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#1
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Recovery disk Library Location?
The last three computers I have assembled, or put back together have
all shown up with WGA errors. Since it is almost impossible to secure recover disks with all the advertising, I have been using several Windows CDs to install the product listed on the COA with legitimate codes. Now installing with the COA, I am getting Windows Counterfeit messages doing the updates because I am using the same disk. I was able to find a HP recover disk for one of the computers I assembled from several different computers, not the originals but the correct ones for that specific model. I have two computers (one Gateway e-4000) that I cannot give to the school for their disadvantaged students because of the WGA errors. In talking to MS, the support person indicated it is the MS policy that the original disks must be used and not one disk for many computer systems. Since I almost never get the recovery disks, with the broken or destroyed computers I rebuild, or piece together, nor do I have a benefactor that will pay for recovery disks/a new copy of windows I have a problem. Is there a location on the net where someone or a group has stored recovery disks that manufactures no longer have or will ship, so that they can be secure, when trying to rebuild the computers? I understand that (WGA) is to prevent Operating System Piracy, but this is too much and a very recent development. Maybe it is time for me to choose another endeavor... Yes, I know there are a number of work arounds for the current and past versions of (WGA). JR the Postman -- Mesnews is a decent yEnc capable newsreader - www.mesnews.net |
#2
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Recovery disk Library Location?
It is perfectly legal to buy a new system nowadays and create restore CDs from
the "recovery" partition to be used if the hard drive croaks, yet these CDs do not have the genuine Microsoft hologram that marks an original, which is all Microsoft claims you can use. Go figure. As best as I can tell, Microsoft has several different algorithms for validating the COA, and these vary with the type of CD. Just for XP Home, there are "upgrade", OEM, non-upgrade (install from scratch), and corporate versions. Same with XP Pro and XP Media Center Edition. The upgrade version requires that you have an older Windows CD, 98, ME, or 2000, IIRC. You have to use an installation CD that matches the type of COA with the system, or the software is labelled counterfeit. If the COA has already been tracked and entered into the Microsoft data base, it can be deemed counterfeit, and you have to call them on the phone and request a Gatesian (not papal) dispensation, explaining what happened, e.g. hard drive replacement, motherboard replacement, reinstall due to virus infestation, etc. You will also be given a new COA to enter into the system by the person in India (usually) on the other end of the phone line. There are arguments in other usenet groups as to whether an OEM CD from one brand name can be used with another brand's OEM COA sticker. For example, can a Dell OEM "recovery" CD (it's actually a full standard Windows XP install) be used with a Gateway and not end up with the counterfeit message. Summary: Microsoft does not make XP easy for anyone to administer, all in the name of tracking down all those dastardly software pirates. Have you considered loading up systems with something like Ubuntu Linux? No license fee. No COA. Nobody and no software to harrass you. Relatively easy installation process with fewer reboots than a Windows XP install-and-update-all-the-patches. Currently there is equivalent software for Office (except Access), Photoshop, various media players, and all manner of other stuff. All included on the distribution CDs. You can download for free and burn your own CDs. There are other comparable variations of Linux, too... Ben Myers On Mon, 25 Sep 2006 12:24:02 -0700, Postman delivers wrote: The last three computers I have assembled, or put back together have all shown up with WGA errors. Since it is almost impossible to secure recover disks with all the advertising, I have been using several Windows CDs to install the product listed on the COA with legitimate codes. Now installing with the COA, I am getting Windows Counterfeit messages doing the updates because I am using the same disk. I was able to find a HP recover disk for one of the computers I assembled from several different computers, not the originals but the correct ones for that specific model. I have two computers (one Gateway e-4000) that I cannot give to the school for their disadvantaged students because of the WGA errors. In talking to MS, the support person indicated it is the MS policy that the original disks must be used and not one disk for many computer systems. Since I almost never get the recovery disks, with the broken or destroyed computers I rebuild, or piece together, nor do I have a benefactor that will pay for recovery disks/a new copy of windows I have a problem. Is there a location on the net where someone or a group has stored recovery disks that manufactures no longer have or will ship, so that they can be secure, when trying to rebuild the computers? I understand that (WGA) is to prevent Operating System Piracy, but this is too much and a very recent development. Maybe it is time for me to choose another endeavor... Yes, I know there are a number of work arounds for the current and past versions of (WGA). JR the Postman |
#3
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Recovery disk Library Location?
