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#31
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Windows XP OEM
Software as a Component of the Computer - Transfer. THIS LICENSE MAY NOT BE SHARED, TRANSFERRED TO OR USED _CONCURRENTLY_ ON DIFFERENT COMPUTERS Bruce Chambers wrote: | Greetings -- | | You are entitled to be disappointed in the quality of support | you've received from the PC's manufacturer, yes. The PC's | manufacturer told you that you couldn't get a free replacement | motherboard because your warranty had expired. They certainly could | have done a little better here, by offering alternatives. But you're | not entirely blameless. But did _you_ ask if a replacement could be | purchased from them? How much hand-holding and coddling do you need? | | For generations, the simple rule has been "Buyer Beware." This | applies to computers just as much as it does to any other product or | service. People aren't really scolding you, but you do deserve it, to | a certain extant. You consciously chose to purchase that specific | computer from that specific manufacturer with that OEM licensed | software and that specific warranty, and now you're whining because | _you_ didn't "read the fine print." Adults accept responsibility for | the consequences of their actions and decisions, good _and_ bad. | | | Bruce Chambers | | | "Dawn" wrote in message | ... || The thing is, if I buy a car and it breaks down, I can put || a new carburetor in it myself and drive it to work. And if || I called my dealership and told them that the carburetor || was out, they wouldn't tell me that my warranty was up and || hang up. They'd offer me a part, BEFORE I had purchased || one from Autozone; especially if they knew that any other || brand would not work. I have looked through all the || paperwork that came with my pc, there is nothing there || telling me that replacement parts are even available from || the manuf. As far as reading anything off the HD, you || have to be kidding me. Have you been reading the posts? || The pc is collecting dust. It doesn't run. Why are so || many so quick to scold me? I have a reasonable right to || be dissapointed. || ||| -----Original Message----- ||| It's like anything else you buy -- the salesman isn't || going to tell you all ||| the pitfalls of buying his particular product. If you go || car shopping, they ||| aren't going to tell you that one model has parts back- || ordered for months, ||| they're going to talk about great prices, good gas || mileage, etc. ||| ||| As far as MS not supporting OEM software, that || information is easily ||| available. There are questions posted on these boards || almost daily asking ||| what the difference is between OEM and retail software. || As far as Microsoft ||| "warning" you, that information is part of the EULA (end- || user license ||| agreement) that you clicked "ok" on when you first got || your computer, and ||| that file is still on your computer. As far as not || finding it when you ||| looked at MSs web site, what company is going to || post "Things we aren't ||| going to do for you under various specific || circumstances"? The list would be ||| endless. But the information is there if you look for it. ||| ||| You'll find that it's the same thing with all the "parts" || of your old ||| computer. When you tried to get a new motherboard, you || went to the company ||| that made the computer, not the company that made the || motherboard, right? If ||| you went to the company that made the motherboard, they || wouldn't help you. ||| If you had a SoundBlaster sound card in your computer and || you had problems ||| with it, they'd tell you to go back to the computer || manufacturer, too. ||| That's the way it works. ||| ||| It's really not much different than any OEM product. If || you bought a car and ||| the radio blew up, you'd take it back to the car dealer, || you wouldn't go ||| back to the company that made the radio or its || components. OEM parts, ||| including software, are just like that radio...they're || part of the whole ||| thing that you're buying -- either computer or car -- and || when you have a ||| problem with any component, you go back to the place that || built the whole ||| thing, not to the company that made each component. ||| ||| This probably isn't something that people think about || when they buy ||| something, until things go wrong. When you buy your next || computer (or ||| anything else, for that matter), you'll have a better || idea of what you're ||| really getting for your money. ||| ||| "Dawn" wrote in message ||| ... |||| Why am I upset? When the MB first went out and I called |||| the manuf, the choice of getting parts from them was || never |||| offered. I was told that the warranty was out and that |||| they could not help me with parts. They could only give |||| me email support. So, I made the "mistake" of buying a |||| motherboard and putting it in myself. My other mistake |||| was thinking that I had purchased a copy of Windows XP |||| when I purchased my computer. No one educates people |||| about things