Anyway I can get Windows XP Home disc FREE??

[DigitalCancer]

I bought a Gateway laptop awhile back, and just recently needed to format it. It had some CD-R's with it to make a recovery disc, which my wife never got around to. I had no choice but to format it, and so i went ahead and done so and put Windows XP Pro on it. Well, today i sold the laptop so i'm needing to format it at least back to Windows XP Home, which is the COA i have for it. I think, no problem and begin opening the 'Windows XP Home Start Here' thingy. Well, to my surprise, NO DISC!!! They did not give me a disc, so i am screwed, except for d/l'ing a copy which is what i'm doing this very moment. What i need to know tho, is there a way that i could persuade MS to send an OEM disc to the buyer of the laptop? I mean, its ridiculous cause i paid for XP Home and didn't even get a hard-copy of it. It didn't explain that i couldn't restore my computer w/o the restore discs. I thought i at least had the OS in the box. thanks for any help on this.

 

[fbrdphreak]

You didn't pay for a copy of XP Home. You paid for a laptop with an XP license that Gateway bought and used on that computer.

http://forums.anandtech.com/messageview...atid=40&threadid=1925670&enterthread=y

 

[DigitalCancer]

but legally i am allowed to use a burned disc though right?? Cause i mean, thats what they were wanting me to do in the first place, thing came w/ 6 CDR to burn to.

 

[MaverickBP]

Originally posted by: DigitalCancer
but legally i am allowed to use a burned disc though right?? Cause i mean, thats what they were wanting me to do in the first place, thing came w/ 6 CDR to burn to.

...

 

[Baked]

You didn't pay for XP Home, you paid for the license to use it on your laptop. Want a legal copy of XP Home? Buy it.

 

[DeviousTrap]

Originally posted by: Baked
You didn't pay for XP Home, you paid for the license to use it on your laptop. Want a legal copy of XP Home? Buy it.

So if he paid for the license why isn't it a legal copy? The COA is the proof of ownership, not the CD.

 

[waggy]

Originally posted by: DigitalCancer
but legally i am allowed to use a burned disc though right?? Cause i mean, thats what they were wanting me to do in the first place, thing came w/ 6 CDR to burn to.

yeah...

 

[DigitalCancer]

yes, but what i'm saying is that i have rights to the license right? And, i was supposed burn a 'restore' disc which would have meant, me burning WindowsXP Home. So legally, i can own a burned copy of XP Home?

 

[AgaBoogaBoo]

lol just use any XP Home CD you can get a hold of with the license your computer came with... and btw, wrong forum

 

[Nerva]

i am having the same problem.

 

[Shawn]

Originally posted by: DigitalCancer
yes, but what i'm saying is that i have rights to the license right? And, i was supposed burn a 'restore' disc which would have meant, me burning WindowsXP Home. So legally, i can own a burned copy of XP Home?

Who cares? Just download an OEM copy from bittorant and it'll work fine. That's exactly what I did for my dell laptops. I called up M$ to activate it and they didn't seem to care one bit.

 

[intogamer]

Request the CD from gateway if you can

 

[MercenaryForHire]

Originally posted by: DigitalCancer
yes, but what i'm saying is that i have rights to the license right? And, i was supposed burn a 'restore' disc which would have meant, me burning WindowsXP Home. So legally, i can own a burned copy of XP Home?

You could own a burned Gateway OEM copy - not a burned full retail copy.

You'll have to go through a song & dance to get it activated, and you wouldn't be allowed to hand that burned media over to the next owner - but that would work.

- M4H

 

[Nerva]

Originally posted by: MercenaryForHire

Originally posted by: DigitalCancer
yes, but what i'm saying is that i have rights to the license right? And, i was supposed burn a 'restore' disc which would have meant, me burning WindowsXP Home. So legally, i can own a burned copy of XP Home?

You could own a burned Gateway OEM copy - not a burned full retail copy.

You'll have to go through a song & dance to get it activated, and you wouldn't be allowed to hand that burned media over to the next owner - but that would work.

- M4H

you just have to call microsoft and tell them the key under your laptop?