●Stories
●Firehose
●All
●Popular
●Polls
●Software
●Thought Leadership
Submit
●
Login
●or
●
Sign up
●Topics:
●Devices
●Build
●Entertainment
●Technology
●Open Source
●Science
●YRO
●Follow us:
●RSS
●Facebook
●LinkedIn
●Twitter
●
Youtube
●
Mastodon
●Bluesky
Catch up on stories from the past week (and beyond) at the Slashdot story archive
Forgot your password?
Close
This discussion has been archived.
No new comments can be posted.
Load 500 More Comments
Full
Abbreviated
Hidden
/Sea
Score:
5
4
3
2
1
0
-1
More
Login
Forgot your password?
Close
Close
Log In/Create an Account
●
All
●
Insightful
●
Informative
●
Interesting
●
Funny
The Fine Print: The following comments are owned by whoever posted them. We are not responsible for them in any way.
byTuataraShoes ( 600303 ) writes:
Bollocks. All my work machines come with XP on them. The first thing I have to do is purge the damn thing and install Linux.
byDoesn't_Comment_Code ( 692510 ) writes:
Bollocks. All my work machines come with XP on them. The first thing I have to do is purge the damn thing and install Linux.
Perhaps you should resell your copies of Windows to others who might want them for barebones systems - and split the Microsoft tax 50/50.
Microsoft says you can't do this. But the courts have indicated that you can.
bySlashdotLemming ( 640272 ) writes:
Too bad that doesn't usually work. With some big name brands, the XP install is tied to the type of computer
bymagefile ( 776388 ) writes:
True. But if you call MS and say you lost the key (1-800-RU-LEGIT, I think), they'll give you a new one, no questions asked. At least, they have for me several times. They also did it when I said I wanted to move the OS to a different mfg'r's PC.
One could, theoretically, use this for pirating. Or one could use this with a legit copy.
Parent
twitter
facebook
byjulesh ( 229690 ) writes:
1-800-RU-LEGIT, I think
That's the way they punctuate it. I prefer 1-800-RULE-GIT.
It's not just the key, though. They only supply a "restore CD" which will wipe your hard disk and reinstall the OS with drivers, etc, customised for the machine they originally sold you.
This practice ought to be declared anti-competitive and made illegal, IMO. It prevents people from being able to effectively set up dual-boot systems.
bymagefile ( 776388 ) writes:
It's a hassle. But some disks (my latest Dell ones, for example) do a plain ol' install. Even better - when I needed replacements, I requested XP Pro and got 2 copies of Home before they got it right. 2 free copies of Home ... with KEYS!
Don't get me wrong, Dell and MS both treat their customers like crap - but good things do occasionally happen, even if they're accidents ;-)
There may be more comments in this discussion. Without JavaScript enabled, you might want to turn on Classic Discussion System in your preferences instead.
Slashdot
●
●
Submit Story
It is much harder to find a job than to keep one.
●FAQ
●Story Archive
●Hall of Fame
●Advertising
●Terms
●Privacy Statement
●About
●Feedback
●Mobile View
●Blog
Do Not Sell or Share My Personal Information
Copyright © 2026 Slashdot Media. All Rights Reserved.
×
Close
Working...
Working...