Windows Vista install a Scam?

[Cofe]

Just received a used dell laptop I purchased on ebay. The description listed the laptop as having the Windows Vista operating system. After setting up the system, I noticed that there was 12 hours left to activate the operating system with Microsoft. I did not receive a Vista activation code, but it does have a Windows XP COA sticker on the bottom. What should I do?

 

[ezmobee]

Re: Windows Vista install a Scam?

You got hosed.

However, if you can get a hold of a Dell restoration disc, they seem to work like magic on most Dell products.

 

[beason]

Re: Windows Vista install a Scam?

you can try to activate it. even though you dont have the code, it just checks in with microsoft and registers. Its worth a try, but not a guarantee.

 

[Fireman431]

Re: Windows Vista install a Scam?

IMHO, Vista was the biggest POS Microsoft ever put out. Constant crashes, updates were locking up, program files missing, etc. Upgraded to 7 and haven't had a problem since.

 

[skargo]

Re: Windows Vista install a Scam?

IMHO, Vista was the biggest POS Microsoft ever put out. Constant crashes, updates were locking up, program files missing, etc. Upgraded to 7 and haven't had a problem since.

How about ME? That was a bad version!

 

[bigdee]

Re: Windows Vista install a Scam?

download the free Ubuntu linux OS and kiss MS goodbye

 

[Fireman431]

Re: Windows Vista install a Scam?

How about ME? That was a bad version!

I got lucky and missed that. Went from Vista to 7. I have absolutely no issue on the 'puter now. I also wish I had the passion to discard all MS stuff and either go Mac or go to a different operating system altogether.

 

[Cofe]

Re: Windows Vista install a Scam?

Yea I got hosed over that op system. Seller wouldn't cough up a viable COA number. Anyhow.......ended up zero formating the hard drive and installed Ubuntu. I am quickly learning to like Ubuntu, and now have it on two other computers. The toughest part is getting the WIFI to work, but each time it is getting easier to do. Now just need to image the drive, and then it will be beer thirty.....

 

[scooper77515]

Re: Windows Vista install a Scam?

download the free Ubuntu linux OS and kiss MS goodbye

Good to hear you are trying Ubuntu. That is what I use. Nice not having to worry about virus and malware protection, and not needing all of that running in the background.

You will love Linux once you figure out where everything is. There is lots of help at ubuntuforums.org

 

[Nandy]

Re: Windows Vista install a Scam?

Nice not having to worry about virus and malware protection, and not needing all of that running in the background.

That is not entirely true, viruses in linux/unit os are possible, just not at the scale that they are possible in MS therefore the reason crackers dont spend much time on linux/unix based os. So it is a weighted risk not to have virus protection in a linux/unix os...

 

[badkins50]

Yeah MS ME was by far the biggest POS. Vista is not too bad if you bought a new computer with it already on it. Just don't try to upgrade. 7 is by far the best Windows OS. I use it every day at work and one of our laptops at home (if I ever get on the home computer anymore).

I've always been interested in linux though and may upgrade the other laptop from Vista if it ever screws up.

sent from my bolt using tapatalk

 

[jim765]

Re: Windows Vista install a Scam?

i still have a computer with windows 3 lol but still works

 

[scooper77515]

Re: Windows Vista install a Scam?

yes, virus/malware is possible, but VERY unlikely.

Been running it on 3 computers, no protection at all, and never had any issues.

In fact, if my wife comes across something she is suspicious about, I go to it with my linux machine and check it out to see if it is, in fact, buggy. It still does all the "special effects" that scare MS users into buying the scam software, but nothing installs on my computer to infect it.

 

[bigdee]

Re: Windows Vista install a Scam?

Yeah MS ME was by far the biggest POS. Vista is not too bad if you bought a new computer with it already on it. Just don't try to upgrade. 7 is by far the best Windows OS. I use it every day at work and one of our laptops at home (if I ever get on the home computer anymore).

I've always been interested in linux though and may upgrade the other laptop from Vista if it ever screws up.

sent from my bolt using tapatalk

The cool thing with Ubuntu is you can install it and still keep your MS operating system......in other words you will have a dual boot system. When you power up your computer it will ask you which OS you prefer to boot up. I very rarely boot up in MS anymore and when I do I have to wait on all their security updates and patches to download. I have not had any viruses or malware issues (on Linux) but I scan my email for viruses so I won,t pass them onto my MS friends. It is possible to get a virus but it is very unlikely to sneak in without your authorization.
The cool thing with Ubuntu is you can still access your picture and MS office files and OPEN them from there. Their office suite looks VERY similar to MS office and is 100% 2-way compatable! If you do not want to install it on your hard drive you can install on a pen drive and boot up from it! you can even access your MS files...even the password protected ones!

 

[Cofe]

Re: Windows Vista install a Scam?

The cool thing with Ubuntu is you can install it and still keep your MS operating system......in other words you will have a dual boot system. When you power up your computer it will ask you which OS you prefer to boot up. I very rarely boot up in MS anymore and when I do I have to wait on all their security updates and patches to download. I have not had any viruses or malware issues (on Linux) but I scan my email for viruses so I won,t pass them onto my MS friends. It is possible to get a virus but it is very unlikely to sneak in without your authorization.
The cool thing with Ubuntu is you can still access your picture and MS office files and OPEN them from there. Their office suite looks VERY similar to MS office and is 100% 2-way compatable! If you do not want to install it on your hard drive you can install on a pen drive and boot up from it! you can even access your MS files...even the password protected ones!

Agree! Ubuntu works very well. I really like the scrolling function Ubuntu has built into a laptop mouse touch pad. You just have to put the cursor close to the scrolling area on either side of the screen, and scroll with your finger on the right edge of the mouse touch pad. This makes getting around real quick, and speaking of quick, Ubuntu loads extremely fast from a cold boot. Look out MS........

 

[jlinder]

Re: Windows Vista install a Scam?

Download a program called USB-creater from www.pendrivelinux.com (free). Runs under windows and will create a Linux bootable USB drive.
When you run it you get to pick the version of Linux you want from about 20 different flavors. It then downloads the right version and burns the USB.

You can then boot from the USB (as long as your computer supports this), and are given the option to install or just try it out. If just trying it out it does take a long time to boot, but it is worth the try.

 

[badkins50]

Re: Windows Vista install a Scam?

thanks for the info on these systems guys. definitely a lot more options than there use to be. i'll be looking into them for sure. since windows and apple got into cell phones, wonder when android is getting into computers? maybe all these new tablets are something to look into? but then again i can do everything on my smart phone that i can on my laptops.

sent from my bolt using tapatalk

 

[BuzzStPoint]

Re: Windows Vista install a Scam?

Does the laptop currently have Vista on it? Or is it running XP..
The COA sticker may be a moot point if the user put on a MS Vista Upgrade... Many retailers did this...

My toshiba laptop came this way. Had the XP Professional COA Sticker, but Vista installed. It was an upgrade.

Connect to the internet and run the genuine check to activate the OS. If it fails, call MS (The number will be listed on the activation screen, and tell them what happened and use your XP code as an upgrade. They will give you an activation code to enter in and you'll be set.


On a side note about your comment with Android making an OS... Kinda. Not android, but made by Google.
Google Chrome OS..
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Google_Chrome_OS

It's a linux Based OS.

 

[bruceb58]

Re: Windows Vista install a Scam?

If I bought a used computer, I would be doing a fresh install no matter what the OS that was on there. Personally, I would do a fresh install of XP.