Lost COD Key

[Guille_Expat]

Hey a friend of mine lost (or through away, the bone head) the COD key that came with his Vista Premium software. It sent to him later when the computer makers were shipping the Vista software separately.

He thinks he has to go the store and purchase another Vista software. I told he doesn't have to purchase the full retail version for a new COD key. I told him he can purchase an OEM version way cheaper. The key will work, because it hasn't been activated yet.

Who's right?

[Rabbitrunner51]

Seems ot me that if one had this porblem i would first contact the retailer where yu bought the OS,and or even better yet, contact the third party who supplied them with the free game with package deal. As long as one has proof of purchase one would think, that would sufice in getting a key or reissue. Just a thought.

Actually wouldn't it be alot easier and most logical to just go buy the stupid game? I suppose yourt meaning COD 4 and not the first one. That would cost about fifty dollars or less and an OS would cost what?? Does'nt really make much sense there. The first COD is selling for about $25.00 or so.

Guess this is a life lesson on backing up ones belongings..in this case a 'key' LOL

[Guille_Expat]

Sorry RabbitRunner, but I was talking about the Vista Premium COD Key, not Call of Duty. Actually he contacted the pc manufacturer, they told him he had to contact Microsoft. He called MS and after giving the info and numbers from the bottom of the Vista cd. Ms told him, they get calls like this all the time. That he had to go thru the pc manufacturer.

He's finally fed up with the b.s. from both companies and ready to go buy the software. I told him to just buy a OEM version, he just needs a key?

Sounds to me like neither company wants to admit they can help him! Looks like they just want him to buy the product...more moola?

:t

[BipolarBill]

It's actually "COA" as in Certificate of Authority.

Persistence is the key, but I understand fully why the OEM doesn't want to send another CD and COA. Your friend needs to pay attention to detail. It's a process, just the same. He has learned.

[Guille_Expat]

Yup your right Bill, "COA" I'm bad :)

I think he did, he told me he's not going to throw anything that belongs to software, before actually looking at it!! But an OEM version will work right? Just for the COA key :D

Sorry for the confusion guys :t

[BipolarBill]

The COA from a new OEM version will work as long as the CD he got is a standard MS OEM CD. If it's a branded CD (like Dell, HP, Gateway, etc.) it may not work. He may have to reinstall.

[Guille_Expat]

When he tried to install it, it asked for the "COA" key. He told me he looked everywhere, but nada. After talking to MS, they told him it was the pc manufacturers responsibility.

When he talked to the pc company, they told him "the Vista software they sent to him was not an OEM version from them, it was sent from a third party" They told him if it was one of their OEM softwares he wouldn't have been prompted for the "COA" key.

He tired of getting jerked around from both of them, so he's ready to buy another one. I told him to wait a little and keep complaining. It can't hurt, if XP is working for him wait, and see if the complaining will settle things straight for him. I told him he's got nothing to lose?

But what is really strange to me, if the MS support person asked for the numbers underneath the Vista cd. Couldn't they have known it was a Microsoft software??

[BipolarBill]

Yeah, bu that key can be used to activate any OEM version and MS doesn't want that happening. It's not the CD you're paying for really - it's the COA. I can download the entire CD all day every day with BitTorrent, but I can't activate it without the key. That's where the money is and MS doesn't give money away often.

[Guille_Expat]

Your right!

I'm glad I love my XP and have no plans of going to Vista anytime soon :)

[Guille_Expat]

Hey Bill, I thought the retail & oem software were the same, even in terms of the COA key. Except the fancy manual and the support from Microsoft.

I didn't know the keys were different from retail & oem versions? Unbelievable!

[Lgbpop]

Sounds to me like neither company wants to admit they can help him! Looks like they just want him to buy the product...more moola?I don't understand this...your friend threw away his own product key and you're saying the companies are at fault? Give me a break. Your friend was at fault.

Microsoft has nothing to do with OEM installs, so they couldn't and wouldn't help your friend. The PC company should have installed the OS with a volume license they bought from Microsoft. If they're blaming a third party, they may be selling bootleg Vista but they're still the one that sold the computer and they should do what they already did - send your friend the COA and product key. This time paint it on a rock or something so he doesn't throw it away so easily. :rolleyes:

[Guille_Expat]

Yo Lgbpop, please read the entire forum dude :). My friend wasn't blaming the companies, he knew he screwed up by throwing away the COA key. He was trying to get help and find any recourse that was available.

He's told me neither Microsoft or the pc manufacturer is admitting they can help him or is at fault. Which is why he was frustrated and ready to buy a new software at the store. Which I told him not to!

