Hello!
I had to put my PC in for repair recently because the motherboard needed replaced, and the guy had to reinstall Windows 7. Unfortunately because the PC was homemade by my brother and he didn't hold onto the product key I'm now being told I need to pay for another license.
Obviously I don't want to do that unless I really have to, so thought I'd check if anyone else has had this problem and how to get around it?
I thought emailing Microsoft support and explaining the situation might be a start, but when I try to email them I get asked to pay £46 for the service, which blew my mind.
Any help appreciated!
On one hand you don't have Windows 7 on your pc, but on the other hand, YOU DON'T HAVE WINDOWS 7 ON YOUR PC - the glass is half full.
If you've already discounted Linux as an option, ask any mates that work in small businesses if they have a spare copy of W7 laying around and if they could maybe scan the label and email it to you.
If you had an OEM version of W7 I believe it's tied to that specific motherboard, so I think you will have to get a new license anyway.
Can't help you with getting a legal key, but having recently had to install Windows 7 Ultimate and OS-X Lion as dual-boot option on a company's collection of shiny new MacBooks I remain in awe of Microsoft's business practices.
Installing the Mac OS: there ya go buddy, see what you need, take what you want, download it, stick on a USB drive, update it, whatever suits, that's a couple of quid tops or maybe not and best of luck to you, have fun.
Installing Windows: Over 300 euro a pop, this version won't run on that machine, this version isn't in stock but we can order it from the warehouse but that'll have to ship from England so it'll take a few days (An overseas warehouse. For software. In 2012), no you can only use each licence once, no that version is OEM and only for a specific new factory-built machine, no you must register NOW, you MUST sign-up, no tech-support or updates until you DO, oh and please DROKK OFF.
Contrasting experiences to say the least. As the dim-but-happy user of pretty-much only open-source software for the past year I really wonder how this sort of 20th C protectionist thing is still viable.
You also kind of come to understand why Mac users have a reputation for being smug, don't you? They deserve to be.
Quote from: Professah Byah on 06 July, 2012, 09:20:44 AM
You also kind of come to understand why Mac users have a reputation for being smug, don't you? They deserve to be.
My lady's Macbook can't print properly (the colours are really dark). It opens two windows (one for music and one for Time Machine) which you can't hide on connecting to the server - every time you boot up. iTunes resets its preferences all the time and the wireless connection is nowhere as strong as on my cheap Acer laptop. It can't play any decent games, and there's no hash nor delete keys.
In this house, it's the Windows 7 user (ie. me) who's the smug one.
Oh - and the bottom fell off.
Quote from: Banners on 06 July, 2012, 09:51:36 AM
there's no hash nor delete keys.
Option-3
Fn-backspace
HTH
Dan
Quote from: Dan Kelly
Option-3
Fn-backspace
I know the shortcuts, but my Lady doesn't ;-)
Quote from: Banners on 06 July, 2012, 09:51:36 AM...and there's no hash
I hate it when that happens.
Quote from: Banners on 06 July, 2012, 09:51:36 AMIn this house, it's the Windows 7 user (ie. me) who's the smug one.
Only until your missus buys a 'pooter that isn't borked.
You could always use the free Windows 8 Release Preview for the time being. http://windows.microsoft.com/en-US/windows-8/iso
and maybe tame it with Classic Shell http://classicshell.sourceforge.net/
Quote from: Professah Byah
Only until your missus buys a 'pooter that isn't borked.
I didn't think Macs were supposed to be "borked". I thought they just worked?
Oh, I didn't meant to incite a Mac/PC flamewar!
Problem is now solved, a guy from work had a piece of software which um, sorted it ;)
A shame that such tactics were necessary though, but I don't really have the cash to pay for Windows twice just because our motherboard frazzled.
Thanks guys!
Quote from: Banners on 06 July, 2012, 11:50:06 AM
Quote from: Professah Byah
Only until your missus buys a 'pooter that isn't borked.
I didn't think Macs were supposed to be "borked". I thought they just worked?
I am no consumer watchdog or owt, but most new things tend to work as advertised or you bring them back to the shop.
I'm typing this on a MacBook OSX 10.5.8, machine upstairs is Win XP Professional.
I need to get a new battery for this MacBook because the battery has conked out - known issue, they only last for a certain number of boots but once out of warranty you have ta buy them yerself (as long as they're made and available). Apple kinda ignore the issue and if you mention any negatives on mac forums you get flamed and shot down so not much help there! The machine frequently looses internet connection when the signal is weak, I need to reconnect manually because it doesn't do it automatically. File management is slow and clunky (I do a lot of file management) and the machine has taken to overheating and crashing if I use it intensively. The latest 'feature' of this MacBook is that apparently Apple are now removing all support for the 4 year old operating system so no security updates etc. This leaves me with the option of doing stuff insecurely (and possibly getting my info hacked) or paying to update to an OS supported by Apple which I guess allows Apple to continue to claim that their OSs are more secure than Microsoft who support OSs for longer!
The machine upstairs running an 11 year old OS is still supported and doesn't have any of the 'features' of the Mac - so guess which product I won't be buying next time I'm upgrading!
Horses for courses I guess and I might have a paticularly bad Mac here but I like my machines to be fully configurable, able to do all the file management and techie stuff I need and the Mac walled garden(we know best what and how you wanna do it), upgrade and give us your dosh every year or two model doesn't suit this horse I'm afraid.
No offence intented to any Mac disciples, I just happen to have a different POV :)
I have window's 7 sitting on my desk at home,i'm currently using window's vista is it worth moving from vista to window's 7??
Will it make much difference to my machine performance wise?? IE i use my pc for a lot of gaming i've heard mention that it is a little better performance wise than vista
And if i back everything up onto my other internal harddrive will installing windows7 onto my main harddrive wise my other harddrive clean?
Quote from: klute
I have window's 7 sitting on my desk at home,i'm currently using window's vista is it worth moving from vista to window's 7??
It'll certainly alleviate your suffering.