Holy crap, I just BONED MS into giving me a free product key!

NikPreviousAcct

No Lifer
Aug 15, 2000
52,763
1
0
I bought Win98 from my neighbor in exchange for help with his computer. He didn't have cash to pay me, so he tossed me his OEM Win98se disk since he just bought WinXP Home. He couldn't find the COA or the CD Key, so I just told him not to worry about it. My great aunt is buying a business, but owner is going to take the HDD out of the company computer. I'll replace it for her, but I've not found a place that sells legit copies of Win98se for the PC (PII).

I called up MS (800-936-5700) and told them that I've got an OEM Win98se CD from my neighbor but he lost the key and that I would be happy to purchase a new key. The guy said he'd just generate a new key for it and gave it to me. :Q Sweet! Now I have a legit Win98se CD and key for use with my great aunt's new business!

Now all I need is a legit copy of Office 97 or Office 2000 if I can find one. Pointers, anyone?
 

notfred

Lifer
Feb 12, 2001
38,241
4
0
Uh, all you have to do is call them up and say "I lost my product key" and they give you a new one. That's hardly "muscling" anyone.
 

tallest1

Diamond Member
Jul 11, 2001
3,474
0
0
I called up MS (800-936-5700) and told them that I've got an OEM Win98se CD from my neighbor but he lost the key and that I would be happy to purchase a new key.

You call THAT muscling Microsoft?
 

RaDragon

Diamond Member
May 23, 2000
4,123
1
71
I haven't seen anyone this excited over a Win98SE CDKey since, Win98 was released! ;)
 

waggy

No Lifer
Dec 14, 2000
68,143
10
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wtf that is NOT muscling MS.

you have a legit OEM cd and lost the key. they will give you a NEW one if you need it.
 

NikPreviousAcct

No Lifer
Aug 15, 2000
52,763
1
0
Jesus you guys, calm down. I was obviously exaggerating. :roll: I didn't think it would be that easy to get a new key. How do they know I'm not using a burned copy? Cripes, I wonder how many people take advantage of this...
 

notfred

Lifer
Feb 12, 2001
38,241
4
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Originally posted by: Nik
Jesus you guys, calm down. I was obviously exaggerating. :roll: I didn't think it would be that easy to get a new key. How do they know I'm not using a burned copy? Cripes, I wonder how many people take advantage of this...

How many people do you know with burned copies that don't have a CD-key written in sharpie right on the disc?
 

ironcrotch

Diamond Member
May 11, 2004
7,749
0
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Haha. You forgot to put your flame suit on Nik.

I bet he didn't give a poo cuz it was a Win9x cd key, I bet it would be a lot different if you asked for a 2000/XP key.

Good job tho. :thumbsup:
 

NikPreviousAcct

No Lifer
Aug 15, 2000
52,763
1
0
Originally posted by: notfred
Originally posted by: Nik
Jesus you guys, calm down. I was obviously exaggerating. :roll: I didn't think it would be that easy to get a new key. How do they know I'm not using a burned copy? Cripes, I wonder how many people take advantage of this...

How many people do you know with burned copies that don't have a CD-key written in sharpie right on the disc?

Me. I've got a disk for every release of err... random 1's and 0's. :p
 

Stark

Diamond Member
Jun 16, 2000
7,735
0
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that's actually sort of suprising.

OEM is supposed to live and die on the pc it came with. they should have at least mentioned that fact before pumping out a new key. i guess they don't care much in india... they get paid to keep the traffic flowing and call times low, not to educate on licensing.
 

NikPreviousAcct

No Lifer
Aug 15, 2000
52,763
1
0
Originally posted by: Stark
that's actually sort of suprising.

OEM is supposed to live and die on the pc it came with. they should have at least mentioned that fact before pumping out a new key. i guess they don't care much in india... they get paid to keep the traffic flowing and call times low, not to educate on licensing.

haha I talked to an Indian guy, too :p
 

RossMAN

Grand Nagus
Feb 24, 2000
79,091
457
136
What's your great aunt's business?

You should register a domain for her business and you can provide web hosting :)
 

AkumaX

Lifer
Apr 20, 2000
12,648
4
81
how do you know you were talking to MS tech support?

what if it was just some bootlegger on the otherside w/ a keygen :p
 

NikPreviousAcct

No Lifer
Aug 15, 2000
52,763
1
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Originally posted by: RossMAN
What's your great aunt's business?

You should register a domain for her business and you can provide web hosting :)

I should. :D She's an antique dealer. She does most of her online business on Ebay, though. She does a fair amount of business every month!
 

NikPreviousAcct

No Lifer
Aug 15, 2000
52,763
1
0
I'd thought about that, but she's an extremely slow learner and freaks out when she sees a computer environment that she's not already familiar with. I think she's way past the point of teaching an old dog new tricks. :p