XP after new motherboard and HD

Geek Squad replaced the HD and motherboard in my HP 4/5 years ago. HD crashed
again and is unrepairable. GS said they didn't know about "tattooing" 4 years
ago, so my Recovery Discs don't work. HP tells me I have to buy XP again. The
online retailers that have it for the lowest price tell me Microsoft will ask
me for receipts for all my computer components. What the Hell? I'm ****ed
enough that HP and Microsoft didn't give me the XP discs to begin with. I
still have my original Key Code. Is there any other option besides paying
Best Buy $200+ for XP, which I supposedly already bought? Thanks

mdt wrote:
> Geek Squad replaced the HD and motherboard in my HP 4/5 years ago. HD crashed
> again and is unrepairable. GS said they didn't know about "tattooing" 4 years
> ago, so my Recovery Discs don't work. HP tells me I have to buy XP again. The
> online retailers that have it for the lowest price tell me Microsoft will ask
> me for receipts for all my computer components. What the Hell? I'm ****ed
> enough that HP and Microsoft didn't give me the XP discs to begin with. I
> still have my original Key Code. Is there any other option besides paying
> Best Buy $200+ for XP, which I supposedly already bought? Thanks

Here's some cheaper prices:

XP Home:

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16832116056

XP Pro:

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16832116400

Or you can use Ubuntu for FREE. Get it at http://www.ubuntu.com/

Alias

"mdt" <mdt@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote in message
news:A0170500-3156-4DB9-A70D-DA0212F6EBA3@microsoft.com...
> Geek Squad replaced the HD and motherboard in my HP 4/5 years ago. HD
> crashed
> again and is unrepairable. GS said they didn't know about "tattooing" 4
> years
> ago, so my Recovery Discs don't work.

What exactly does that mean? So you do have a recovery discs but it will not
work. Have you tried using it? What happens?

> HP tells me I have to buy XP again. The

You may have to pay a small fee to ship the recovery discs. HP can't charge
you the full amount.

> What the Hell? I'm ****ed
> enough that HP and Microsoft didn't give me the XP discs to begin with. I

Most companies won't give us OS install discs (or recovery discs). Some
allows us to create recovery discs (eg: Sony). Others charge us extra (about
$10) for recovery CDs/DVDs.

It sounds like XP was preinstalled on your computer (called an "OEM copy").
Since an OEM license is limited to the one computer it comes on and you are
being told that the changes to your computer make it in effect a new
computer for licensing purposes, it sounds like you will not be able to use
the product key you have at all.

However objectionable that is, your most practical recourse is a new copy of
the OS. A retail copy at Best Buy is not the least expensive alternative.
A system builder (OEM) edition should save you some money. If it turns out
that you have to buy a new copy of XP then I recommend NewEgg. You didn't
say which version of XP you use, but here are links:
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16832116056
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16832116400
These copies of XP are not the same as the retail ones Best Buy sells off of
the retail shelf. You cannot transfer the license to a new computer like
you can with a retail version (that's why they are cheaper), but you also
don't have to pay $200 either. If you think Windows will come preinstalled
on your next computer anyway then I would save the bucks on an OEM copy now.

"mdt" <mdt@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote in message
news:A0170500-3156-4DB9-A70D-DA0212F6EBA3@microsoft.com...
> Geek Squad replaced the HD and motherboard in my HP 4/5 years ago. HD
> crashed
> again and is unrepairable. GS said they didn't know about "tattooing" 4
> years
> ago, so my Recovery Discs don't work. HP tells me I have to buy XP again.
> The
> online retailers that have it for the lowest price tell me Microsoft will
> ask
> me for receipts for all my computer components. What the Hell? I'm ****ed
> enough that HP and Microsoft didn't give me the XP discs to begin with. I
> still have my original Key Code. Is there any other option besides paying
> Best Buy $200+ for XP, which I supposedly already bought? Thanks

Hidden away on the specs tab at NewEgg is this:

"Qualifying proof of purchase must be recent receipts showing the purchase
of a mother board, hard drive, RAM and a CPU. The components can be on
multiple receipts; not necessarily all on one receipt nor on the same receipt
as the qualifying Windows XP/Office 2003 that you purchased." I talked to
their cust. Service even. They said the recipt this is a Microsoft
requirement.

