[M]

Hi,

I bought a PC w/ Windows XP Home installed on it about 3 years ago. I
now need to re-install that OS on that same PC again. I cannot. I
cannot find the paper "sticker" that was to have been attatched to the
computer's case. (!)

I probably paid an extra $100-$200 for the Microsoft Software that was
pre-installed on the PC (and on the included beautiful holo- disk),
but, in this age of greed, paranoia, light-speed communications,
you-name-it, I have to have some damn piece of paper or that infamous
company of billionaires is legally allowed to charge me twice for the
same lousy piece of software--software that I only want long enough to
reinstall the OS to remove my personal files from the disks involved,
and until I can install another cheaper, working operating system.

Go figure. It's as though they want you to go to open source.

Any ideas for a solution?
Thanks,
mg

After finding that my first 1,788 more personal
email address choices were already in use,
I decided to just go with efficiency.

[Mike Brannigan [MSFT]]

"M" <email1789@hotmail.com> wrote in message
news:1120112262.41dd1b064b186c934614058ead6b9964@teranews...
> Hi,
>
> I bought a PC w/ Windows XP Home installed on it about 3 years ago.

So it was an OEM pre-installed copy of Windows XP on your PC.

>I
> now need to re-install that OS on that same PC again. I cannot. I
> cannot find the paper "sticker" that was to have been attatched to the
> computer's case. (!)
>
> I probably paid an extra $100-$200 for the Microsoft Software that was
> pre-installed on the PC (and on the included beautiful holo- disk),

Nope - you paid a fraction of that price. The figure you have there is for
a retail or generic OEM copy purchased separately from a PC. The PC
manufacturers pay a fraction of that and thus so do you. If you look at a
PC today you can get one pre installed with Windows XP for a $300 dollars or
there about. It still comes with the OS so there is no way you are paying
the same as a none preinstalled copy. (these figures have changed little in
3 years)

> but, in this age of greed, paranoia, light-speed communications,
> you-name-it, I have to have some damn piece of paper or that infamous
> company of billionaires is legally allowed to charge me twice for

No one wants to charge you twice for anything.

> the
> same lousy piece of software--software that I only want long enough to
> reinstall the OS to remove my personal files from the disks involved,
> and until I can install another cheaper, working operating system.
>
> Go figure. It's as though they want you to go to open source.
>
> Any ideas for a solution?

Yes - you contact the people responsible for the support of your PC and
operating system that there preinstalled - the OEM.
They have the option of providing you with another product key for their
preinstalled opertaing system. However they are not required to do so - it
is at their discretion.

> Thanks,
> mg
>

--

Regards,

Mike
--
Mike Brannigan [Microsoft]

This posting is provided "AS IS" with no warranties, and confers no
rights

Please note I cannot respond to e-mailed questions, please use these
newsgroups

"M" <email1789@hotmail.com> wrote in message
news:1120112262.41dd1b064b186c934614058ead6b9964@teranews...
> Hi,
>
> I bought a PC w/ Windows XP Home installed on it about 3 years ago. I
> now need to re-install that OS on that same PC again. I cannot. I
> cannot find the paper "sticker" that was to have been attatched to the
> computer's case. (!)
>
> I probably paid an extra $100-$200 for the Microsoft Software that was
> pre-installed on the PC (and on the included beautiful holo- disk),
> but, in this age of greed, paranoia, light-speed communications,
> you-name-it, I have to have some damn piece of paper or that infamous
> company of billionaires is legally allowed to charge me twice for the
> same lousy piece of software--software that I only want long enough to
> reinstall the OS to remove my personal files from the disks involved,
> and until I can install another cheaper, working operating system.
>
> Go figure. It's as though they want you to go to open source.
>
> Any ideas for a solution?
> Thanks,
> mg
>
> After finding that my first 1,788 more personal
> email address choices were already in use,
> I decided to just go with efficiency.