August 2003 - Legacy - lists.gtalug.org

Windows refund experience?
by robert-5LEc/6Zm6xCUd8a0hrldnti2O/JbrIOy＠public.gmane.org 27 Aug '03

27 Aug '03

On Wed, 27 Aug 2003, Ian Goldberg wrote: > The new Dell laptop just arrived by Purolator. I've got the Debian > install CD at the ready, but before I do anything, does anyone have > (local, or at least Canadian) experience with trying to get a Windows > refund from a manufacturer? Check this out... http://www.netcraft.com.au/geoffrey/toshiba.html Maybe something like this may be possible in Canada. As you see it took Geoff quite sometime to get the refund though. Not sure if you'd want the hassle :) I've actually met Geoff Bennett (when he visited my the local user group in Brisbane, Australia). Very cool guy :) Rob -- Robert Brockway B.Sc. email: robert-5LEc/6Zm6xCUd8a0hrldnti2O/JbrIOy at public.gmane.org, zzbrock at uqconnect.net Linux counter project ID #16440 (http://counter.li.org) "The earth is but one country and mankind its citizens" -Baha'u'llah -- The Toronto Linux Users Group. Meetings: http://tlug.ss.org TLUG requests: Linux topics, No HTML, wrap text below 80 columns How to UNSUBSCRIBE: http://tlug.ss.org/subscribe.shtml

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Windows refund experience?
by blanco-S8qYAnHmZTt34ZA5RureAJ4VBq8PJc8F＠public.gmane.org 27 Aug '03

27 Aug '03

On 27 Aug 2003, Matthew Rice wrote: > Max Blanco <blanco-S8qYAnHmZTt34ZA5RureAJ4VBq8PJc8F at public.gmane.org> writes: > > Perhaps CLIC will support Mr. Goldberg's endeavour? > > Way ahead of you. I've already offered to have CLUE promote and help him > out. I'd do it myself but I needed the XP on my Dell laptop for work [just > got it last month]. > > Hang on a second: doesn't Dell give you a negative-billing option? -- The Toronto Linux Users Group. Meetings: http://tlug.ss.org TLUG requests: Linux topics, No HTML, wrap text below 80 columns How to UNSUBSCRIBE: http://tlug.ss.org/subscribe.shtml

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Windows refund experience?
by kmastin-PzQIwG9Jn9VAFePFGvp55w＠public.gmane.org 27 Aug '03

27 Aug '03

> The new Dell laptop just arrived by Purolator. I've got the Debian > install CD at the ready, but before I do anything, does anyone have > (local, or at least Canadian) experience with trying to get a Windows > refund from a manufacturer? Yeah, you contact M$ Canada and they tell you to contact the OEM. Contact the OEM and they tell you to contact M$ Canada. Tell them to stick it. the OEM is responsible, and M$ makes this crystal clear. Now you have a reason to build rather than buy off the shelf :) > I notice I can't even see the EULA anywhere in the box; I suspect it's > likely to be in the shrinkwrapped Windows XP Home pamphlet. [Though > there's no notice (at least on the outside) of the form "removing > shrinkwrap implies agreement".] > > I certainly don't intend to turn the machine on without it booting > straight into Linux. Any other hints? The boot loader can take care of this. You can get away without allowing M$ onto the botloader config so it doesn't show at all. -- Keith Mastin BeechTree Information Technology Services Inc. Toronto, Canada (416)696 6070 -- The Toronto Linux Users Group. Meetings: http://tlug.ss.org TLUG requests: Linux topics, No HTML, wrap text below 80 columns How to UNSUBSCRIBE: http://tlug.ss.org/subscribe.shtml

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http:--www.e-laws.gov.on.ca:81- (fwd)
by blanco-S8qYAnHmZTt34ZA5RureAJ4VBq8PJc8F＠public.gmane.org 27 Aug '03