I ordered the Ubutnu discs yesterday, but that's a 6-10 week wait.

I tried my recovery discs and it says they don't belong to my HP PC. From
what I can tell, it's due to Geek Squad not properly tattooing the mb when it
was replaced. It's basically an anti-piracy measure, but I've bought and paid
for all my equipment. That means replacement recovery cds won't work either.

"Alias" wrote:

> mdt wrote:
> > Geek Squad replaced the HD and motherboard in my HP 4/5 years ago. HD crashed
> > again and is unrepairable. GS said they didn't know about "tattooing" 4 years
> > ago, so my Recovery Discs don't work. HP tells me I have to buy XP again. The
> > online retailers that have it for the lowest price tell me Microsoft will ask
> > me for receipts for all my computer components. What the Hell? I'm ****ed
> > enough that HP and Microsoft didn't give me the XP discs to begin with. I
> > still have my original Key Code. Is there any other option besides paying
> > Best Buy $200+ for XP, which I supposedly already bought? Thanks
>
> Here's some cheaper prices:
>
> XP Home:
>
> http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16832116056
>
> XP Pro:
>
> http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16832116400
>
> Or you can use Ubuntu for FREE. Get it at http://www.ubuntu.com/
>
> Alias
>

It was pre-installed. And it happens to be NewEgg that told me about the
recipt thing. Is this really enforced or are they saying that because its the
law? I talked to Customer Service too. What gets me is the "and". I have a
recipt for the new HD, but not for anything else.

From NewEgg:

"Qualifying proof of purchase must be recent receipts showing the purchase
of a mother board, hard drive, RAM and a CPU. The components can be on
multiple receipts; not necessarily all on one receipt nor on the same receipt
as the qualifying Windows XP/Office 2003 that you purchased."

"Colin Barnhorst" wrote:

> It sounds like XP was preinstalled on your computer (called an "OEM copy").
> Since an OEM license is limited to the one computer it comes on and you are
> being told that the changes to your computer make it in effect a new
> computer for licensing purposes, it sounds like you will not be able to use
> the product key you have at all.
>
> However objectionable that is, your most practical recourse is a new copy of
> the OS. A retail copy at Best Buy is not the least expensive alternative.
> A system builder (OEM) edition should save you some money. If it turns out
> that you have to buy a new copy of XP then I recommend NewEgg. You didn't
> say which version of XP you use, but here are links:
> http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16832116056
> http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16832116400
> These copies of XP are not the same as the retail ones Best Buy sells off of
> the retail shelf. You cannot transfer the license to a new computer like
> you can with a retail version (that's why they are cheaper), but you also
> don't have to pay $200 either. If you think Windows will come preinstalled
> on your next computer anyway then I would save the bucks on an OEM copy now.
>
> "mdt" <mdt@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote in message
> news:A0170500-3156-4DB9-A70D-DA0212F6EBA3@microsoft.com...
> > Geek Squad replaced the HD and motherboard in my HP 4/5 years ago. HD
> > crashed
> > again and is unrepairable. GS said they didn't know about "tattooing" 4
> > years
> > ago, so my Recovery Discs don't work. HP tells me I have to buy XP again.
> > The
> > online retailers that have it for the lowest price tell me Microsoft will
> > ask
> > me for receipts for all my computer components. What the Hell? I'm ****ed
> > enough that HP and Microsoft didn't give me the XP discs to begin with. I
> > still have my original Key Code. Is there any other option besides paying
> > Best Buy $200+ for XP, which I supposedly already bought? Thanks
>

mdt wrote:
> Hidden away on the specs tab at NewEgg is this:
>
> "Qualifying proof of purchase must be recent receipts showing the purchase
> of a mother board, hard drive, RAM and a CPU. The components can be on
> multiple receipts; not necessarily all on one receipt nor on the same receipt
> as the qualifying Windows XP/Office 2003 that you purchased." I talked to
> their cust. Service even. They said the recipt this is a Microsoft
> requirement.