like OEMs when they are buying computers. |||| Microsoft included. When I was buying my computer, I || had |||| a choice of operating systems. I went to Microsoft's |||| website to get "informed". Nowhere did I see a warning |||| that if something were to go wrong they would not help |||| with my copy of their software if I had not purchased || from |||| them. So, I realise now thanks to all of your helpful |||| responses when you purchase a computer you are NOT |||| purchasing a copy of windows. ||||| -----Original Message----- ||||| Why do you think that Microsoft should talk to you. ||||| ||||| Everything you've got is OEM. They're responsible for it. Your ||||| mistake was buying a motherboard from someone else. Now you have ||||| to |||| deal with it by ||||| purchasing Windows XP retail, OR, return the new |||| motherboard and purchase a ||||| replacement from the OEM. ||||| ||||| No other way. Sorry! ||||| ||||| ||||| "Dawn" wrote in message ||||| ... |||||| Have a computer purchased 11/2001. The capacitors on |||| the |||||| MB blew ruining the board. I called the manufacturer |||| and |||||| was told that the warranty was out, too bad. So, I |||| bought |||||| a new MB and put it in, now the OEM won't let me |||| install. |||||| Called the manuf. back and they are telling me that || the |||||| copy of XP is BIOS specific per their licensing |||| agreement |||||| with MS and that I should go buy a retail copy of XP. |||| Or, |||||| I could buy another MB from them. MS won't even || talk to |||||| me. Any suggestions? ||||| ||||| ||||| . ||||| ||| ||| ||| . -- Tampa Bay RR |
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#32
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Windows XP OEM
Hopefully you won't take this as sarcastic, but I am not trying to be.
I am no expert at all in this stuff, but I have followed the prices of computers for the last few years. I would think you could buy your exact same computer that was purchased 11/2001 for less than $500 now, even if it was the highest end computer at that time. These things become obsolete within 6 months nowadays. Why would you want to buy a motherboard, OS, etc. for this one when you can just buy a new one. Actually, the new one, for under $500, would probably be better than the one you had before. Just my $.02. "Dawn" wrote in message ... Why would you post a reply that is so sarcastic and unhelpful? I believe that I stated those two choices in me original post. I'm trying to avoid spending even more money on a computer that is less than 2 years old. Right now, it's collecting dust. No OS. -----Original Message----- Buy another motherboard from the manufacturer, or get a retail copy of XP. You don't have any other choice. -- Doug Knox, MS-MVP Windows XP/ Windows Smart Display Win 95/98/Me/XP Tweaks and Fixes http://www.dougknox.com -------------------------------- Associate Expert ExpertZone - http://www.microsoft.com/windowsxp/expertzone -------------------------------- Please reply only to the newsgroup so all may benefit. Unsolicited e-mail is not answered. "Dawn" wrote in message ... Have a computer purchased 11/2001. The capacitors on the MB blew ruining the board. I called the manufacturer and was told that the warranty was out, too bad. So, I bought a new MB and put it in, now the OEM won't let me install. Called the manuf. back and they are telling me that the copy of XP is BIOS specific per their licensing agreement with MS and that I should go buy a retail copy of XP. Or, I could buy another MB from them. MS won't even talk to me. Any suggestions? . |
#33
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Windows XP OEM
"Ally" wrote in message 4... snip What I'm upset about is corporations' decisions to artificially restrict their products' capabilities and thereby their own customers. If you don't understand the mindset that produces an "eula.txt" (and how's _that_ for "convoluted"?), you typically don't find out about such things until you've already paid for that shiny new installation CD whirring in your drive. There are all sorts of restrictions on products that you probably never even think about. Some of it has to do with safety or warranty ("do not use in bathtub" "For home use only"). I'll bet if you "tweaked" your car engine, you could get higher speeds, but the car maker has intentionally crippled it to run at less-than-racetrack speeds. And typically, information about restrictions/warranties/etc. is inside the box with the product, wrapped in plastic, printed in small print, so you don't see it until you bring the product home and start setting it up. If you read it at all. I've purchased products that seem like they'd do what I want, but when I get them home, they aren't capable of it for one reason or another. The problem certainly isn't restricted to computers or software. You can disobey those rules, of course, as there's no way for most products to keep you from dumping it in the tub or taking it to work with you. And you can tweak your car engine, if you know how. Other restrictions protect the copyright owner's rights. As