One more thing: Except for illegal web sites run by and for hackers and
crackers, you won't find any system restore CDs out here on the web. Contractually, Microsoft prohibits their OEMs from making CDs available, and would have any OEM posting a restore CD on the net in court real fast. Some system restore CDs are Windows install CDs, plain and simple, and they generally require drivers, either from another CD shipped with the computer or downloaded from the web. Others use another process (restoring a Ghost image, for example) to restore the CD to its factory state... Ben Myers On Mon, 25 Sep 2006 12:24:02 -0700, Postman delivers wrote: The last three computers I have assembled, or put back together have all shown up with WGA errors. Since it is almost impossible to secure recover disks with all the advertising, I have been using several Windows CDs to install the product listed on the COA with legitimate codes. Now installing with the COA, I am getting Windows Counterfeit messages doing the updates because I am using the same disk. I was able to find a HP recover disk for one of the computers I assembled from several different computers, not the originals but the correct ones for that specific model. I have two computers (one Gateway e-4000) that I cannot give to the school for their disadvantaged students because of the WGA errors. In talking to MS, the support person indicated it is the MS policy that the original disks must be used and not one disk for many computer systems. Since I almost never get the recovery disks, with the broken or destroyed computers I rebuild, or piece together, nor do I have a benefactor that will pay for recovery disks/a new copy of windows I have a problem. Is there a location on the net where someone or a group has stored recovery disks that manufactures no longer have or will ship, so that they can be secure, when trying to rebuild the computers? I understand that (WGA) is to prevent Operating System Piracy, but this is too much and a very recent development. Maybe it is time for me to choose another endeavor... Yes, I know there are a number of work arounds for the current and past versions of (WGA). JR the Postman |
#4
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Recovery disk Library Location?
Finally, just for fun (or possibly more aggravation), call Gateway and ask if
they will sell you recovery/restore CDs. Give them the computer serial number, which is entirely legit. FWIW, Dell and HPaq sell their recovery CDs... Ben Myers On Mon, 25 Sep 2006 12:24:02 -0700, Postman delivers wrote: The last three computers I have assembled, or put back together have all shown up with WGA errors. Since it is almost impossible to secure recover disks with all the advertising, I have been using several Windows CDs to install the product listed on the COA with legitimate codes. Now installing with the COA, I am getting Windows Counterfeit messages doing the updates because I am using the same disk. I was able to find a HP recover disk for one of the computers I assembled from several different computers, not the originals but the correct ones for that specific model. I have two computers (one Gateway e-4000) that I cannot give to the school for their disadvantaged students because of the WGA errors. In talking to MS, the support person indicated it is the MS policy that the original disks must be used and not one disk for many computer systems. Since I almost never get the recovery disks, with the broken or destroyed computers I rebuild, or piece together, nor do I have a benefactor that will pay for recovery disks/a new copy of windows I have a problem. Is there a location on the net where someone or a group has stored recovery disks that manufactures no longer have or will ship, so that they can be secure, when trying to rebuild the computers? I understand that (WGA) is to prevent Operating System Piracy, but this is too much and a very recent development. Maybe it is time for me to choose another endeavor... Yes, I know there are a number of work arounds for the current and past versions of (WGA). JR the Postman |
#5
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Recovery disk Library Location?
Ben Myers wrote:
[snip] Have you considered loading up systems with something like Ubuntu Linux? No license fee. No COA. Nobody and no software to harrass you. Relatively easy installation process with fewer reboots than a Windows XP install-and-update-all-the-patches. Currently there is equivalent software for Office (except Access), Photoshop, various media players, and all manner of other stuff. All included on the distribution CDs. You can download for free and burn your own CDs. There are other comparable variations of Linux, too... Ben Myers When will people realize that the commercial world doesn't support Linux! I first heard of Linux back around '95 and today I still won't touch it. As everything I buy, from flight simulators, VoIP, cameras, IM software, etc. only come with Windows software and rarely with Mac crippled versions. There are no Linux versions for any of this stuff. Why the hell would someone want to run Linux for? Why would you want to dumb your computer down to a glorified PDA for? I just don't get it? -- Bill |
#6
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Recovery disk Library Location?
