Microsoft Sues Comet Over Windows 'Piracy'

banger9365

TakeThis wrote: »

So you don't know how it works then? Lost count of the amount of bluffers I meet on this and similar boards.

totally agree with that

debitcardmayhem

ChiefGrasscutter wrote: »

Samsung N140 Netbook.
....snipped
Those who bothered to think this one through made a full disk image with a 3rd party software. There were plenty on the forums who didn't of course............
Invariably the wuckfits had installed linux over the top, thereby wrecking Samsung's custom MBR thereby removing all access via the special startup code and function key press to the recovery area/program and were left with no way of returning it to factory restore.
Classic case of RTFM.

Not all of course

Disk /dev/sda: 250.1 GB, 250059350016 bytes
255 heads, 63 sectors/track, 30401 cylinders, total 488397168 sectors
Units = sectors of 1 * 512 = 512 bytes
Sector size (logical/physical): 512 bytes / 512 bytes
I/O size (minimum/optimal): 512 bytes / 512 bytes
Disk identifier: 0x145160c1

   Device Boot      Start         End      Blocks   Id  System
/dev/sda1            2048    31459327    15728640   27  [COLOR=Magenta]Hidden NTFS WinRE[/COLOR]
/dev/sda2   *    31459328    31664127      102400    7  HPFS/NTFS/exFAT
/dev/sda3        31664128   333103103   150719488    7  HPFS/NTFS/exFAT
/dev/sda4       333107836   488394751    77643458    5  Extended
/dev/sda5       333107838   446947239    56919701    7  HPFS/NTFS/exFAT
/dev/sda6       467427328   484489215     8530944   83  Linux
/dev/sda7       484491264   488394751     1951744   82  Linux swap / Solaris
/dev/sda8       446960493   467427239    10233373+  83  Linux

Partition table entries are not in disk order

Plus Xboot is excellent for booting the Windows repair iso from USB and indeed for using Acronis too

The_Safordian

TakeThis wrote: »

So you don't know how it works then? Lost count of the amount of bluffers I meet on this and similar boards.

I obviously know a damn site more than you and your "friend" who followers you round saying

banger9365 wrote:

totally agree with that

Perhaps you should get some virtual memory before commenting on something you know nothing about

DatabaseError

For those suggesting a clean installation is a better solution than recovery media, I'm sure we've all had the fun of trying to track down drivers for older hardware, pita for us with a little experience, stack of disks and google-fu, impossible for someone whos only machine needs recovering..try connecting to the net without network adapter drivers. recovery disks, for all their unwanted bloatware, should get the machine back to "out of the box" settings, ready to go.

The_Safordian

DatabaseError wrote: »

For those suggesting a clean installation is a better solution than recovery media, I'm sure we've all had the fun of trying to track down drivers for older hardware, pita for us with a little experience, stack of disks and google-fu, impossible for someone whos only machine needs recovering..try connecting to the net without network adapter drivers. recovery disks, for all their unwanted bloatware, should get the machine back to "out of the box" settings, ready to go.

1: You should get the driver CD/DVD with the Laptop/PC
2: You can always download them before hand from their website.


It's simple process, the hardest thing is waiting for the installation process to finish. In some cases a fresh install is better than the manufacturers because it doesn't have all their clutter

rmg1

Just to add my (in)experience to this debate, how do you download the drivers if your only machine is FUBAR?
When was the last time any new PC/laptop came with any discs?

usignuolo

Quite frankly this debate is over the head of most home users. My OH just about knows what a partition is but would not have a clue how to save an OS to one, let alone recover it. My sister: "what's a partition?". Yet they both use their PC quite happily while it is working OK. It is this level of user that Comet was providing the recovery disks for. Then if and when it breaks down, if the user turns up at a repair centre, they have a recovery disk with them even if they do not know how to use it. Incidentally I am interested to hear the Microsoft provides recovery disks. I thought that was the responsibility of the OEM. Anyone know who and where in Microsoft you contact for one? (And System Restore on XP is broken BTW).

bod1467

You cannot get a Recovery Disk from Microsoft - period. All they can offer are Retail and OEM (including volume license) versions of the OS. These DO NOT include tools to setup a recovery partition, nor do they guarantee to include drivers for all the hardware used in a particular computer.

A Recovery Disk should only be available from the computer manufacturer. Not even the Retailer, unless they are also the manufacturer. And this brings us full circle back to the OP.

esuhl

rmg1 wrote: »

Just to add my (in)experience to this debate, how do you download the drivers if your only machine is FUBAR?

You use a different machine. It's not like you have much choice.

I s'pose the only other option would be to buy another PC for which drivers are supplied. But most people would find a way to connect to the Internet if the alternative was to buy a new PC.

StumpyPumpy

The_Safordian wrote: »

Ok I'll ask again, was I wrong to download XP OEM so I could format my Netbook and then use my genuine XP Licence to register it because I didn't have a copy due to M$ not giving them out

Did anyone ever answer this for you? Apologies if they did but I got bored reading the thread, but as the answer is easy, I'll tell you: yes you were wrong and in breach of the OEM license agreement.

This quote below is from the System Builder's Licensing FAQ, (my highlights) but trust me it applies to your circumstance too - just think of yourself as both the "customer" and System Builder. (Yes, I do know. No, I don't want to get into a p!ssing contest about how I know.)

Q. If I need to reinstall the operating system on a machine from a direct OEM (e.g., Dell) that my customer has brought in, how should I do this?
A. A customer who wants you to reinstall Windows must provide recovery media from the direct OEM, because the software is licensed to the customer for use on that PC by that OEM. You cannot use your own OEM System Builder media to reinstall the operating system, or any other version of media (e.g., TechNet, MSDN, Action Pack, etc.), because these versions differ from the original OEM Windows license your customer acquired from the direct OEM. A customer who doesn't have a backup copy of the software for reinstallation will need to contact the original OEM and request replacement recovery media; you can use that media to reinstall the operating system on that machine.

HTH

SP