the technology gets more complicated, the protections get more technical. DVD players only let you change the region code a certain number of times before they stop working. Commercial DVDs are supposed to be impossible to copy. Remember books? Well, you're not supposed to make copies of them and pass them around to friends. Reasonably, no one is going to take a $5 paperback to the copy shop and copy the thing a couple dozen times. But take a look at the restrictions on some of the new commercial e-books. They would be easy to copy and pass around if the restrictions didn't exist, so there are some restrictions that users might not like, including the inability to use the voice reading software on some of them, or the fact that you may not be able to copy that book to every computer you own. And I have no idea if you could recover them if your hard drive crashed. Needless to say, if you can't live with those restrictions, you shouldn't buy e-books and just stick to the free ones and only buy paper copies that don't have the technical restrictions on them. Naturally, you want to start using your computer rather than return the product. If that's even possible -- I'm not sure I could've read the EULA without breaking the seal on the CD case. *shrug* If it came WITH the computer, you'd have to return the whole computer, most likely, or haggle with the computer manufacturer to let you have the computer without their pre-installed OS. That would be up to them. If it was retail, you could easily return it directly to MS. Other than that -- sure, I don't have to buy their things if I don't like the terms and conditions I'd have to agree with. That's pretty much the case with a lot of things that come with licenses, leases, contracts, or warranties. It's true that most people don't read the fine print, but that doesn't mean that its not binding. If you start reading that stuff, you might be surprised at what you're agreeing to by using certain products. The restrictions have always been in place with MSs operating systems, it's just that there hasn't been a way to enforce it very well. So people got used to buying one copy of Windows and putting it on 3 computers. I certainly used to be a lot more cavalier about putting an OS on a system to test it, and not worry so much about how long it takes before I take it off and try something else, or strip it down to parts. Now I have to consider that I'd need to activate in 30 days, and I don't want to tie up a license on a machine that sees little use. Maybe Linux is fine for a demo machine or to test parts or run the web cam/print server/whatever. I think it's interesting that people think software purchases should be different than other things they buy. For one thing, they think that if they lose the software, they should get a free replacement, if they haven't lost all of the components. So I bought a new padlock and lost it, but I still have the key. Should the company give me a new padlock? Unless there's some sort of replacement insurance, if you lose something, it's lost. The manufacturer doesn't replace it. Or at least not without a fee. Or they lose data, and they expect someone else to take care of that. "I bought a new wallet, and it fell out of my pocket and all my money blew away. Who is going to replace the money? And people expect all sorts of free technical help with computers that they wouldn't get elsewhere. Go tear apart your car engine, scatter the pieces in the garage, then start calling the dealership, the car manufacturer, and the engine manufacturer and see who offers free phone support. If you break a new product by using it in a way that the warranty doesn't cover, you won't get a replacement. Most people wouldn't argue that. They used the carving knife to open a paint can, and now it's bent. Oops. But if you "break" the software by using it in a way not covered by the fine print, it's sort of the same situation. That OEM copy of windows from Compaq isn't supposed to run on your old Gateway. Or that new copy of XP isn't going to run on your 486. If you buy a new car, you don't expect that you can start ripping parts out of the old one and adding them to the new one. And the bigger the age difference, the less likely it is that parts will be compatible. The tires might not fit, the leaded fuel could be a problem, etc. But people expect that every piece of hardware and every bit of software they own should transfer flawlessly to a new computer with a new OS. Some stuff will transfer, some won't. It's a pity, but it seems like I'm just not compatible with Microsoftware. There are software programs that are more restrictive and more annoying than what MS has implemented. Those other programs tend to have a smaller market share or special segment of the market, though, so most people haven't run into them. You'll probably see more companies do what MS has done. If that's not your cup of tea, there's always Linux. It will run on the hardware you have. |
#34
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Windows XP OEM
All is vanity and chasing after the wind.
