Do I need to purchase windows again?

[ryangarfield]

So I've had my laptop for not quite 2 years now. It came preloaded with Vista and no disc. I recently had some problems with Windows and had to have a computer technician have a look at it, since I had no idea what I was doing. He then said he needed to re-install windows to fix the problem, which worked perfectly. The problem is that he obviously must have installed a pirated copy cause I keep getting a message that I need to purchase Windows using the automated telephone service, or something to that extent. So far I've just been hitting cancel, and it goes away for the time being, but returns at least 6 times a day. My question is do I actually have to re-purchase windows, or can I contact Compaq (the brand of my laptop) or Microsoft and get myself a new key? I really don't wish to dish out more money after already paying the technician a fair chunk of change. Any help is much appreciated!
Thanks.

[ocgw]

look @ the bottom of your laptop to see if there is a Microsoft Windows Vista key sticker, if there is just input the key

ocgw

peace

[ryangarfield]

WOW, I can't believe I forgot all about that sticker on the bottom haha, definately feel like an idiot right now. Anyhoo, thank you very much for reminding me of that. Cheers!!

[Nelson37]

First, examine your laptop software carefully, they usually give you a way to make the disk from files installed on the PC. Second, check your paperwork to see if there is a way you can order the disk. The disk itself is not the product you buy, what you pay for is that code number on the sticker. Having the physical disk is essential.

After putting in the code number, which should already have been done, you must then authorize your code by contacting MS, either by Internet or by phone. The tech should have done this for you. Rather than accuse him or her of piracy, which is a felony, BTW, it would have been more accurate to say they were just sloppy. Then again, do you want to pay the hourly rate for them to make a phone call for 15 minutes?

[hech54]

Rather than accuse him or her of piracy, which is a felony, BTW

After putting in the code number, which should already have been done

Can we just call the "technician" a complete and utter moron then...or is that a felony too?

[Dv8ted2]

Can we just call the "technician" a complete and utter moron then...or is that a felony too?

That is permissable. The technician should have just restored the computer from the other partition on the hard drive that had the operating system image and drivers, but the tech instead chose to wipe the drive completely.

[Nelson37]

It is a far more serious crime for someone to install illegal software, and Charge for the service, than just to do so as an end user. The only person I personally know who has done jail time for software piracy was a technician who did the above. Six months, not sure if he actually went to Prison or spent the whole time in the county jail. Ruined his reputation.

We don't actually know what was done. He may have used the partition and Windows is reqesting a re-authorize, the partition table may have been corrupt requiring a re-partition and re-format, it might be a replacement hard drive.

The tech should have authorized it himself, or at a minimum told the customer it was necessary. This may have been something as simple as aksing if the customer has an Internet connection, and telling them to follow the prompts. Sloppy, but we don't know if the customer was calling him three times a day asking to keep the bill as low as possible.

If the original was an OEM copy and he used a different code number, that could be a problem. I have gotten MS approval to do this in the past, basically the problem is that it is an unauthorized upgrade from a use-once to a use-many copy of windows. A little BS and they'll let you slide.

[rallynavvie]

In before the Windows 7 idiots crap all over this thread

There may be problems using the OEM sticker depending on the build and some other factors that MS does to copies of Windows. When you plugged in the key from your OEM sticker did it accept it and you're able to take updates? The tech may have imaged with the OEM partition and just forgot to plug in the key.