[access-uk] Re: Reinstalling Windows
- From: "roger south" <roger.south@xxxxxxxxxx>
- To: <access-uk@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
- Date: Fri, 8 Jun 2007 11:05:55 +0100
I purchased an OEM version of Windows XP when I had my computer upgraded a
while ago. I bought it as a legit application from Ebuyer and to save money I
installed it myself dumping the Win98 system. Last year I had a problem and
contacted MS support for help. They asked for details from the Properties
section and informed me it was an illegal copy. I went back to Ebuyer who
replaced it. Returned to MS support who again said it was an illegal copy. On
reluctantly answering my questions it seems this was because I had an OEM copy
and I am not a registered MS engineer. No further progress could be made. I
finally re-formatted my system and re-installed all the applications and
drivers. Luckily I keep copies of all of them.
To me it seems crazy that OEM copies are readily available but MS will not
support them if you are not a registered engineer. But this is really all
related to money as being trade the engineer would be charged a swinging fee by
MS which he would pass on to me together with the £57.50 plus VAT he charges
his customers. It would have been cheaper to dump it all and start from
scratch. I have no respect for MS's operating methods at all and am seriously
considering moving from them to perhaps Linux.
Roger
Some mistakes are too much fun to only make once.
----- Original Message -----
From: George Bell
To: access-uk@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
Sent: Friday, June 08, 2007 10:38 AM
Subject: [access-uk] Re: Reinstalling Windows
Hi Tony,
Yes indeed, you are correct. That is why, with an original Windows XP CD,
Microsoft have provided for this.
(But see the "Final word of warning" at the end.
Indeed if you are having problems which appear to be system related, this is
usually your first advised option - overwrite the existing operating systems
in the hope of repairing it. By doing this, you do not usually have to
re-install any software such as Microsoft Office, etc..
The next common option is to install Windows into a new Folder. This
essentially leaves your old Windows folder structure in place, but does require
you to re-install most, if not all, applications.
One of the reasons this is often done is to preserve things like drivers for
special equipment which perhaps have been hard to obtain in the first place.
In the case of both of the above, Folders such as My Documents are left
intact.
The last and final resort is to reformat the drive and start from scratch.
Everything will be gone.
Final word of warning. Some Windows CDs supplied with systems are "Recovery"
or "System Restore" types. These will often completely wipe your hard drive,
and restore the PC to it's ex factory or shop condition.
One of the clues to took for, is to look at who the system is Registered to.
Right Click on "My Computer" and select "Properties". On the General tab, look
at the "Registered to:" section. There is a license number shown there. If
the letters O E M appear in that number, that's your alert that your CD may be
such a CD.
George.
------------------------------------------------------------------------------
From: access-uk@xxxxxxxxxxxxx [mailto:access-uk@xxxxxxxxxxxxx] On Behalf Of
TONY CRETNEY
Sent: Thursday, June 07, 2007 6:13 PM
To: access-uk@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
Subject: [access-uk] Reinstalling Windows
Am I correct in thinking that it is possible to reinstall Windows from the
same disk as it was taken from the first time it was installed on the original
computer, and that you do not need to have a totally new copy of Windows each
time you reinstall it. I have just been involved in some discussion on this
topic with a friend. He argued that a completely new copy of Windows needs to
be installed every time you install it whether or not you are installing it on
the computer that it came off or not. I am having some problems and the only
way round them seems to be to reinstall Windows XP on one of my computers that
is giving me problems at the moment.
I hope you understand what I mean, I have a feeling that this is not very
clear.
Tony
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