-- Harry Ohrn MS-MVP [Shell\User] www.webtree.ca/windowsxp "Ally" wrote in message 4... "Harry Ohrn" wrote: No you can't always decide what you want to do with what you purchase. I purchased my house. If I decide I want to add a room I must get a building permit from the City first. Point taken; but these things affect the public, whereas no such harm is done when I wreck a car and attempt to continue using my radio. Or when I install an OS. That's more like painting my existing bedroom a new shade of pink (except OEM Pink won't work with third-party walls for some reason). I buy a car. I decide to leave it unlocked, running with the keys in the ignition. Someone steals it. In my town you are fined for leaving an unlocked running car with the keys in the ignition. And I'd still say you have a right to lose your property. Who does that law benefit? Insurance companies? The police? The thirteen-year- olds who might steal your car and get themselves killed in the process? (Not asking rhethorically, I plain and simple don't know.) My car right?, My house right? I hardly think so. For some convoluted reason we think that we have full and total rights to something because we paid cash for it. Human vanity. Full and total rights to a cat? The land? A lake? No, I don't think so either. Yet every day imprisoned animals are industrially slaughtered, or tortured so we have lip gloss. Legally. Any laws are debatable. The earth was here a billion years before we walked the planet and it will be here a billion years after all of us are dead and we think we *own* the parcel of land we sit on. We own nothing. But neither cars, nor radios, and certainly nothing as immaterial as computer programs have been here for a billion years. I don't think we can take the analogy that far. What I'm upset about is corporations' decisions to artificially restrict their products' capabilities and thereby their own customers. If you don't understand the mindset that produces an "eula.txt" (and how's _that_ for "convoluted"?), you typically don't find out about such things until you've already paid for that shiny new installation CD whirring in your drive. Naturally, you want to start using your computer rather than return the product. If that's even possible -- I'm not sure I could've read the EULA without breaking the seal on the CD case. *shrug* Other than that -- sure, I don't have to buy their things if I don't like the terms and conditions I'd have to agree with. It's a pity, but it seems like I'm just not compatible with Microsoftware. ~Ally -- Never send a monster to do the work of an evil scientist. |
#35
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Windows XP OEM
There is a fellow out there who repairs MB's with blown caps! He
usually visits the ABIT ng. (ABIT, if you don't know, is a well regarded MB manufacturer. They pioneered the 'jumperless' MB's where you can change hardware settings from the BIOS setup screens. Settings like the FSB, multipliers, core voltages, etc - no need to take the PC apart to make changes.) Since I'm on the road, I don't have the URL but a search with google might bring him up for you or go to the ABIT ng and ask around. This blown caps problem is a known issue, especially with ABIT MB's. They got hold of a batch of bad ones and used them in their KT7 series MB's. But, according to the fellow above - other boards are affected as well. Apparently a cap mfgr in the pacific rim used a cheap batch of electrolyte to cut corners. -=tom=- "Dawn" wrote in message ... Have a computer purchased 11/2001. The capacitors on the MB blew ruining the board. |
#36
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Windows XP OEM
"Harry Ohrn" wrote:
All is vanity and chasing after the wind. Meow. |
#37
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Windows XP OEM
"D.Currie" wrote:
There are all sorts of restrictions on products that you probably never even think about. Some of it has to do with safety or warranty ("do not use in bathtub" "For home use only"). What's the nature of those restrictions? What would happen (legally) if I did use "it" in a bathtub? [snip] I've purchased products that seem like they'd do what I want, but when I get them home, they aren't capable of it for one reason or another. The problem certainly isn't restricted to computers or software. You can disobey those rules, of course, as there's no way for most products to keep you from dumping it in the tub or taking it to work with you. Well, and I hope that won't change. Even though I don't often plan to electrocute myself, it's a restriction I can ignore, or at least live with. (Heh.) It's not like I was forbidden to "transfer" my hair dryer to a new apartment. Though I'm half expecting someone to point out that that is, indeed, the case by now. And you can tweak your car engine, if you know how. Other restrictions protect the copyright owner's rights. [snipping examples] Needless to say, if you can't live with those restrictions, you shouldn't buy e-books and just stick to the free ones and only buy paper copies that don't have the technical restrictions on them. I can sort-of live with copy protection schemes and the like, though I sure don't like them (what's with fair use?) and have, so far, avoided such products effortlessly. What irks me more is