HP OEM Vista issue

Savage Belief · 03-02-2008, 10:57 AM

I received a new PC for Christmas. It's an HPa6244n with Vista Home Premium. The PC was bought at best buy and recently the Hard drive broke.

I too the PC back to best buy for a warranty repair. They replaced the hard drive, but told me they do not have the restore disk to put the OS back on my machine. They told me to call HP to get a copy.

I call HP and they tell me it's going to be $25.00 for the image because I took it to Best Buy for warranty work and that violates their warranty. Best Buy is an authorized repair center for HP products.

Can someone tell me if there is a legal way to download an OEM version of Vista and use my activation code? (Its on the side of the box) Or is the HP operator full of crap and I can get their disk for free.

I don't mind paying the 25 bucks, but it seems to me I took the machine in on good faith for warranty work and I should get it back in its original condition.

**sobeit** · 03-02-2008, 11:17 AM

I would suggest spending the 25 bucks and get the backup version from hp. Its always nice to have a copy on dvd. It will prevent any problems from downloading and installing possible illegal copies.

**jcgriff2** · 03-02-2008, 01:25 PM

I would simply add to make sure upon receipt of your computer from Best Buy that Windows Defender (WD) is up and running and recently updated. WD installation and update is one of the first steps in the Microsoft Windows Genuine Advantage program. Your product key code has been away from you during this repair. You do not want to find out during a subsequent Windows Update that your Vista license has been invalidated.

regards. . .

jcgriff2

Savage Belief · 03-03-2008, 11:59 AM

Issue resolved.

I went to the online tech chat for HP and lo-and behold they are sending me the recovery disk FREE OF CHARGE!.

I'm not too worried about the key, since I didn't have the machine long enough to get it online to verify the key and register it.

l_b_rex · 03-04-2008, 09:23 AM

Wait!

If Besbuy ordered the hard drive from HP. HP will send the cds. If it was off their shelve then you need to pay...no proof.

Usually they order them so they can be reimbursed. Call HP and tell them to look for the order and if they find it. Demand the recovery cds.

Ooops, I was too late. I'm glad it worked out for you.

echidnablade · 03-04-2008, 08:59 PM

If the hard drive is replaced by Best Buy then the HP rep should have been able to get the discs sent out free of charge as that is the policy for HP. My supervisor would have gave me heck for trying to sell you those discs for something like that. Sounds like someone new or someone desperate for a sale. Glad that the online people knew what they were doing. :)

03-02-2008, 10:57 AM	#1 (permalink)
Savage Belief Registered User Join Date: Feb 2008 Posts: 11 OS: XP	HP OEM Vista issue I received a new PC for Christmas. It's an HPa6244n with Vista Home Premium. The PC was bought at best buy and recently the Hard drive broke. I too the PC back to best buy for a warranty repair. They replaced the hard drive, but told me they do not have the restore disk to put the OS back on my machine. They told me to call HP to get a copy. I call HP and they tell me it's going to be $25.00 for the image because I took it to Best Buy for warranty work and that violates their warranty. Best Buy is an authorized repair center for HP products. Can someone tell me if there is a legal way to download an OEM version of Vista and use my activation code? (Its on the side of the box) Or is the HP operator full of crap and I can get their disk for free. I don't mind paying the 25 bucks, but it seems to me I took the machine in on good faith for warranty work and I should get it back in its original condition. Last edited by Savage Belief : 03-02-2008 at 10:59 AM.

03-02-2008, 11:17 AM	#2 (permalink)
sobeit TSF Enthusiast Join Date: Nov 2007 Location: NEAR Posts: 5,421 OS: windows/linux	Re: HP OEM Vista issue I would suggest spending the 25 bucks and get the backup version from hp. Its always nice to have a copy on dvd. It will prevent any problems from downloading and installing possible illegal copies. __________________ Do not feed the trolls.

03-02-2008, 01:25 PM	#3 (permalink)
jcgriff2 Moderator, Microsoft Support Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: New Jersey, USA Posts: 4,793 OS: Vista SP1 x64, x86 / XP SP3 Pro, Media, Home, / Win 95 / DOS / IBM 390 TSO/ISPF My System	Re: HP OEM Vista issue I would simply add to make sure upon receipt of your computer from Best Buy that Windows Defender (WD) is up and running and recently updated. WD installation and update is one of the first steps in the Microsoft Windows Genuine Advantage program. Your product key code has been away from you during this repair. You do not want to find out during a subsequent Windows Update that your Vista license has been invalidated. regards. . . jcgriff2 __________________ SysInternals Suite • BSOD Bugchecks • Media Fire • Belarc Advisor • MS TechNet • MS NTDE/CPR MSDN Err Cds • Everest Home v2.20 • CCleaner • Memtest86+ • MS Help & Support Live SysInternals AutoRuns • Auslogics Defrag • McAfee RT • Norton RT • Kaspersky RT • MS One Care RT If you were expecting a reply from me and I have not yet done so, please send me a PM with a link to your thread.

03-03-2008, 11:59 AM	#4 (permalink)
Savage Belief Registered User Join Date: Feb 2008 Posts: 11 OS: XP	Re: HP OEM Vista issue Issue resolved. I went to the online tech chat for HP and lo-and behold they are sending me the recovery disk FREE OF CHARGE!. I'm not too worried about the key, since I didn't have the machine long enough to get it online to verify the key and register it.

03-04-2008, 09:23 AM	#5 (permalink)
l_b_rex Registered User Join Date: Jun 2007 Posts: 410 OS: xp sp2	Re: HP OEM Vista issue Wait! If Besbuy ordered the hard drive from HP. HP will send the cds. If it was off their shelve then you need to pay...no proof. Usually they order them so they can be reimbursed. Call HP and tell them to look for the order and if they find it. Demand the recovery cds. Ooops, I was too late. I'm glad it worked out for you.

03-04-2008, 08:59 PM	#6 (permalink)
echidnablade Registered User Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: London, Ontario, Canada Posts: 21 OS: Windows XP Pro SP2	Re: HP OEM Vista issue If the hard drive is replaced by Best Buy then the HP rep should have been able to get the discs sent out free of charge as that is the policy for HP. My supervisor would have gave me heck for trying to sell you those discs for something like that. Sounds like someone new or someone desperate for a sale. Glad that the online people knew what they were doing. :) Last edited by echidnablade : 03-04-2008 at 09:02 PM.