in message
Good catch, I didn't think it would be a problem, I was just doing
some Google Groups searches after my original post and saw that
group
was there so I added it. Since the threads have remained in each of
the reponses to which I added the new group, I don't think the
'missing post' criticism is valid. Since I'm replying to you here,
I'll leave the original groups, as you desire.
The parent post (original post and some in the subthread) won't be in
the newly added group. All the other subthreads will also be missing
from the newly added newsgroup. That means a thread pops up in the
middle of the discussion and all the other threads are missing in the
new group. Because I changed the Newsgroups header to the original
list, now the thread disappears from the other newsgroup. It popped
up in the middle of the discussion with all the other subthreads
missing and now it disappeared over there.
No, does that mean that the SW license is no longer valid as well? I
need to keep buying it every time a piece of HW fails?
You are asking about a pre-built computer with pre-installed software,
including the OS. It is highly likely that you have a name-branded
OEM version of Windows. That means the license for the software goes
with whatever host on which it was first installed. If you were still
under a support plan then getting the replacement CDs *might* be free
(but is not an absolute guarantee of such). Only someone that owns an
HP host that was still under the support plan and had to order the
replacement recovery CDs would know if they had to pay for them.
A broken HD is not equivalent to a SW license. Nice try at a new
business model, but no go. Who in their right minds would equate a
crashed HD to additional SW costs? Your claim that this PC doesn't
have a legitimate license is baseless.
For the version that YOU are trying to use, it is not baseless. You
are trying to use a different license than the one that was
distributed with this particular host. You didn't mention until later
that "received it broken" meant you were trying to repair someone
else's host and wasn't something that YOU received as you said you
did. Getting a broken host (for yourself) usually means you get is
as-is and that usually means the original owner kept the software
license for their own use on their new host that replaced their broken
one that they palmed off to you.
You're missing the point, I didn't suggest that anyone should send
me
anything for free. I was saying that I should expect to be able to
install XP using Microsoft's own media, and using a key code that
came
with the PC. Like other manufacturers do.
Manufacturer use images, sysprep, or other tools to lay the same image
on the same model of their pre-built units that they sell. They buy
volume licenses. That's not what you have. You can install using
Microsoft's own media as long as you use the correct installation
media. It is irrelevant on how you managed to do "it" before. You
are blocked from doing "it" now because you are doing "it" wrong.
You "received it broken". Then later you claim that you are repairing
it for someone else who never bothered to create the recovery CDs. So
now you, er, that owner will have to go get the recovery CDs. Or, I
suppose, they could buy a legit copy and do an install of that and
then go get all the drivers. Looks like you were trying to impress
someone with your computer skills, got stymied, and now don't want to
tell that owner that you cannot repair their computer without
additional cost. In the meantime, the owner is still waiting for a
solution, even if it has them getting the recovery CD set from HP.
You don't have the tools to do the repair, so tell the owner, get to
ripping off the bandage quick, and have them order the recovery CDs.
The product key on the sticker is for an HP-branded version of Windows
Home (OEM). When HP punches out their pre-builts, they generate their
own license keys based on their volume license that gets distributed
using image, sysprep, or whatever. That license needs to be used with
HP's install, but HP's "install" is an image (i.e., the recovery CDs).
Their product key is for their "install" and probably won't work with
the generic OEM and retail CDs that you are trying to use. So you
could tell the owner to order the HP recovery CDs (make sure they
specify the correct Windows version) or you could do the install using
your OEM or retails CDs and use their product keys and lose that copy
of Windows.