when such restrictions enter the hardware, the BIOS, device drivers and whatever else the future might bring. I used to think of multimedia-oriented computers as versatile creativity tools, not remote-controlled entertainment terminals. Oh well. I'll just have to avoid such hardware too, then. I don't want to start a RIAA/MPAA/DMCA/DRM/Palladium-or-whatever- else-it's-called-now-discussion though. Naturally, you want to start using your computer rather than return the product. If that's even possible -- I'm not sure I could've read the EULA without breaking the seal on the CD case. *shrug* If it came WITH the computer, you'd have to return the whole computer, most likely, or haggle with the computer manufacturer to let you have the computer without their pre-installed OS. That would be up to them. If it was retail, you could easily return it directly to MS. (It was neither; it was a full installation CD for system builders, and in and of itself not tied to a specific mainboard. The computer I installed it on is from '99 or so. But yes, I should've taken the time to fully understand the intricacies of the EULA, and then try to return it.) Other than that -- sure, I don't have to buy their things if I don't like the terms and conditions I'd have to agree with. That's pretty much the case with a lot of things that come with licenses, leases, contracts, or warranties. It's true that most people don't read the fine print, but that doesn't mean that its not binding. If you start reading that stuff, you might be surprised at what you're agreeing to by using certain products. I might also go crazy in the process. Or crazier. *shrug* The restrictions have always been in place with MSs operating systems, it's just that there hasn't been a way to enforce it very well. So people got used to buying one copy of Windows and putting it on 3 computers. Or on one computer at a time, spanning three computers. Right, it wouldn't have occured to me that something like that might be against the license until I encountered the WPA. I used to think "don't pirate the thing, and it'll be okay." [snippety] I think it's interesting that people think software purchases should be different than other things they buy. For one thing, they think that if they lose the software, they should get a free replacement, if they haven't lost all of the components. And not _entirely_ unreasonably so since, unlike a padlock, duplicating something immaterial like software doesn't exactly cost anyone much. But no, I suppose it's not up to the customer to decide whether such a service should be offered. So I bought a new padlock and lost it, but I still have the key. Should the company give me a new padlock? Unless there's some sort of replacement insurance, if you lose something, it's lost. The manufacturer doesn't replace it. Or at least not without a fee. Or they lose data, and they expect someone else to take care of that. "I bought a new wallet, and it fell out of my pocket and all my money blew away. Who is going to replace the money? And people expect all sorts of free technical help with computers that they wouldn't get elsewhere. Go tear apart your car engine, scatter the pieces in the garage, then start calling the dealership, the car manufacturer, and the engine manufacturer and see who offers free phone support. I'm not sure I understand why you're bringing up these examples now. I didn't lose or break anything. I didn't get support with XP anyway, so I'm not demanding any either. If you break a new product by using it in a way that the warranty doesn't cover, you won't get a replacement. Most people wouldn't argue that. They used the carving knife to open a paint can, and now it's bent. Oops. But if you "break" the software by using it in a way not covered by the fine print, it's sort of the same situation. That OEM copy of windows from Compaq isn't supposed to run on your old Gateway. Or that new copy of XP isn't going to run on your 486. If you buy a new car, you don't expect that you can start ripping parts out of the old one and adding them to the new one. And the bigger the age difference, the less likely it is that parts will be compatible. The tires might not fit, the leaded fuel could be a problem, etc. But people expect that every piece of hardware and every bit of software they own should transfer flawlessly to a new computer with a new OS. Some stuff will transfer, some won't. I don't expect that where it's technically improbable. Not that I see a reasonable excuse for not supporting old 720K floppy disks in XP. For example. It's a full installation CD and it _will_, most likely, transfer. It won't neccessarily "activate", though. That's what bugs me. Not that a compatibility problem wouldn't, but this isn't one. Maybe the software vendor could have had the decency to point out that "no support from MS" isn't the _only_ difference between the "system builder"/OEM and retail versions. Then again, the people who're supposed to buy these versions (i.e. OEMs) no doubt already know what they're getting _their_ customers into. It's a pity, but it seems like I'm just not compatible with Microsoftware. There are software programs that are more restrictive and more annoying than what MS has implemented. Those other programs tend to have a smaller market share or