WTF, notebook manufacturers don't give you a CD copy of XP anymore with your new laptop?

[NFS4]

Originally posted by: CheapArse

Originally posted by: NFS4

Originally posted by: CheapArse

Originally posted by: NFS4

Originally posted by: CheapArse
why did you buy a gateway from bestbuy?

Had some GC's and it was advertised as $650 with no rebates for a 5.5 lb unit.

You need it right now? Im still wondering why you paid almost the same price for a celeron in a gateway? Why not a Pentium M Dell?

If you can get me a Dell Pentium M for $500 (after my GC's and tax), then by all mean tell me where

GC = straigt cash pretty much on ebay, also...I dunno if its the same in NC, but in CA stores are required to cash out gift cards. The Dells can be had for $750 which is just a $100 more than your celey and its not a gateway.

Either way, I say :thumbsup: for a new notebook....just trying to understand the method to your madness.

$750 + tax for Dell in NC. So I'd be looking at $800+ for the Dell. Also, BB only lets you cash in Rebate Merchandise cards, not actual Gift Cards.

Also, GC on eBay always net less money anyway + shipping + eBay/PayPal fees. Especially if it's for a large amount.

 

[NFS4]

Originally posted by: The Boss
your key should be printed under the laptop. all my past and current laptops had it.

Yeah, the XP Home key is printed on the bottom. I also have a copy of XP Pro on my desktop system.

 

[sygyzy]

Yup, that's the case with most MFG's.

 

[Viper GTS]

You can thank Microsoft for all the new policies.

Thankfully I ordered my Dimension a month before they changed.

Viper GTS

 

[NFS4]

Hehe, I just shared the drive on the network and accessed it from my desktop PC so now I'm able to see everything on the drive (w/o that PC Angel bitching at me). I'll just copy everything over to my desktop PC and burn a CD or DVD

 

[Peetoeng]

Originally posted by: NFS4
Hehe, I just shared the drive on the network and accessed it from my desktop PC so now I'm able to see everything on the drive (w/o that PC Angel bitching at me). I'll just copy everything over to my desktop PC and burn a CD or DVD

Get some :beer:, because it's time for repartition and full low-level formatting.

 

[FreshPrince]

I have used linux to wipe out all partitions, including the utility partition on a gw before. So a total clean install is possible.

 

[Viper GTS]

Originally posted by: FreshPrince
I have used linux to wipe out all partitions, including the utility partition on a gw before. So a total clean install is possible.

Little utility called ZAP is the proper tool for such situations.

Viper GTS

 

[UNCjigga]

Just use a pre-existing copy you have and use the Windows XP product key on the bottom of your laptop.

Of course, half the time the activation gets messed up and you have to call them to confirm your product ID (this happened on my friend's Gateway) but they'll let u do it and it only takes 5 minutes.

 

[mrSHEiK124]

hah, Dell offers an option to burn a plain Windows XP install CD, driver free and all (it pretty much allows you to burn an OEM XP disc)
And, typing "Dell Coupons" into Google will lead you to some nice things, like 750 off 1899 and stuff

 

[tfinch2]

My Acer from the CC deal came with CDs.

A little Off-Topic but Gateway notebooks are terrible. I work in IT on campus during last Spring semester and I'd say 50% of the notebooks that came in were Gateways. THE HINGES SUCK TOO!

 

[Pepsi90919]

Originally posted by: Evadman
Pull the key out of the registry, get a copy of XP home, pro from just about anywhere, use key from your registry, and you are good to go.

lol. not really.

 

[Pepsi90919]

Originally posted by: Pepsei

Originally posted by: Evadman
Pull the key out of the registry, get a copy of XP home, pro from just about anywhere, use key from your registry, and you are good to go.

oh yeah, sometimes the key is on a sticker UNDER the laptop, makes it hard to install when the laptop is in the fricking docking station or what do they call it now? port replicator.

OH NOES HE HAS TO LIFT UP HIS LAPTOP 7 INCHES!! THERE'S WARS GOING ON IN THE MIDDLE EAST BUT TEH WHOLE WORLD WILL COME TO A STOP BECAUSE OF THIS IMPENDING CRISIS!!!!!!11

 

[Choralone]

Originally posted by: Heisenberg
Some do, some don't.

Exactly. Dell gives you a slightly modified Win XP "restore" CD along with other disks with drivers and apps and such. HP usually just throws a restore partition on the HDD. Compaq branded HP laptops often have a recovery CD set with them or a restore parition. Toshiba laptops include recovery CD's or DVD's with a Toshiba custimized base image on them. IBM err I mean Lenovo Thinkpads used to come with recovery CD's, but in the last year or two they started putting a recovery partition on the HDD and usually give you the option of burning what's on that partition to CD or DVD as a backup in the even the HDD were to fail.

As others have said you can thank MS for this as they've tweaked the policies on how OEM's can give software out to their customers for reload purposes. The way HP, Gateway and Lenovo do things now (partition on the HDD) allow you to do a system reload more quickly and/or allow you to reload only the OS, but if the HDD dies you're screwed.

Usually if you're in a situation where your HDD dies and the machine is under warranty the OEM will send you a replacement HDD with the OS preloaded if your machine arrived with only a recovery partition and no option to create backups. But if your warranty is up either be prepared to pay out the rear for one of those drives, or buy yourself a new copy of XP and a HDD.

 

[mobobuff]

Originally posted by: Peetoeng

Originally posted by: NFS4
Hehe, I just shared the drive on the network and accessed it from my desktop PC so now I'm able to see everything on the drive (w/o that PC Angel bitching at me). I'll just copy everything over to my desktop PC and burn a CD or DVD

Get some :beer:, because it's time for repartition and full low-level formatting.

Why would you low-level format an IDE hard drive?

 

[NFS4]

Bah, nothing on the hard drive to make an install CD. Bah humbug. Oh well.

 

[Pepsi90919]

Originally posted by: mobobuff

Originally posted by: Peetoeng

Originally posted by: NFS4
Hehe, I just shared the drive on the network and accessed it from my desktop PC so now I'm able to see everything on the drive (w/o that PC Angel bitching at me). I'll just copy everything over to my desktop PC and burn a CD or DVD

Get some :beer:, because it's time for repartition and full low-level formatting.

Why would you low-level format an IDE hard drive?

what does IDE have to do with anything?

 

[FreshPrince]

OEM XP Pro corporate edition media + OEM XP Pro corporate edition key always works for me

If you still can't find a key, call M$, explain the situation to them, they will send you one.

Or, you can try GW, they might send you one as well.

 

[RossMAN]

My Dell Inspiron 700m didn't come with an XP Home CD.

Gotta call them up and ask for one.

 

[mobobuff]

Originally posted by: Pepsi90919

Originally posted by: mobobuff

Originally posted by: Peetoeng

Originally posted by: NFS4
Hehe, I just shared the drive on the network and accessed it from my desktop PC so now I'm able to see everything on the drive (w/o that PC Angel bitching at me). I'll just copy everything over to my desktop PC and burn a CD or DVD

Get some :beer:, because it's time for repartition and full low-level formatting.

Why would you low-level format an IDE hard drive?

what does IDE have to do with anything?

I'm asking why he'd want to low-level format an IDE hard drive, when a low-level format is done at the factory.

 

[Wahsapa]

stop bitching and get a mac...?

 

[BRObedoza]

toshiba gave me one

 

[MrCodeDude]

You know what sucks. Use a Windows Key Identifier then put that key into Google.

I did that with my Acer Ferrari and realized that Acer must use the same serial number for lines of their laptops or something. There were listings of different companies such as Dell, Sony, HP, Toshiba, etc. with those keys listed as well.