Windows tax (Re: [ltp] T40 / Pentium M and Linux)

[Ron Joffe]

On Friday 28 March 2003 01:56 pm, Tod Harter wrote:
> Good Luck!
>
> I've heard its impossible, that MS is so obfuscatory that you essential=
ly
> cannot do it. They've been sued and there have been some other 'actions=
'
> people have taken (like IIRC there was a 'license day' when 1000's of
> people all planned on showing up at the address of the office MS claims=
 was
> where you could do it in person. MS reportedly closed that office a few
> days before the event was supposed to take place).
>
> My guess is you will have to spend hours of work doing it, to the point
> where it isn't really worth it. Though maybe they've been beat up enoug=
h
> lately on the issue to have improved. Try it and let us know what happe=
ns!
> :o).
>
> On Friday 28 March 2003 01:10 pm, Bob Toxen wrote:
> > Has anyone (who uas refused the EULA) tried to get their license mone=
y
> > back from IBM (or MS) as the EULA promises that they can?
> >
> > What was the response?
> >
> > I've refused the EULA and want my license fee back.
> >
> > Thanks,
> >
> > Bob Toxen,
> > http://www.verysecurelinux.com       [Network & Linux/Unix Security
> > Consulting] Author,
> > "Real World Linux Security: Intrusion Detection, Prevention, and
> > Recovery" 2nd Ed., Prentice Hall, (C) 2003, 848 pages, ISBN: 01304645=
62

I've got a similar story:

I recently purchased a brand new A31p. On the bottom of the A31p is a=20
Micro$oft sticker with a WinXP license. First thing I did when I received=
 the=20
machine was install SuSE 8.1 on the thinkpad. Next I installed vmware. (F=
or=20
those not aware, vmware let's you emulate a bios set, and therefore run=20
multiple os's within one os {i.e. run WinXP as a window in Linux, or vice=
=20
versa}).

So I figured that I can grab my WinXP disk that I have from another PC,=20
install that as a vm in vmware, and provide the XP license key from the=20
bottom of my Thinkpad.

Sounds right. I have paid for a license, I have a license key, and I have=
=20
Windows XP media, so I should be able to install.

Well that would have been too easy.

After spending hours on the phone, I have the final conclusion:

1. There are a number of "versions" of XP, and there are corresponding=20
licenses for those versions. So you can not necissarily purchased two XP=20
disks, and use the other's license to install.

2. Microsoft will not send you a media cd to match a license key which yo=
u=20
have.

3. IBM will not send you a cd for windows XP. They will send you a recove=
ry CD=20
which only let's you completely reformat your system.

4. There may be a work arround for my particular situation, but I havn't =
tried=20
it yet:
  a. Start off by reinstalling the base system using the IBM supplied rec=
overy=20
disk.
  b. Backup the win XP install to a backup medium using the built in back=
up=20
tools, or some others
  c. Install your favorite linux by wiping out the newley restored XP
  d. Install a new vmware XP using any other XP license you have, but not=
=20
activating it.
  e. Restore win XP from the backup in step (b).

Ron

 =20