That sucks.

>
> I ordered the Ubutnu discs yesterday, but that's a 6-10 week wait.

It really isn't. You'll get them sooner than that. You can also download
it and burn it to a CD and use that.

>
> I tried my recovery discs and it says they don't belong to my HP PC. From
> what I can tell, it's due to Geek Squad not properly tattooing the mb when it
> was replaced. It's basically an anti-piracy measure, but I've bought and paid
> for all my equipment. That means replacement recovery cds won't work either.

If you have a friend who has a generic OEM copy of the version you have,
Home or Pro, your product key should work with it. I trust you have the
motherboard CD.

Alias
> "Alias" wrote:
>
>> mdt wrote:
>>> Geek Squad replaced the HD and motherboard in my HP 4/5 years ago. HD crashed
>>> again and is unrepairable. GS said they didn't know about "tattooing" 4 years
>>> ago, so my Recovery Discs don't work. HP tells me I have to buy XP again. The
>>> online retailers that have it for the lowest price tell me Microsoft will ask
>>> me for receipts for all my computer components. What the Hell? I'm ****ed
>>> enough that HP and Microsoft didn't give me the XP discs to begin with. I
>>> still have my original Key Code. Is there any other option besides paying
>>> Best Buy $200+ for XP, which I supposedly already bought? Thanks
>> Here's some cheaper prices:
>>
>> XP Home:
>>
>> http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16832116056
>>
>> XP Pro:
>>
>> http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16832116400
>>
>> Or you can use Ubuntu for FREE. Get it at http://www.ubuntu.com/
>>
>> Alias
>>

I should have gotten a motherboard CD? I'm just ******* huh?

"Alias" wrote:

> mdt wrote:
> > Hidden away on the specs tab at NewEgg is this:
> >
> > "Qualifying proof of purchase must be recent receipts showing the purchase
> > of a mother board, hard drive, RAM and a CPU. The components can be on
> > multiple receipts; not necessarily all on one receipt nor on the same receipt
> > as the qualifying Windows XP/Office 2003 that you purchased." I talked to
> > their cust. Service even. They said the recipt this is a Microsoft
> > requirement.
>
> That sucks.
>
> >
> > I ordered the Ubutnu discs yesterday, but that's a 6-10 week wait.
>
> It really isn't. You'll get them sooner than that. You can also download
> it and burn it to a CD and use that.
>
> >
> > I tried my recovery discs and it says they don't belong to my HP PC. From
> > what I can tell, it's due to Geek Squad not properly tattooing the mb when it
> > was replaced. It's basically an anti-piracy measure, but I've bought and paid
> > for all my equipment. That means replacement recovery cds won't work either.
>
> If you have a friend who has a generic OEM copy of the version you have,
> Home or Pro, your product key should work with it. I trust you have the
> motherboard CD.
>
> Alias
> > "Alias" wrote:
> >
> >> mdt wrote:
> >>> Geek Squad replaced the HD and motherboard in my HP 4/5 years ago. HD crashed
> >>> again and is unrepairable. GS said they didn't know about "tattooing" 4 years
> >>> ago, so my Recovery Discs don't work. HP tells me I have to buy XP again. The
> >>> online retailers that have it for the lowest price tell me Microsoft will ask
> >>> me for receipts for all my computer components. What the Hell? I'm ****ed
> >>> enough that HP and Microsoft didn't give me the XP discs to begin with. I
> >>> still have my original Key Code. Is there any other option besides paying
> >>> Best Buy $200+ for XP, which I supposedly already bought? Thanks
> >> Here's some cheaper prices:
> >>
> >> XP Home:
> >>
> >> http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16832116056
> >>
> >> XP Pro:
> >>
> >> http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16832116400
> >>
> >> Or you can use Ubuntu for FREE. Get it at http://www.ubuntu.com/
> >>
> >> Alias
> >>
>

I tried my recovery discs and it says they don't belong to my HP PC. From
what I can tell, it's due to Geek Squad not properly tattooing the mb when it
was replaced. It's basically an anti-piracy measure, but I've bought and paid
for all my equipment. That means replacement recovery cds won't work either.


