Replacement Windows discs

[sorcerer]

Two or three years ago a friend came to me saying that he'd lost his original Windows installation disc but needed to reformat and reinstall, and asked what he could do. In all honesty I really didn't know, apart from just gritting his teeth and buying a new one, so that's what I suggested.

When I saw him next I asked if he'd sorted the problem and he told me that he'd contacted a local repair shop who told him to take his computer into them, so that they could see the COA sticker. When they saw that it was genuine they then (and only then) sold him a new Windows disc for a nominal sum, something like £5 or £10 if I remember correctly.

I'm assuming that there's some official scheme with Microsoft that allows bona fide computer repair businesses to buy in these discs for this purpose - anyone know what it's called or how I join?

Thanks

 

[geekhelp4u]

The correct legal answer?

A customer who wants you to reinstall Windows must provide recovery media from the direct OEM, because the software is licensed to the customer for use on that PC by that OEM. You cannot use your own OEM System Builder media to reinstall the operating system, or any other version of media (e.g., TechNet, MSDN, Action Pack, etc.), because these versions differ from the original OEM Windows license your customer acquired from the direct OEM. A customer who doesn't have a backup copy of the software for reinstallation will need to contact the original OEM and request replacement recovery media; you can use that media to reinstall the operating system on that machine.

Only an OEM can redistribute their OEM branded disk, and you should be able to contact the OEM directly to purchase them.

For example:

Dell: https://support.dell.com/support/topics/global.aspx/support/dellcare/en/backupcd_form

HP: http://h20000.www2.hp.com/bizsupport/TechSupport/Document.jsp?objectID=c00810334

Toshiba: https://www.csd.toshiba.com/cgi-bin/tais/support/jsp/serviceUnitVerification.jsp?orderType=SFF

 

[seedubya]

Not that I've heard of, though I could be wrong.

They probably just sold him a burned CD or a left over OEM CD that was lying around.

 

[Paul Rodgers]

Don't most OEMs ship install disks free of charge these days?

Will Microsoft come after you if you use the wrong disk to perform a reinstall? Probably not if you only do it when you use the customers product key for that machine.

Giving a customer that walks in a copy of an installation disk if theirs is lost is not something I would do. You don't know what that person is going to do with that disk.

 

[carrcomp]

Two or three years ago a friend came to me saying that he'd lost his original Windows installation disc but needed to reformat and reinstall, and asked what he could do. In all honesty I really didn't know, apart from just gritting his teeth and buying a new one, so that's what I suggested.

When I saw him next I asked if he'd sorted the problem and he told me that he'd contacted a local repair shop who told him to take his computer into them, so that they could see the COA sticker. When they saw that it was genuine they then (and only then) sold him a new Windows disc for a nominal sum, something like £5 or £10 if I remember correctly.

I'm assuming that there's some official scheme with Microsoft that allows bona fide computer repair businesses to buy in these discs for this purpose - anyone know what it's called or how I join?

Thanks

There is only 2 ways that it worked out, and one of them is not legal.

They either have access to OEM recovery disks, and have an agreement with one of them (I have one with Dell) that allow them to resell the recovery disks at a small price,

OR They sold a refurb licence to the customer (And if your money is anywhere near that of the Canadian Dollar, would only get a Charitable Organisation use only key)

Obviously it also could have been a burned one and illegal.

 

[geekhelp4u]

Don't most OEMs ship install disks free of charge these days?

Will Microsoft come after you if you use the wrong disk to perform a reinstall? Probably not if you only do it when you use the customers product key for that machine.

Giving a customer that walks in a copy of an installation disk if theirs is lost is not something I would do. You don't know what that person is going to do with that disk.

I agree... there is no way that I will give them a copy of the disk... but there is no way in hell I would turn down a customer because they don't have a copy of their disk.

 

[PCX]

Use the original COA (product key) from their computer and you will be fine.

 

[carrcomp]

Use the original COA (product key) from their computer and you will be fine.

Not if you don't have the OEM disk ....

I had that issue with a power edge server from Dell. They stopped making the disk for that one.

Only bought the server hardware for 50$ so really it didn't matter but still.

 

[PCX]

Not if you don't have the OEM disk ....

I had that issue with a power edge server from Dell. They stopped making the disk for that one.

Only bought the server hardware for 50$ so really it didn't matter but still.

Ok . . . with an OEM disk, you can use the COA product key to Genuinely activate windows . . . sorry, I thought that was implied.

 

[sorcerer]

..... because these versions differ from the original OEM Windows license your customer acquired from the direct OEM. A customer who doesn't have a backup copy of the software for reinstallation will need to contact the original OEM and request replacement recovery media; you can use that media to reinstall the operating system on that machine.

Only an OEM can redistribute their OEM branded disk, and you should be able to contact the OEM directly to purchase them.

In my friend's case it was a local shop who built the computer for him (not a Dell or HP et al) and gave him the original full Windows hologramed installation disc. Trouble was, that guy had closed his shop and retired which is why my friend ended up going to another local shop and, as far as I know, they gave him another genuine, hologramed disc as a replacement - I'm almost sure he didn't mention it being a burned disc or being any different to the one he had. Mind you, this was three years ago so maybe I've got it completely wrong - I'll try to confirm and let you know.

 

[carrcomp]

Ok . . . with an OEM disk, you can use the COA product key to Genuinely activate windows . . . sorry, I thought that was implied.

Sorry, I was in the middle of customer mode. I had just finished explaining for the third time how to save as PDF in office and was still thinking in literal mode.

 

[PCX]

Sorry, I was in the middle of customer mode. I had just finished explaining for the third time how to save as PDF in office and was still thinking in literal mode.

LOL. Totally understand.