Using the COA sticker to get a free copy of XP

[toggs]

Hi,

Can it be done?

I just bought a Thinkpad T42 with no OS, thinking that "Oh, there might be a a few things in Linux that will require tweaking, but it'll be all good once I work them out". I think I was wrong. I'm running Ubuntu, and, it just isn't polished enough imo. I'm having issues with sound. You tweak and tweak and tweak, then you go and install a new program and everything gets phucked up. There's that and then just about a half dozen other little annoying things. Like fonts.

Anyway, this laptop I have has a COA sticker for xp on the bottom of it. Is there a way I can use that to somehow get a legal copy of xp onto this computer. Or, is there any at all of getting xp for free or next to it?

 

[mep916]

If you know someone with a copy of XP, borrow it. Microsoft won't help you because the Thinkpad is an OEM machine. You can also contact Lenovo for recovery options.

Click here for your laptop's support page. If you install a fresh copy of XP, you'll need to download all the hardware drivers from that site.

 

[toggs]

If you know someone with a copy of XP, borrow it.

So all I have to do is borrow installation discs from someone, and then enter the code that is on the coa sticker? If so, would "they" (microsoft, whoever, the "system" set up to get funnel cash to whoever) think that the person who I borrowed the discs from is just putting their copy of xp onto a different computer? Would the person who I borrowed the discs from and my machine/my name be "associated" at all.

You can also contact Lenovo for recovery options.

Ok, so, going that route, I would order recovery discs and install them, and this would work because "they" (microsoft, whoever) would think "ok, this guy has a coa, so he must have already paid for his copy, and he must just need to reinstall his OS"?

If I've understood you - I didn't think it would be this easy. But maybe I'm missing something. This is all new to me.

Btw, is that Steve Ballmer in your pic?

 

[Vizy]

No. That's what i did. Sort of. In essense, a buddy let me borrow their disk, and i just used the serial code i found on my old compaq. Works perfectly.

 

[mep916]

So all I have to do is borrow installation discs from someone, and then enter the code that is on the coa sticker? If so, would "they" (microsoft, whoever, the "system" set up to get funnel cash to whoever) think that the person who I borrowed the discs from is just putting their copy of xp onto a different computer? Would the person who I borrowed the discs from and my machine/my name be "associated" at all.

It's definitely a gray area because, technically, this violates the Microsoft EULA. No, as long as you have a legit COA (you do, apparently), you'll be okay and no one would be associated.

Ok, so, going that route, I would order recovery discs and install them, and this would work because "they" (microsoft, whoever) would think "ok, this guy has a coa, so he must have already paid for his copy, and he must just need to reinstall his OS"?

If I've understood you - I didn't think it would be this easy. But maybe I'm missing something. This is all new to me.

This, I think, would be the best approach. Call Lenovo - or use live chat on their website, if available - tell them the model name, number and serial number, and you should be able to purchase a new set of recovery disks. Yes, they will assume you need to recover your system (which you do) and that's perfectly legal.

Btw, is that Steve Ballmer in your pic?

Yeah.

 

[toggs]

It's definitely a gray area because, technically, this violates the Microsoft EULA. No, as long as you have a legit COA (you do, apparently), you'll be okay and no one would be associated.

Would it matter what kind of xp they have? As in, retail vs. OEM?

This, I think, would be the best approach. Call Lenovo - or use live chat on their website, if available - tell them the model name, number and serial number, and you should be able to purchase a new set of recovery disks. Yes, they will assume you need to recover your system (which you do) and that's perfectly legal.

Killer. Any idea how much they cost?


Lol, so do you have Ballmer's pic for your avatar because you like him and are a m-soft fan? Or is it done in a mocking way, because he's such a screwball?

 

[mep916]

Would it matter what kind of xp they have? As in, retail vs. OEM?

Honestly, I don't know. I'm assuming it doesn't matter, but I've never personally tried it.

Killer. Any idea how much they cost?

No. Look through that support link I previously posted.

Or is it done in a mocking way, because he's such a screwball?

Yeah, pretty much. I think he's a douchebag, but there's something funny about the pic.

 

[toggs]

Thanks for all the tips mep.

Thinkwiki.org has a good page on ordering recovery CD's that I just found. By the sounds of it, it'll probably run $50. *Sigh*, MF'ers. That's cheaper than buying off ebay, but still.