"John" wrote:

>
> "mdt" <mdt@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote in message
> news:A0170500-3156-4DB9-A70D-DA0212F6EBA3@microsoft.com...
> > Geek Squad replaced the HD and motherboard in my HP 4/5 years ago. HD
> > crashed
> > again and is unrepairable. GS said they didn't know about "tattooing" 4
> > years
> > ago, so my Recovery Discs don't work.
>
> What exactly does that mean? So you do have a recovery discs but it will not
> work. Have you tried using it? What happens?
>
> > HP tells me I have to buy XP again. The
>
> You may have to pay a small fee to ship the recovery discs. HP can't charge
> you the full amount.
>
> > What the Hell? I'm ****ed
> > enough that HP and Microsoft didn't give me the XP discs to begin with. I
>
> Most companies won't give us OS install discs (or recovery discs). Some
> allows us to create recovery discs (eg: Sony). Others charge us extra (about
> $10) for recovery CDs/DVDs.
>
>
>

mdt wrote:
> I should have gotten a motherboard CD? I'm just ******* huh?

Yes, you need it to install XP. You don't need it to install Ubuntu. Go
back to the Geek Squad and ask them where they hell it is, along with
the motherboard's manual. Be sure to take your receipt.

Alias
>
> "Alias" wrote:
>
>> mdt wrote:
>>> Hidden away on the specs tab at NewEgg is this:
>>>
>>> "Qualifying proof of purchase must be recent receipts showing the purchase
>>> of a mother board, hard drive, RAM and a CPU. The components can be on
>>> multiple receipts; not necessarily all on one receipt nor on the same receipt
>>> as the qualifying Windows XP/Office 2003 that you purchased." I talked to
>>> their cust. Service even. They said the recipt this is a Microsoft
>>> requirement.
>> That sucks.
>>
>>> I ordered the Ubutnu discs yesterday, but that's a 6-10 week wait.
>> It really isn't. You'll get them sooner than that. You can also download
>> it and burn it to a CD and use that.
>>
>>> I tried my recovery discs and it says they don't belong to my HP PC. From
>>> what I can tell, it's due to Geek Squad not properly tattooing the mb when it
>>> was replaced. It's basically an anti-piracy measure, but I've bought and paid
>>> for all my equipment. That means replacement recovery cds won't work either.
>> If you have a friend who has a generic OEM copy of the version you have,
>> Home or Pro, your product key should work with it. I trust you have the
>> motherboard CD.
>>
>> Alias
>>> "Alias" wrote:
>>>
>>>> mdt wrote:
>>>>> Geek Squad replaced the HD and motherboard in my HP 4/5 years ago. HD crashed
>>>>> again and is unrepairable. GS said they didn't know about "tattooing" 4 years
>>>>> ago, so my Recovery Discs don't work. HP tells me I have to buy XP again. The
>>>>> online retailers that have it for the lowest price tell me Microsoft will ask
>>>>> me for receipts for all my computer components. What the Hell? I'm ****ed
>>>>> enough that HP and Microsoft didn't give me the XP discs to begin with. I
>>>>> still have my original Key Code. Is there any other option besides paying
>>>>> Best Buy $200+ for XP, which I supposedly already bought? Thanks
>>>> Here's some cheaper prices:
>>>>
>>>> XP Home:
>>>>
>>>> http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16832116056
>>>>
>>>> XP Pro:
>>>>
>>>> http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16832116400
>>>>
>>>> Or you can use Ubuntu for FREE. Get it at http://www.ubuntu.com/
>>>>
>>>> Alias
>>>>