Ben Myers wrote:
One more thing: Except for illegal web sites run by and for hackers and crackers, you won't find any system restore CDs out here on the web. Contractually, Microsoft prohibits their OEMs from making CDs available, and would have any OEM posting a restore CD on the net in court real fast. Some system restore CDs are Windows install CDs, plain and simple, and they generally require drivers, either from another CD shipped with the computer or downloaded from the web. Others use another process (restoring a Ghost image, for example) to restore the CD to its factory state... Ben Myers Nonsense you can find hard to find recovery disc at places like: http://www.gennersales.co.uk/ -- Bill |
#7
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Recovery disk Library Location?
"Ben Myers" wrote in message ... It is perfectly legal to buy a new system nowadays and create restore CDs from the "recovery" partition to be used if the hard drive croaks, yet these CDs do not have the genuine Microsoft hologram that marks an original, which is all Microsoft claims you can use. Go figure. As best as I can tell, Microsoft has several different algorithms for validating the COA, and these vary with the type of CD. Just for XP Home, there are "upgrade", OEM, non-upgrade (install from scratch), and corporate versions. Same with XP Pro and XP Media Center Edition. The upgrade version requires that you have an older Windows CD, 98, ME, or 2000, IIRC. You have to use an installation CD that matches the type of COA with the system, or the software is labelled counterfeit. If the COA has already been tracked and entered into the Microsoft data base, it can be deemed counterfeit, and you have to call them on the phone and request a Gatesian (not papal) dispensation, explaining what happened, e.g. hard drive replacement, motherboard replacement, reinstall due to virus infestation, etc. You will also be given a new COA to enter into the system by the person in India (usually) on the other end of the phone line. What is happening is the COA keys on most brand name computers are not activateable (is that a word?) The OEM copy of windows XP whether it is a standalone CD or a set of recovery cd's is tied to the bios and doesn't need to be activated. If you were to use a key finder on several different machines of the same model, they would have the same key (which also cannot be activated). I think what was happening is people knew that the OEM key hadn't been used and repair shops were using those keys to install pirated copies of windows. I don't know when they started this but if you use an OEM XP cd with the COA on a brand name computer, it will accept it during install but you most likely won't be able to activate it. One exception I have found is emachines. Occasionally I will have to replace a bad board with a similar aftermarket board. As soon as it boots to windows it says it must be activated. The first time it will reject it because of the common key that is embedded in the restore cd's. So far the key on the COA activates every time. There are arguments in other usenet groups as to whether an OEM CD from one brand name can be used with another brand's OEM COA sticker. For example, can a Dell OEM "recovery" CD (it's actually a full standard Windows XP install) be used with a Gateway and not end up with the counterfeit message. Summary: Microsoft does not make XP easy for anyone to administer, all in the name of tracking down all those dastardly software pirates. Have you considered loading up systems with something like Ubuntu Linux? No license fee. No COA. Nobody and no software to harrass you. Relatively easy installation process with fewer reboots than a Windows XP install-and-update-all-the-patches. Currently there is equivalent software for Office (except Access), Photoshop, various media players, and all manner of other stuff. All included on the distribution CDs. You can download for free and burn your own CDs. There are other comparable variations of Linux, too... Ben Myers On Mon, 25 Sep 2006 12:24:02 -0700, Postman delivers wrote: The last three computers I have assembled, or put back together have all shown up with WGA errors. Since it is almost impossible to secure recover disks with all the advertising, I have been using several Windows CDs to install the product listed on the COA with legitimate codes. Now installing with the COA, I am getting Windows Counterfeit messages doing the updates because I am using the same disk. I was able to find a HP recover disk for one of the computers I assembled from several different computers, not the originals but the correct ones for that specific model. I have two computers (one Gateway e-4000) that I cannot give to the school for their disadvantaged students because of the WGA errors. In talking to MS, the support person indicated it is the MS policy that the original disks must be used and not one disk for many computer systems. Since I almost never get the recovery disks, with the broken or destroyed computers I rebuild, or piece together, nor do I have a benefactor that will pay for recovery disks/a new copy of windows I have a problem. Is there a location on the net where someone or a group has stored recovery disks that manufactures no longer have or will ship, so that they can be secure, when trying to rebuild the computers? I understand that (WGA) is to prevent Operating System Piracy, but this is too much and a very recent development. Maybe it is time for me to choose another endeavor... Yes, I know there are a number of work arounds for the current and past versions of (WGA). JR the Postman |
#8
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Recovery disk Library Location?