27 Aug '03

On Wed, 27 Aug 2003, Fraser Campbell wrote: > Not sure if we're looking at the same thing, I can read this just fine: > > http://www.e-laws.gov.on.ca/DBLaws/Statutes/English/90d03_e.htm > > A .doc is also provided (see > http://www.e-laws.gov.on.ca/download2_E.asp?lang=en&docFile=Statutes/Englis…) Arrgh! I realize my mistake. Sorry. The "download" is a doc but there are two links to every search item. I had failed to check the other link, which is an .html file. -- The Toronto Linux Users Group. Meetings: http://tlug.ss.org TLUG requests: Linux topics, No HTML, wrap text below 80 columns How to UNSUBSCRIBE: http://tlug.ss.org/subscribe.shtml

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Windows refund experience?
by matt-s/rLXaiAEBtBDgjK7y7TUQ＠public.gmane.org 27 Aug '03

27 Aug '03

Max Blanco <blanco-S8qYAnHmZTt34ZA5RureAJ4VBq8PJc8F at public.gmane.org> writes: > Perhaps CLIC will support Mr. Goldberg's endeavour? Way ahead of you. I've already offered to have CLUE promote and help him out. I'd do it myself but I needed the XP on my Dell laptop for work [just got it last month]. -- matthew rice <matt-s/rLXaiAEBtBDgjK7y7TUQ at public.gmane.org> starnix inc. phone: 905-771-0017 x242 thornhill, ontario, canada http://www.starnix.com professional linux services & products -- The Toronto Linux Users Group. Meetings: http://tlug.ss.org TLUG requests: Linux topics, No HTML, wrap text below 80 columns How to UNSUBSCRIBE: http://tlug.ss.org/subscribe.shtml

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Windows refund experience?
by blanco-S8qYAnHmZTt34ZA5RureAJ4VBq8PJc8F＠public.gmane.org 27 Aug '03

27 Aug '03

On Wed, 27 Aug 2003, Lennart Sorensen wrote: > > I notice I can't even see the EULA anywhere in the box; I suspect it's > > likely to be in the shrinkwrapped Windows XP Home pamphlet. [Though > > there's no notice (at least on the outside) of the form "removing > > shrinkwrap implies agreement".] > > > > I certainly don't intend to turn the machine on without it booting > > straight into Linux. Any other hints? > > Simplest is to just let it blow up windows and forget it ever existed, > when you boot Linux. > > Just my guess on things. > > Len IANAL but: You may wish to do a *floppy* install (redhat?/debian/slackware) so as to guard your rights if you choose to pursue legal action. See Prof Lejour's post and the linuxjournal article referred to by Matt. OTOH, return to sender and purchase a used machine is always an option. 8) max. -- The Toronto Linux Users Group. Meetings: http://tlug.ss.org TLUG requests: Linux topics, No HTML, wrap text below 80 columns How to UNSUBSCRIBE: http://tlug.ss.org/subscribe.shtml

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Windows refund experience?
by blanco-S8qYAnHmZTt34ZA5RureAJ4VBq8PJc8F＠public.gmane.org 27 Aug '03

27 Aug '03

On 27 Aug 2003, Matthew Rice wrote: > Ian Goldberg <linux-cOjNTMaGA5U at public.gmane.org> writes: > > I certainly don't intend to turn the machine on without it booting > > straight into Linux. Any other hints? > > There was a great article on a guy's experience _successfully_ getting a > full refund from a hardware vendor ($199US) for XP. > > He had to take them to small claims court, though. How far do you want to > take it? Hear's the story on it: > > http://www.linuxjournal.com/article.php?sid=7040 > If you read the story carefully, he got the court to rule in his favour. The collection of the $199 bucks is quite another story. If the company refuses to pay, he has to go to a bailiff or back to court. This is my understanding, but makes it no less of an overdue and joyful event. Perhaps CLIC will support Mr. Goldberg's endeavour? -- The Toronto Linux Users Group. Meetings: http://tlug.ss.org TLUG requests: Linux topics, No HTML, wrap text below 80 columns How to UNSUBSCRIBE: http://tlug.ss.org/subscribe.shtml

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Windows refund experience?
by marc-bbkyySd1vPWsTnJN9+BGXg＠public.gmane.org 27 Aug '03

27 Aug '03

Le 27 Ao??t 2003 17:30, Ian Goldberg a ??crit : > The new Dell laptop just arrived by Purolator. I've got the Debian > install CD at the ready, but before I do anything, does anyone have > (local, or at least Canadian) experience with trying to get a Windows > refund from a manufacturer? > > I notice I can't even see the EULA anywhere in the box; I suspect it's > likely to be in the shrinkwrapped Windows XP Home pamphlet. [Though > there's no notice (at least on the outside) of the form "removing > shrinkwrap implies agreement".] > > I certainly don't intend to turn the machine on without it booting > straight into Linux. Any other hints? Hi Ian, I have a Dell Inspiron 2500 about 2 years old now. I read that if you want a refund you must NOT open the plastic of the holy Windows software and not run the stuff. (I'm not sure though, it's old story, and no I did not take care of all that at the time, and I considered it lost for me). The EULA comes in the disk, the first time you run your laptop you are shown a bunch of screens. Win comes in DELL CD. The problem I had is to run my win2000 inside vmware. I complained about DELL because I could not install my windows (I paid for) in vmware, their Dell-M$-OEM software detects that the BIOS is not the same and refuses to install... No response from Dell until now (after 2 years). My advise now: read success stories, do your best, and keep us posted! Good luck, Marc -- The Toronto Linux Users Group. Meetings: http://tlug.ss.org TLUG requests: Linux topics, No HTML, wrap text below 80 columns How to UNSUBSCRIBE: http://tlug.ss.org/subscribe.shtml

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Windows refund experience?
by linux-cOjNTMaGA5U＠public.gmane.org 27 Aug '03

27 Aug '03

On Wed, Aug 27, 2003 at 05:42:06PM -0400, Matthew Rice wrote: > Ian Goldberg <linux-cOjNTMaGA5U at public.gmane.org> writes: > > I certainly don't intend to turn the machine on without it booting > > straight into Linux. Any other hints? > > There was a great article on a guy's experience _successfully_ getting a > full refund from a hardware vendor ($199US) for XP. > > He had to take them to small claims court, though. How far do you want to > take it? Hear's the story on it: > > http://www.linuxjournal.com/article.php?sid=7040 > > Happy reading. Yup, I saw that. I wanted to know if anyone local had similar _Canadian_ court experience. - Ian -- The Toronto Linux Users Group. Meetings: http://tlug.ss.org TLUG requests: Linux topics, No HTML, wrap text below 80 columns How to UNSUBSCRIBE: http://tlug.ss.org/subscribe.shtml

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Windows refund experience?
by linux-cOjNTMaGA5U＠public.gmane.org 27 Aug '03

27 Aug '03

On Wed, Aug 27, 2003 at 05:38:00PM -0400, Lennart Sorensen wrote: > On Wed, Aug 27, 2003 at 05:30:23PM -0400, Ian Goldberg wrote: > > The new Dell laptop just arrived by Purolator. I've got the Debian > > install CD at the ready, but before I do anything, does anyone have > > (local, or at least Canadian) experience with trying to get a Windows > > refund from a manufacturer? > > I suspect Dell is going to be VERY hard to get anything out of, given > they probably have their own agreement with MS, and don't even use the > standard install disk. Most likely they don't even give you media. They in fact give a "Re-installation CD", including SP1. They've got to present you with a EULA at *some* point, though. [Possibly after bootup.] > Simplest is to just let it blow up windows and forget it ever existed, > when you boot Linux. But then we don't get to impress on Dell that they really should offer to sell machines without the "Microsoft tax" included automatically. I don't really like that I'm enriching Microsoft just because I bought some hardware. - Ian -- The Toronto Linux Users Group. Meetings: http://tlug.ss.org TLUG requests: Linux topics, No HTML, wrap text below 80 columns How to UNSUBSCRIBE: http://tlug.ss.org/subscribe.shtml

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