Vista - Windows Vista Home Premuim

Ok, to keep it short and simple:

I need to reformat, I want a clean Refro. Have CD Key, but no CD's.

1) Will Microsoft send them for free? (Since they didn't come when purchased)
2) If not, can I use a friends CD's, and just my key? (I'm worried it will
lock us out, and I'm left with a computer that has no OS.)

Thanks for the help.

Hello,

1) Will Microsoft send them for free? (Since they didn't come when
purchased)
Nope. Most likely no, since many people have been trying to get Microsoft to
send them the DVD because they downloaded the OS from the internet and it
didn't work and Microsoft didn't do anything about it. You can try asking
Microsoft however, and then only reformat after you get the DVD, but you
most likely wont be able to take this route.

2) If not, can I use a friends CD's, and just my key? (I'm worried it will
lock us out, and I'm left with a computer that has no OS.)
It depends on whether your friend has a legitimate DVD or not. If he does,
and provided that your activation key is not the same as his, you will be
able to install it since all installation DVDs are the same and only the
activation codes differ. However, you also have to keep in mind that your
friend might not have the same edition of vista.

--
Hope this helps,
Rishi
email: rishi@vista-news.com | web: http://vista-news.com


"Refro-help" <Refrohelp@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote in message
news:9DCDAC31-4B94-4364-B17B-6C21DB30390D@microsoft.com...
> Ok, to keep it short and simple:
>
> I need to reformat, I want a clean Refro. Have CD Key, but no CD's.
>
> 1) Will Microsoft send them for free? (Since they didn't come when
> purchased)
> 2) If not, can I use a friends CD's, and just my key? (I'm worried it will
> lock us out, and I'm left with a computer that has no OS.)
>
> Thanks for the help.

"Refro-help" <Refrohelp@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote in message
news:9DCDAC31-4B94-4364-B17B-6C21DB30390D@microsoft.com...
> Ok, to keep it short and simple:
>
> I need to reformat, I want a clean Refro. Have CD Key, but no CD's.
>
> 1) Will Microsoft send them for free? (Since they didn't come when
> purchased)
> 2) If not, can I use a friends CD's, and just my key? (I'm worried it will
> lock us out, and I'm left with a computer that has no OS.)
>
> Thanks for the help.

Where did you get your original install of Vista from ?
Did it come preinstalled on the PC ?
If so then this has nothing to do with Microsoft and you need to contact the
PC manufacturer (the OEM) to see if they will provide you with media for the
operating system.
Most vendors supply some method of restoring the PC to as shipped with
recovery DVDs or recovery partition on the hard drive - hey are NOT
required to provide you with original media for just the OS - just a method
to get it back to as shipped - talk to them
--

Mike Brannigan

yes, my friend does have the same version, and legit copies of the CD"s. So
that is good news.

I bought my laptop from Best Buy, and HP. I forgot that my friend had to
reformat his E-machines and got those "first-day" CD's (forgot the name) sent
to him.

Would I contact Best Buy or HP?

"Refro-help" <Refrohelp@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote in message
news:FEA63748-9B55-4048-B22F-F878E4B44979@microsoft.com...
> yes, my friend does have the same version, and legit copies of the CD"s.
> So
> that is good news.
>
> I bought my laptop from Best Buy, and HP. I forgot that my friend had to
> reformat his E-machines and got those "first-day" CD's (forgot the name)
> sent
> to him.
>
> Would I contact Best Buy or HP?

HP

--

Mike Brannigan