special segment of the market, though, so most people haven't run into them. Yah... fortunately, much of the software I use is freeware or open source. I don't ordinarily get to worry about the legal pitfalls of using things the way I want. You'll probably see more companies do what MS has done. It's still more annoying with operating systems than with applications which can usually be replaced more easily. If that's not your cup of tea, there's always Linux. It will run on the hardware you have. So does XP. But yes. I've been flirting with Linux every now and then, and recent distros do cooperate with most of my hardware. I'm just not so sure it's the right OS for a graphic designer, though. Oh, well. I'll find out when I get there. ~Ally -- Never send a monster to do the work of an evil scientist. |
#38
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Windows XP OEM
"Ally" wrote in message 4... "D.Currie" wrote: There are all sorts of restrictions on products that you probably never even think about. Some of it has to do with safety or warranty ("do not use in bathtub" "For home use only"). What's the nature of those restrictions? What would happen (legally) if I did use "it" in a bathtub? Your heirs wouldn't be able to get a new one? heh. [snip] snip again (It was neither; it was a full installation CD for system builders, and in and of itself not tied to a specific mainboard. The computer I installed it on is from '99 or so. But yes, I should've taken the time to fully understand the intricacies of the EULA, and then try to return it.) That's one problem with those generic OEM CDs...they're cheaper than retail, so people buy them, but they're really manufactured for small OEMs to use, and those OEMs know what the rules are. There's a support mechanism in place for those OEMs but it doesn't exist for individuals, because that's not who's supposed to be buying them. snip Or on one computer at a time, spanning three computers. Right, it wouldn't have occured to me that something like that might be against the license until I encountered the WPA. I used to think "don't pirate the thing, and it'll be okay." With retail, you could hippety-hop that software from one computer to another with mad abandon. The OEM copies are different. [snippety] I think it's interesting that people think software purchases should be different than other things they buy. For one thing, they think that if they lose the software, they should get a free replacement, if they haven't lost all of the components. And not _entirely_ unreasonably so since, unlike a padlock, duplicating something immaterial like software doesn't exactly cost anyone much. But no, I suppose it's not up to the customer to decide whether such a service should be offered. The padlock doesn't cost all that much, either, when it comes down to it, unless we're talking about some high-security stainless steel monster. But in general, if a consumer loses something, either he replaces it ot the insurance company does. I can't think of another instance where a consumer would expect that the manufacturer would be responsible. So I bought a new padlock and lost it, but I still have the key. Should the company give me a new padlock? Unless there's some sort of replacement insurance, if you lose something, it's lost. The manufacturer doesn't replace it. Or at least not without a fee. Or they lose data, and they expect someone else to take care of that. "I bought a new wallet, and it fell out of my pocket and all my money blew away. Who is going to replace the money? And people expect all sorts of free technical help with computers that they wouldn't get elsewhere. Go tear apart your car engine, scatter the pieces in the garage, then start calling the dealership, the car manufacturer, and the engine manufacturer and see who offers free phone support. I'm not sure I understand why you're bringing up these examples now. I didn't lose or break anything. I didn't get support with XP anyway, so I'm not demanding any either. Not necessarily you in particular, I was just ranting. People often come to these groups complaining about or or the other. snip It's a full installation CD and it _will_, most likely, transfer. It won't neccessarily "activate", though. That's what bugs me. Not that a compatibility problem wouldn't, but this isn't one. If it's been more than 120 days since activation, it likely will activate. If it's been less and you explain that you repaired your computer, you'll also be able to activate. If you tell them, "I'm moving my oem software from one computer to another" they'll tell you that you can't. Maybe the software vendor could have had the decency to point out that "no support from MS" isn't the _only_ difference between the "system builder"/OEM and retail versions. It would have been nice, but at least you knew it was oem. Some online sellers just say that it's the full version, and even show a retail box, but what they're selling is OEM. Then again, the people who're supposed to buy these versions (i.e. OEMs) no doubt already know what they're getting _their_ customers into. They better. That's what they're in the business for. snip |
#39
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Windows XP OEM
You also had some choices to make when you purchased your computer.
