How to get installation CD from Microsoft?

I bought an Acer Aspire 5102 from Circuit City yesterday and I got Windows Media Center with it. The guy at Circuit City asked me whether I want the Windows installation CD or not and I declined since the price he asked for it was $69USD.

I have seen that Dell or HP offers the installation CD for an additional $10. So why should I pay 59$ more for something that I already own. Microsoft should be providing me with a installation CD anyway, right? So how should I get one from them? Call them up? Or should I call Acer?

Help needed..

 

Contact Acer.

This is my gripe. However money talks, and Microsoft will let companies rob customers blind

 

You're wrong LFC.

Microsoft will try to rob the customers first, and then let their company henchman give it a shot.

 

when you turn on your computer it should ask you if you want to make a backup disc

 

Yeah but the backup disk is just an image of the initial installation, not a clean OS cd like the OP is asking for.

 

Download it, or borrow and burn an OEM copy from a ma' and pa' computer shop. You own the OEM licence to the software so just grab it from either place. You're fine as long as you keep your licences matched up.

 

Microsoft have no obligation to provide you anything, you have a license from them, nothing more, nothing less.

Acer can (for a price) provide a restore CD that will get your system back to factory fresh, but again they don't (to the best of my knowledge) provide actual Windows XP CD's, just restore disks (bloatware included).

What you had been offered was a raw OS install CD (I would assume anyway) without all the bloatware that comes with restore CD's.

 

this is not a microsoft issue, it's an Acer issue.

you should contact Acer.

 

Seeing as how most systems come with a lot of unnecessary software that you would want to delete anyway, after you remove all the junk and "free" "come-ons", make your own "clean" back-up using something like Norton's Ghost or Acronis True Image.

You should have some kind of backup software anyway for future use. Might as well get it from the start.

 

Yes, this is what I was thinking. If I download a 'pirated' copy and then use it to install Windows later on when I need it but I put in my own license/product key, I should be within the law, right?

And where do I find my product key?

Thanks for the replies.

 

Turn your laptop upside down. It's on the bottom...

 

Your license is on the bottom of your notebook (bluish sticker)

But note this is an OEM license and doesn't work for the regular home/professional edition.

 

That's illegal, but it would work. Distributing ANY pirated software, whether you're sending or receiving, violates copyright laws. Even possessing pirated software is a violation.

The reason for this? Downloading pirated software encourages more piracy.

I'm surprised that this thread hasn't been locked actually...

 

Just borow a xp pro cd and install using any key that you know will not pass the genuine advantage check on windows update.

When you get the genuine advantage installed it will tell you your key is no good. It will then walk you thru the changing of your key to a real one. At this point, use the key on the bottom of the notebook and walla

 

The license agreement with Microsoft does not say that I can install Windows only for the first time when the PC is initially bought. Since I have bought the rights to use Windows on my PC, I can reinstall it as many times as I like while complying with all license agreements. I understand why it is not preferable to download a copy of Windows from a website but I would not be doing it had Microsoft sent me a CD to me.

And why exactly does the fact that this thread has not been locked yet surprise you?

 

Thanks LMBfishingCT. I presume that the same process will work for Windows MCE?

 

you have the right to have windows on your computer, yes, but not the right to obtain and use an illegal copy.

 

And where exactly am I using an illegal copy? I will be using my own product key.

 

Im not sure about MCE. I only had access to XP Pro, and could realy care less about all that extra junk MCE comes with.

Just make sure you can go back if it doesnt work out.

 

The site that you download your copy of windows from most likely doesn't have the rights to distribute it, thus making it pirated. While the software may be legal on someone's comp, distributing it freely is piracy. Thus, making the copy that you would download illegal.

****...where I my debate skillz....lol

 

Chris2pher71: But that's the owner of the site's problem, not his problem for downloading it. It doesn't matter where he gets his install media, as long as he has a legal product key tied to a legally obtained license. Microsoft would LOVE for you to believe otherwise, but it's not true. The license key gives you the legal right (which is also dubious, as EULA's are kinda funky ground) to use a COPY of the software (the copy in copyright...). Where the actual bits come from is irrelevant.

 

That's not what the lawyers who sued napster said...

To tell you the truth, i don't care. MSFT won't know. He just wanted to know if it was legal, so I told him.

 

Chris, from what I understand, the owner of the site distributing Windows will be in trouble but as long as I am using my own paid-for version of Windows, I see little scope of Microsoft winning something against me in a lawsuit (though I agree that MS won't know anyway).

 

AMD_Fan, don't worry about it. Most local computer shops will make you a copy of XP.

And for one of those who said the key will not work with the standard edition of XP Home/Pro, yes, it will. You may have to call MS, but just explain to them that you are re-installing your OS. When they ask "did this version come with your computer, or was it purchased", tell them it came with it. They have no way of telling if it's the manufactor's disc or not.

 

Does Gateway provide the installation CD as well?

 

I think you'd better ask your question in the gateway section of the forums. More gateway users are likely to see your question there.

 

Gateway, No, they offer a utility to create a rescue disk. My advise is to use your utility to make a restore disk, remove the bloatware, and use ghost or Acronis Disk Image to make a copy of your desired install.
When you purchased your laptop, you purchased that version of windows currently installed, and a license for it. Because you lost it, by choice or not, doesnt mean anyone has to provide you with another. Luckily OEMs provide you with means to reinstall your OS (to thier specs).

 

Who cares about using a bootlegged CD. If they would have included one in the first place people would not have to resort to doing so.

You paid for that serial on the bottom of your laptop!!!

 

Does not change the fact that you are, essentially, STEALING.

 

No. Your not.

When you give money to microsoft, you are paying for the use of the software.

NOT the media it is stamped on.

Napster has nothing to do with this.

 

they (napster) set the precedent that both parties who share the not-so-genuine software are breaking laws.

In other news, since this topic gets so much ranting and raving, I'll start a controversy topic in the off topic forum eventually. I love arguing.

 

Yes... that was sharing CRACKED and otherwise exploited software.

That is an entirely different thing.

 

I think that putting your copy of windows on the internet for distribution falls under the otherwise exploited category.

 

Meh, its still something thats quazi legal. You can download iso's right from microsoft (MSDN)

And microsoft's academic alliance has you host the iso's localy for students to download.

 

aren't those .iso s under a different EULA?

 

No, Same retail EULA...

You pay for the LICENCE not the media.

 

I was just reading the win98 EULA (i'm reinstalling) and it said that the user is entitled to only one copy the software made by the backup disk utility. I'm pretty sure the XP one says the same thing. It also prohibits distribution.

 

Meh, take it up with Microsoft.

I keep iso's of nearly all my disks i need up where i can get to them on the net. I use them for myself and i think i am completely in the right.

Also... You think Microsoft is going to make a fuss over losing $0.99 over a mastered cd?

 

oh. I actually don't care about the piracy (in this case, at least) one way or the other. I'm just trying to clarify the legality of downloading windows.

Were I in AMD's situation, I'd just download the first iso I saw and install it.

 

Yes.... because that will work well...

 

If Microsoft can track your IP address to an unauthorized download of their software, they will come after you. The fact that you might ultimately prove that you have a license (and that your license makes it okay to download from an illegal source, which I doubt you'll be able to do) doesn't mean you won't have to pay a lawyer a boatload of money to defend you.

The fact that the people doing the distributing might be in bigger trouble doesn't mean that there's no chance you'll get in trouble. Just ask the people sued by the RIAA and MPAA for downloading music and movies.

 

Most new desktops & notebooks now require that you make your own recovery software.

Now how much money are they saving to not include discs? I bet alot.


So who stealing from who?

 

Doesn't matter if you have a key, MS will not allow download of their software from illegal sources. Any monkey can make recovery software, most often there is a program in the computer for that purpose. I venture that is extremely profitable to not include media for that purpose, ESPECIALLY if some people just lose it or throw it away.

 

Did your OEM provide you with a way to restore your computer back to its original state? This is ALL they are required to do. Most OEMS give you a program on c: that will restore and a backup partition that can restore. But it seems that everyone wants to restore to a level thats not OEM. If you dont like how your OEM installs, purchase a non OEM.

I also think they as a added service, the OEM should, for a very small amount, provide you with a way to download a OEM install requiring activation,with your product key, back to original state for the users who fail to make backup, uses inferior media, crashes drive, etc, AND make it BIOS locked to thier specific model. This way it wont be "cracked" so everyone can use it freely. And requiring a your product key will remove the volume key used on the original install.

 

I'm pretty sure it's illegal, but who cares. The Windows XP install on my C640 wasn't technically legal. I formatted using an OEM disc that had been copied onto the C640 which came with Win2k. Completely not legal. But it worked fine. I also just used my OEM disc that came with my M90 to install into a VM. Was that legal? Technically not. But it activated just fine. As did the C640. So so far, the score is Me 2, Microsoft 0. Their anti-piracy efforts seem pretty worthless as far as I can tell. Yeah, it's illegal, and yeah, you can get in trouble for it. But as long as you use a valid key, there doesn't seem to be much of a way that MS can tell if the actual disc is pirated or not.

Basically... yeah, it's illegal, but if you use a valid key, you're probably not going to have a problem.

 

Finding a loophole in the WPA isnt that hard. What we try to do here is offer solutions to users in need, while still maintaining integrity and legality. If Not hardly a fight for users that maintain such. I have never purchased any microsoft products, directly. Yet I have never pirated from them. I have always used OEM and VLK installs through either work or OEM purchase.
Everyone seems to think that if you own a lincense (key) this is valid on every computer you own now and forever. Ah NO. An OEM key is only valid on the computer it was installed, A VLK is only valid if you have permission or have employmeny from the company who purchased the key. You are no longer purchasing the media.

 

Can we speak to each other with out sounding like a bunch of lawyers from MS?

I bet if any of you guys needed a re-install disc like yesterday, and MS would not comply, in REAL LIFE you would do what you gotta do.

 

I received my HP nc8430 yesterday although it does not come with any recovery cds, instead you make your own from the software provided on the laptop. However, on the root of C there is an I386 directory - this is all you need to burn a Windows installation CD although you have to use this method manually. Maybe a few other manufacturers do this too? I'm currently HFSLIP'ing all the critical updates into a new installation so I can format and install XP and free up about 6GB from HPs preloaded software. I've already tested this method on a VM and it worked fine.

 

I just bought my mother a hp-desktop, HOLY SH*T!! @ all the EXTRA nonsense that is loaded on it.

 

bought one for work and spent 4 hours uninstalling crapware...i hate OEMs for forcing us to do this.

which is why i keep a XP Pro CD ready and waiting for my new laptop