So many want to add there two cents with out reading the facts...aye :rolleyes: But it's all good, it happens to all of us. Even myself :p

[BipolarBill]

The key series varies by type:

1. Full Retail
2. Upgrade Retail
3. Microsoft OEM
4. Branded OEM

The keys among these types are *not* interchangeable unless the branded OEM happens to use the MS OEM keys (I've seen it work). If no match, he can do a repair installation (boot from CD) and use the new key. In this case, all updates from Windows Update will be broken and he will have to download them again - unless he creates a slipstreamed version with SP3. SP3 *is* available for download by the way.

http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/details.aspx?FamilyId=75ED934C-8423-4386-AD98-36B124A720AA&displaylang=en

[BipolarBill]

Oh - Vista! Vista OEMs are just like XP's. Same limitations. He should compare the Upgrade version and just go that way - skipping trying to match COAs.

Frankly, he should just stick with XP for now. I'd hate to see him disappointed after all of this.

[Guille_Expat]

Yo Bill, this is an eye opener! So what is the difference between Microsoft & Branded OEM? I never new they had this?

[BipolarBill]

Branded CDs often have unique product keys. They may actually have one extra or one fewer character in them. eMachines did this before Gateway bought them. They may still do it.

[Guille_Expat]

I agree with you, but he told me he would rather have the COA key, in case Microsoft fixed Vista, he would have it?? :x

Btw, he told me the Vista Upgrade cd gave him an option of upgrading his OS or doing a complete install. Now I'm confused trying to see if I can help him. I'll call him, and tell him to just to stick with XP and not worry about Vista. Because I'm not :)

[Guille_Expat]

Oh btw, he told me the company is Dell. I wish he would have said that earlier? Might have clarified things up more easily.

[BipolarBill]

Tell him to buy the Upgrade.

[bruceb]

He could ask nicely for a new OS CD from Dell .. say it did not arrive with the
computer or if they insist it was sent, you never got it. At best, they will send out
1 copy of it again. At worst, they may ask for a small Fee to get replacement media.

[Lgbpop]

Yo Lgbpop, please read the entire forum dude :). My friend wasn't blaming the companies, he knew he screwed up by throwing away the COA key. He was trying to get help and find any recourse that was available.

He's told me neither Microsoft or the pc manufacturer is admitting they can help him or is at fault. Which is why he was frustrated and ready to buy a new software at the store. Which I told him not to!

So many want to add there two cents with out reading the facts...aye :rolleyes: But it's all good, it happens to all of us. Even myself :pI don't understand, DUDE. I read the post correctly - in fact, you repeat it in your second paragraph here - "admitting they can help him or is at fault" is kinda accusatory, like they're supposed to help him but won't. If that's not blaming someone, I don't know what is.

I agree with you, knowing up front that this was a Dell machine might have eliminated some of the confusion.

[Rabbitrunner51]

Unfortunately, like is the case with alot of us, and esp. myself ( i'm no angel LOL ) , one needs to read the fine print and legal bindings when purchasing from any company.
I possess an inherent 'legal mind', that meanig i know legal stuff fairly well. If all else fails one can hire or go to a free 'legal aide' service and get more details or help with representation in this matter. They might know more on waht to do here.

On the matter of who is at fault, the guy clearly admitted as much in the end. I would react that way myself, but utimately blame myself for the error in judgement. It also does not surprise me that any reputatble company would first off, declare they aer not at fault, nor help intially in the matter. If that were the case, then all thier valuable time would be spent on people who lost keys or other. Not thier fault for sure. Read the fine print in legal please. It should say somewhere in there about not being responsible for this.. If not, then you might have a strong case, and i would persue further.
I know one thing.. If it were me i wouldn't run out and buy another copy,esp. after shelling out over $100.00 for it. That is hte main reason for me. Like i'm going ot give them another chunk of any monies i have.. NOT! LOL ;)

[j.m@talk]

Googling ...... Vista Serial ....... trying the [edited] these are the things I would be trying before parting with any more money.... Then again I could spend most of my life pointing the finger at others ..... Woo its your fault ..... Me i'd just be getting the comp going ..... :t

[BipolarBill]

Finally, I have the ammo I need to banish you.

One month in the slammer, j.m. Any squealing and it goes to 2 months.

For the record, we cannot condone illegal activities here at SysOpt. It's in the AUP.

[genesound]

I'd squeal, but hell I know what a challenge it is to keep the children in line. But I'm of the old school that it's best to let the others know just what the offending remark was that blasted them to never never land. ;)

Ban, then oppress. :D

[Mrs Mireland]

That would take intelligence ..... I'm not big on that..... :rolleyes:

[genesound]

I make it a practice to only edit my posts where I'm an admin or a mod.

That leaves the rabble rousers very little wriggle room.

Not that wriggle room matters. Take your medicine and either swallow it or make a mess... it's up to you. :rolleyes:

[BipolarBill]

Mrs Mireland is banned permanently.

J.M originally got one month in the cooler. He's being 101% jerk now, I am extending it to 2 months. Admin reduced the penalty to 2 days, but I am going to be there when the two days expire.

[BipolarBill]

Love this job. :rolleyes: