Marketplace Vote OEM Win8 Machine

[znod]

This recent thread (Way of Performing Clean Install of Windows 8 OEM) raises the issue of a marketplace vote for me. It also identifies a number of problems arising because of the way OEM’s (particularly Dell) are installing Win8. The thread, at its most fundamental level, deals with this issue.

The point I am having issues with is to obtain Windows 8 media to clean install Windows 8 on a machine with Windows 8 OEM preinstalled without buying a second license.

My immediate thought on this matter was that someone needs to devise a reliable/easy means of getting the secreted keys off the OEM machines and legally obtaining “media” that will work with the keys to obtain the desired clean installs—without incurring additional costs. I later learned that some have been able to extract their keys. Still, there may be no way to get the needed media legitimately—and without incurring additional cost. Incidentally, I don’t see anything in the OEM EULA that implies unambiguously that one cannot extract his/her OEM Win-8 product key, although the EULA does say that one cannot “attempt to circumvent technical protection measures in the software” (not sure what all this excerpt is meant to imply).

Not much really annoys me tech-wise. But, IMO, the system that has been set up by MS/OEM's for installing Win8 is not very customer friendly for those that, for whatever reason, will eventually want to install (i.e., reinstall) Win8 cleanly on their OEM Win8 machines. Potential abuses or not I can't imagine how MS/OEM's can think it is OK not to provide an "out-of-the-box way of conveniently cleanly installing Win8 on an OEM Win8 machine using a properly licensed product key and provided install media (or at worst another product key that can be used to obtain the needed media--assuming that an OEM product key definitely will not work in this context)—without incurring additional cost). I have to admit that I have been sort of out of the loop in regard to Win7 installations because I started with Technet full-install media and eventually bought the needed licenses one way or another. I would feel the same way as expressed above, of course, about OEM Win7 installations done as are the current OEM Win8 installations.

I hope the issue gets well publicized and hurts the sales of OEM Win8 machines--until this issue is resolved in the customer’s favor. In this regard, I am not being vindictive. I just recognize that only the combined monetary-based marketplace votes of all of those feeling as I do have a chance of making a difference. So, personally, I will not even think of being in the market for an OEM Win8 machine until things change. I was toying with the idea of buying one because my old HP Win8 laptop is a bit clunky to use and I enjoy playing with Win8, posting here, etc.

 

[labeeman]

I am with you with OEM installs I will never buy a desktop OEM box any more. I will build my own. I however do not have the means to build a mobile box. I have bought a Lenovo laptop with Window 8 installed the system disk form Lenovo will cost me over $50.00 a big ripoff. I will admit that the crap ware was at a minimum compared to HP.

 

[znod]

I'm glad about the crapware. You say "the system disk form Lenovo will cost me over $50.00." What kind of system disc is it?

 

[labeeman]

To reinstall Window 8 and all the drivers and the crap ware when you cannot reinstall by any other means. I would like just to be able to burn a Windows 8 dvd instead.

 

[znod]

Got it; thanks. Yes, burn baby burn.

 

[fafhrd]

At the risk of annoying folk, specifically Microsoft and OEMs, why not just upload your OEM recovery .iso or USB volumes to some public resource, with a few minor details of the origin, and, of course, anonymously expose them. As long, of course, as some clause in your agreement with your OEM does not permit sharing your recovery media with a third party to enable you to perform the recovery of your system with some expert help.

I am sure that some un-annoyed folk with skills will entertain you with methods to extract various useful data from these uploads, and let you download it back.

Of course this will backfire because those with perceived secrets to lose will endeavour ever harder to conceal what they hold most precious, and obfuscate with increased vigour.

 

[SIW2]

You can almost certainly make it from what is already on the recovery partition.

It may or may not include the crapware you already have - depends how they have done it.

The trouble with this kind of thing is that it just encourages people to resort to getting a clean iso from the net somewhere. Not exactly hard to find.

There is a vbscript kicking around which will get your product key.

If it is an oem preinstall - I don't think you need it.

 

[theog]

How to Tell

Reinstallation media, sometimes called a recovery disc, is typically included with a new or used PC purchase. Because the software is already preinstalled, the reinstallation or recovery media is provided so that you can reinstall or recover the software if it stops working properly. Recovery discs are not licensed to be sold separately from the PC they were shipped with; if you try to install software from a recovery disc on a PC other than the one it was originally shipped on, you may not be able to activate and/or use it.

Note: For some PCs, the recovery media might be installed on a separate partition on the PC’s hard drive itself. Refer to the documentation that came with your PC to find the appropriate reinstallation/recovery solution.

 

[znod]

At the risk of annoying folk, specifically Microsoft and OEMs, why not just upload your OEM recovery .iso or USB volumes to some public resource, with a few minor details of the origin, and, of course, anonymously expose them. As long, of course, as some clause in your agreement with your OEM does not permit sharing your recovery media with a third party to enable you to perform the recovery of your system with some expert help.

I am sure that some un-annoyed folk with skills will entertain you with methods to extract various useful data from these uploads, and let you download it back.

Of course this will backfire because those with perceived secrets to lose will endeavour ever harder to conceal what they hold most precious, and obfuscate with increased vigour.

Thanks for the reply. But, not pertinent to me. Don't have an OEM Win8 machine (and, as indicated, won't have one until ...).

I want MS/OEM's to take responsibility for creating a mess and to clean up after themselves. This era has become one highlighted by an increased and very, very large number of various types of powerful Companies (and other types of organization including criminal ones) attempting to abuse, inappropriately induce, shortchange, bamboozle, obfuscate, overcharge, hack, control, mislead, and perpetrate other nefarious things when it comes to consumers and other entities (e.g., medicare and, thus, ultimately, us).

We small fries have to take some stands, but it is not always clear where the lines should be drawn. I do sympathize with your suggestion assuming, of course, no EULA/paperwork issues involved. The OEM EULA can be interpreted as applying even to separately shipped recovery media. And, I have no idea what the paperwork that comes with recovery media says. On the other hand, sometimes citizens decide it is time to declare war on the establishment (however defined), and, currently, there are so many areas of mistreatment crying out for action.