When you buy a PC pre-installed with XP are you paying for XP?

Question

It's just that you normally have to pay for a recovery disk to restore your computer. When you buy a computer of the shelf you get XP with the machine Pre-installed. Are you paying for that pre-installation when you buy the PC?

With An OEM version of Windows does the rule apply that you can only install that disk once on a machine or can you install that disk on many machines?

Answer 1

okay, the difference here is OEM

most OEM installs of Windows XP have a license on the side of the box. Microsoft knows the "CD" key number. Because most OEM's are assembled with an Un-keyed version of XP because the Manufacture uses a motherboard that is "tattooed" has the "key" embedded in it.

Let's say you want to put a new motherboard in the PC that is not the original to the PC. And you desire to transfer Win XP to this machine, first the restore disks will not work on a motherboard that is not 'tattooed', second (let's say you get a XP disk) you install XP and attempt to use your 'CD Key' from the side of the box. It will come up that you need to call Microsoft. and the short of it is, that most OEM version's of XP can only be registered on the computer (motherboard) that it shipped with.

however, now if you bought a Windows XP O/S and installed it on a computer, and now want to install it on a new computer, back up and copy the data you need to keep. remove XP from the old computer and install it on the new one.

Answer 2

Technically, yes, you are.
In the real world, it costs so little to put XP on a machine you're going to sell (so than MS keep the market) that it's not really possible to lower the price by much for a no-OS option.
I've never known someone have to pay for a recovery disk, but it's been a while since i bought a PC.
With the OEM installs, you may only use it on one machine, and i think the component that defines the machine is the motherboard - you can change anything else and it'll work, but if you replace the motherboard you need a new license.

Answer 3

I think the price is part and parcel of the PC.

However I purchased an OEM copy of Win XP Pro for my PC that I built. The licence on that CD was for 1 PC. If you wanted to install it on many machines they would need to be logged with Microsoft as I had to get a code off the phone from them. If you tried to put this CD on many machines I'm sure Microsoft would just allow the 28 days and then block them.

Answer 4

I had ever bought notebooks with a pre-installed OS. Now I have W XP on my last notebook and:
1) I hadn't had to pay additional money for the OS
2) I won't have to pay additional money to re-install the OS in case that I decide to format the system.
The same happened with the previous notebook.
Ok, I buy my computer in Italy, but I think this doesn't matter.

Answer 5

yes u are paying for the os and the license to use it on a machine and the cost depends on the type of license u take . u can have a pc license for one machine per os or a workstation license which allows many machines at the same time to use the os. but it costs more

Answer 6

I agree with MHP.
In addiiton depending on your computer model & manufacturer you may have a restore partition. If Windows can not be repaired by system restore, 3rd party software in safe mode you can restore your computer to reinstall o.s. (keep your data) or format and reinstall image as when it left the factory. You'll lose all your data but you will have your C drive in order.
Most companies can and have charged $15 to $30 for the o.s. reinstall c.d., softwares c.d, hardware (printer, scanner, etc) c.d.s etc.

Answer 7

1 licence 1 machine

Answer 8

Yes, although if you follow this link there was a story posted today all about this.
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/technology/6144782.stm
as long as you don't agree to the terms, you could get your money back. Or request that it's not installed from whoever you buy a pc from if you don't want it

Answer 9

ys for sure