Thnak you for the reminder that the EU and the US are different places. All
they have in common is one letter in the abbreviation. Microsoft has been forced to do business VERY differently in the EU, where there is still governmental concern for the rights of individuals compared to megacorporations. It does not surprise me that recovery CDs would be available in Europe. Because the US government is extremely friendly to businesses, to put it mildly, Microsoft twists everyone's testes here. Or tits. Whichever. And recovery CDs are not available in the general marketplace except from the name brand manufacturer, provided one whines loudly enough. What I stated was US-centric, because I have been back here for the last 22 years. I would not mind if someone proved me wrong by posting the URL of a US(!!!)-based web site that sells XP recovery CDs legally at a price much less than a full-fledged store copy of XPee. I would be up near the front of the line, to fill out the collection I already have... Ben Myers On Tue, 26 Sep 2006 11:18:28 -0500, "BillW50" wrote: Ben Myers wrote: One more thing: Except for illegal web sites run by and for hackers and crackers, you won't find any system restore CDs out here on the web. Contractually, Microsoft prohibits their OEMs from making CDs available, and would have any OEM posting a restore CD on the net in court real fast. Some system restore CDs are Windows install CDs, plain and simple, and they generally require drivers, either from another CD shipped with the computer or downloaded from the web. Others use another process (restoring a Ghost image, for example) to restore the CD to its factory state... Ben Myers Nonsense you can find hard to find recovery disc at places like: http://www.gennersales.co.uk/ |
#9
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Recovery disk Library Location?
Tried an up-to-date Linux distro lately? ... Ben
On Tue, 26 Sep 2006 11:08:11 -0500, "BillW50" wrote: Ben Myers wrote: [snip] Have you considered loading up systems with something like Ubuntu Linux? No license fee. No COA. Nobody and no software to harrass you. Relatively easy installation process with fewer reboots than a Windows XP install-and-update-all-the-patches. Currently there is equivalent software for Office (except Access), Photoshop, various media players, and all manner of other stuff. All included on the distribution CDs. You can download for free and burn your own CDs. There are other comparable variations of Linux, too... Ben Myers When will people realize that the commercial world doesn't support Linux! I first heard of Linux back around '95 and today I still won't touch it. As everything I buy, from flight simulators, VoIP, cameras, IM software, etc. only come with Windows software and rarely with Mac crippled versions. There are no Linux versions for any of this stuff. Why the hell would someone want to run Linux for? Why would you want to dumb your computer down to a glorified PDA for? I just don't get it? |
#10
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Recovery disk Library Location?
"BillW50" wrote in message
. com... Ben Myers wrote: [snip] Have you considered loading up systems with something like Ubuntu Linux? No license fee. No COA. Nobody and no software to harrass you. Relatively easy installation process with fewer reboots than a Windows XP install-and-update-all-the-patches. Currently there is equivalent software for Office (except Access), Photoshop, various media players, and all manner of other stuff. All included on the distribution CDs. You can download for free and burn your own CDs. There are other comparable variations of Linux, too... Ben Myers When will people realize that the commercial world doesn't support Linux! I first heard of Linux back around '95 and today I still won't touch it. As everything I buy, from flight simulators, VoIP, cameras, IM software, etc. only come with Windows software and rarely with Mac crippled versions. There are no Linux versions for any of this stuff. Why the hell would someone want to run Linux for? Why would you want to dumb your computer down to a glorified PDA for? I just don't get it? -- Bill I think you should take another look around at this issue. There are numerous alternatives to the MS series of offerings as well as quite a few windows based apps being ported over to other O/Ss. Some of the biggest pushes to this have been the licensing system used by MS as well as cost and support. Google a bit on the web and you can find an alternative to MS for just about any app with a very similar interface. |
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