Getting an XP CD from Microsoft?

Mr Joshua · 3 Dec 2006 at 01:37

This might be a stupid question but is it possible to buy a windows CD from Microsoft if you got a pre-installed system?

I can specifically remember reading a magazine letter about this years ago and I'm sure it said if you have your key they'll ship a disk to you.
I think my copy is the retail version (there's no OEM marking around the product key) so is this still possible?

Tony Williams · 3 Dec 2006 at 01:39

They might if it is retail since you legally own a key.

Clarkey · 3 Dec 2006 at 01:47

i doubt you have a retail copy, why would an OEM supply a more expensive retail copy?

Tony Williams · 3 Dec 2006 at 01:59

If is a OEM copy goto your suppier for help.

Mr Joshua · 3 Dec 2006 at 02:03

Cheers for the responses. Theres an official looking MS sticker on the base but no mention of OEM, I'll contact them and see if they can help.

stoofa · 3 Dec 2006 at 03:48

I've never seen the sticker I know you are describing included in a Retail Pack before - so I'd say you've almost certainly got an OEM version of the OS.
I would have thought it will be a legal OEM copy, MS can tell you that for sure if you were contacting them via their "Is my copy of Windows legal?" scheme.
MS will almost certainly refer you to the OEM who sold you the machine.

jNive · 3 Dec 2006 at 04:41

if you have an OEM copy, you are highly unlikely to get a disk from MS or Your supplier / manufacturer, sicne the OEM license does not allow you to re-install. What you are likely to get is a 'repair' or 'recovery' disk from your supplier.

if its retail, then its far more likely that you can get a disk.

check by right-clicking 'My Computer' and selecting properties, if the Product ID has OEM in it, then its an OEM copy, this number is different to the one on the sticker attached to a computer. Also, having it attached to the computer in itself suggests an OEM copy, as they are also non transferable ( ie, licensed to that machine adn that machine only )

Brian Stuart · 3 Dec 2006 at 10:12

jNive said:
if you have an OEM copy, you are highly unlikely to get a disk from MS or Your supplier / manufacturer, sicne the OEM license does not allow you to re-install. What you are likely to get is a 'repair' or 'recovery' disk from your supplier.

OEM does let you reinstall XP What it does not let you do is migrate an OEM copy to another motherboard unless it is a replacement under warranty
Brian

Burnsy2023 · 3 Dec 2006 at 13:05

Brian Stuart said:
OEM does let you reinstall XP What it does not let you do is migrate an OEM copy to another motherboard unless it is a replacement under warranty
Brian

You've always been able to reinstall an OEM copy of Windows XP, In some cases all you'll get from an OEM will be a Windows disc and no recovery media.

The OEM Licence does have other restrictions which are stated in the sticky, but the non-transfer of licence is the main clause.

Burnsy