob Rich wrote:

> "John" wrote:

>

>>

>> "Rob Rich" <Rob Rich@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote in message

>> news:11D253AB-8DDB-47DE-8BC3-4BDE97E5F0E6@microsoft.com...

>>> I have a COA attached to my gateway PC but no recovery disk.

>>

>> You may not need one. There may be a recovery partition on the HD.

>> Take a look at the following:

>>

http://support.gateway.com/s/SOFTWARE/Medialess/FAQ/SUPPAGE01su44.shtml

>>

>>> I just want the recovery disks for

>>> Windows XP. I'm even willing to purchase them.

>>

>> You should be able to purchase recovery discs. Have you checked

>> their site?

>>

>>> So can they refuse me support on this microsoft software?

>>

>> Sure if it's out of warranty.

> Yeah there is no recovery partition on the HD.

>

> So what is the minimum amount of time that a computer builder has to

> offer support to the end user for the operating system license?

 

Gateway's responsibility is to provide the original purchaser with a

means to restore the PC to its original state. If there is no recovery

partition on the hard drive, then there should be a recovery or

installation disk (unless the original owner wiped the recovery

partition for some reason). If you purchased a used PC with XP, then you

need to make sure the person selling you the PC gives you the same means

to restore the PC to its original state; that is, you should have

demanded the seller give you the disk(s). This is not and should be

Gateway's responsibility at this point.

> Or is that just not required? Can these large PC manufacturers just

> build a PC, install windows xp with their volume licensing and then

> turn around and not provide any end user support for the operating

> system?

 

AFAIK, no one is required to provide support at all for free, just the

means to restore the PC to its original state. Since you stated that you

don't mind paying for the recovery disk, if Gateway won't sell you one,

you should be able to find one for a reasonable price at

http://www.restoredisks.com .

[Guest Bill in Co.]

Re: Windows XP Pro COA but No disk

 

And the XP Upgrade CD is half that, at $100 (that might be an option, if he

has a previous qualifying version of MS Windows).

 

Daave wrote:

> HeyBub wrote:

>

>> You should be able to pick up XP Home for a couple of hundred bucks.

>> No biggie.

>

> A couple hundred bucks may be no biggie to you, but I'm sure it's a big

> deal to most other people.

[Guest Rob Rich]

Re: Windows XP Pro COA but No disk

 

 

I always thought the reason the OEM System Builder version of Windows XP was

cheaper is because the system builder is responsible for providing support.

 

Microsoft does not provide support on the OEM versions of Windows XP. It is

the responsibility of the system builder. In exchange for a discount price

on the license.

 

So that doesn't make sense that the system builder is not responsible. They

are responisble for providing support in exchange for the discount on the

software. Otherwise they need to be installing retail versions, so microsoft

can properly support the product.

 

 

 

 

A System

 

"Daave" wrote:

> Rob Rich wrote:

>

> > "John" wrote:

> >

> >>

> >> "Rob Rich" <Rob Rich@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote in message

> >> news:11D253AB-8DDB-47DE-8BC3-4BDE97E5F0E6@microsoft.com...

> >>> I have a COA attached to my gateway PC but no recovery disk.

> >>

> >> You may not need one. There may be a recovery partition on the HD.

> >> Take a look at the following:

> >>

> http://support.gateway.com/s/SOFTWARE/Medialess/FAQ/SUPPAGE01su44.shtml

> >>

> >>> I just want the recovery disks for

> >>> Windows XP. I'm even willing to purchase them.

> >>

> >> You should be able to purchase recovery discs. Have you checked

> >> their site?

> >>

> >>> So can they refuse me support on this microsoft software?

> >>

> >> Sure if it's out of warranty.

>

> > Yeah there is no recovery partition on the HD.

> >

> > So what is the minimum amount of time that a computer builder has to

> > offer support to the end user for the operating system license?

>

> Gateway's responsibility is to provide the original purchaser with a

> means to restore the PC to its original state. If there is no recovery

> partition on the hard drive, then there should be a recovery or

> installation disk (unless the original owner wiped the recovery

> partition for some reason). If you purchased a used PC with XP, then you

> need to make sure the person selling you the PC gives you the same means

> to restore the PC to its original state; that is, you should have

> demanded the seller give you the disk(s). This is not and should be

> Gateway's responsibility at this point.

>

> > Or is that just not required? Can these large PC manufacturers just

> > build a PC, install windows xp with their volume licensing and then

> > turn around and not provide any end user support for the operating

> > system?

>

> AFAIK, no one is required to provide support at all for free, just the

> means to restore the PC to its original state. Since you stated that you

> don't mind paying for the recovery disk, if Gateway won't sell you one,

> you should be able to find one for a reasonable price at

> http://www.restoredisks.com .

>

>

>

[Guest Daave]

Re: Windows XP Pro COA but No disk

 

Rob Rich wrote:

> I always thought the reason the OEM System Builder version of Windows

> XP was cheaper is because the system builder is responsible for

> providing support.

 

The reason it is cheaper is because it isn't transferrable. Once an OEM

version is installed on a particular machine, it's there for good. That

is, the license is tied to that particular machine. A retail version,

OTOH, may be transferred to other PCs. I think the word "support" here

is used in a very narrow sense. I'll let others more familiar with it

chime in if they wish.

[Guest Daave]

Re: Windows XP Pro COA but No disk

 

Daave wrote:

> Rob Rich wrote:

>> I always thought the reason the OEM System Builder version of Windows

>> XP was cheaper is because the system builder is responsible for

>> providing support.

>

> The reason it is cheaper is because it isn't transferrable. Once an

> OEM version is installed on a particular machine, it's there for

> good. That is, the license is tied to that particular machine. A

> retail version, OTOH, may be transferred to other PCs. I think the

> word "support" here is used in a very narrow sense. I'll let others

> more familiar with it chime in if they wish.

 

Here's something:

 

http://www.microsoft.com/windowsxp/using/helpandsupport/learnmore/tips/kelly96.mspx

 

"If you have a retail version of Windows XP Home Edition or Windows XP

Professional, you are eligible for unlimited no-charge installation

support (for versions of Windows XP not preinstalled on your computer)

and two no-charge personal support incidents by phone or online."

[Guest Avi Greenbury]

Re: Windows XP Pro COA but No disk

 

On Wed, 19 Mar 2008 23:42:00 -0700, Rob Rich wrote:

> I always thought the reason the OEM System Builder version of Windows XP

> was cheaper is because the system builder is responsible for providing

> support.

 

I'd always thought it was like that to make it less worth buying the box

without Windows, and/or with a different OS.