1. Did you consider buying an extended warranty? For about $150, I got a 3-yr on-site warranty last yr. 2.Did you use a gold or platinum Visa card (a must for electronic purchases)? If so, your warranty is doubled up to 1 additional year (as long as the original warranty is 3 yrs or less) "Bruce Chambers" wrote in message ... Greetings -- You are entitled to be disappointed in the quality of support you've received from the PC's manufacturer, yes. The PC's manufacturer told you that you couldn't get a free replacement motherboard because your warranty had expired. They certainly could have done a little better here, by offering alternatives. But you're not entirely blameless. But did _you_ ask if a replacement could be purchased from them? How much hand-holding and coddling do you need? For generations, the simple rule has been "Buyer Beware." This applies to computers just as much as it does to any other product or service. People aren't really scolding you, but you do deserve it, to a certain extant. You consciously chose to purchase that specific computer from that specific manufacturer with that OEM licensed software and that specific warranty, and now you're whining because _you_ didn't "read the fine print." Adults accept responsibility for the consequences of their actions and decisions, good _and_ bad. Bruce Chambers -- Help us help you: http://dts-l.org/goodpost.htm http://www.catb.org/~esr/faqs/smart-questions.html You can have peace. Or you can have freedom. Don't ever count on having both at once. -- RAH "Dawn" wrote in message ... The thing is, if I buy a car and it breaks down, I can put a new carburetor in it myself and drive it to work. And if I called my dealership and told them that the carburetor was out, they wouldn't tell me that my warranty was up and hang up. They'd offer me a part, BEFORE I had purchased one from Autozone; especially if they knew that any other brand would not work. I have looked through all the paperwork that came with my pc, there is nothing there telling me that replacement parts are even available from the manuf. As far as reading anything off the HD, you have to be kidding me. Have you been reading the posts? The pc is collecting dust. It doesn't run. Why are so many so quick to scold me? I have a reasonable right to be dissapointed. -----Original Message----- It's like anything else you buy -- the salesman isn't going to tell you all the pitfalls of buying his particular product. If you go car shopping, they aren't going to tell you that one model has parts back- ordered for months, they're going to talk about great prices, good gas mileage, etc. As far as MS not supporting OEM software, that information is easily available. There are questions posted on these boards almost daily asking what the difference is between OEM and retail software. As far as Microsoft "warning" you, that information is part of the EULA (end- user license agreement) that you clicked "ok" on when you first got your computer, and that file is still on your computer. As far as not finding it when you looked at MSs web site, what company is going to post "Things we aren't going to do for you under various specific circumstances"? The list would be endless. But the information is there if you look for it. You'll find that it's the same thing with all the "parts" of your old computer. When you tried to get a new motherboard, you went to the company that made the computer, not the company that made the motherboard, right? If you went to the company that made the motherboard, they wouldn't help you. If you had a SoundBlaster sound card in your computer and you had problems with it, they'd tell you to go back to the computer manufacturer, too. That's the way it works. It's really not much different than any OEM product. If you bought a car and the radio blew up, you'd take it back to the car dealer, you wouldn't go back to the company that made the radio or its components. OEM parts, including software, are just like that radio...they're part of the whole thing that you're buying -- either computer or car -- and when you have a problem with any component, you go back to the place that built the whole thing, not to the company that made each component. This probably isn't something that people think about when they buy something, until things go wrong. When you buy your next computer (or anything else, for that matter), you'll have a better idea of what you're really getting for your money. "Dawn" wrote in message ... Why am I upset? When the MB first went out and I called the manuf, the choice of getting parts from them was never offered. I was told that the warranty was out and that they could not help me with parts. They could only give me email support. So, I made the "mistake" of buying a motherboard and putting it in myself. My other mistake was thinking that I had purchased a copy of Windows XP when I purchased my computer. No one educates people about things like OEMs when they are buying computers. Microsoft included. When I was buying my computer, I had a choice of operating systems. I went to Microsoft's website to get "informed". Nowhere did I see a warning that if something were to go wrong they would not help with my copy of their software if I had not purchased from them. So, I realise now thanks to all of your helpful responses when you purchase a computer you are NOT purchasing a copy of windows. -----Original Message----- Why do you think that Microsoft should talk to you. Everything you've got is OEM. They're responsible for it. Your mistake was buying a motherboard from someone else. Now you have to deal with it by purchasing Windows XP retail, OR, return the new motherboard and purchase a replacement from the OEM. No other way. Sorry! "Dawn" wrote in message ... Have a computer purchased 11/2001. The capacitors on the MB blew ruining the board. I called the manufacturer and was told that the warranty was out, too bad. So, I bought a new MB and put it in, now the OEM won't let me install. Called the manuf. back and they are telling me that the copy of XP is BIOS specific per their licensing agreement with MS and that I should go buy a retail copy of XP. Or, I could buy another MB from them. MS won't even talk to me. Any suggestions? . . |
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