Vista payment for new Laptop

[Andy7807]

A mate has just bought a laptop from PC World, which says it has Windows Vista. He keeps getting a screen to say that he needs to enter a 25 number code which he can't find. He rang the helpdesk and they said he has to pay for the software as it is only a trial version giving 30 days or 25 accesses. He has taken the Laptop back to PCW and said that no one told him that there was only a trial version on the laptop and he would have to pay. They said of course you will have to pay for the software. They also said that he didn't ask them the question wether it was free or not. Surely if you are buying a laptop, you would expect the operating system to come with the thing to make it run? He said that there was nothing on the paperwork or the blurb in the store to say that Vista would need to be paid for after 30 days. They said that the price would normally be £100 but he could have it for £75, when he asked to see the manager, he reduced it to £50. Does anyone know about this rip off? Whenever I've bought a computer the OS comes as part of the package, has this changed with the intro of Vista?

[Bookworm]

Not that I am aware of, no.

 

Are you sure it's not an upgraded version of Vista he has a trial for, and if he doesn't take it, it will revert to Vista basics?

 

If it says it comes with Windows Vista, then Vista it should have full stop.

 

Very odd. :-?

[Andy7807]

I'm not sure, I will have to get him to check it out, I wondered something like that myself, he's not that IT competent, but you would expect that if that was the case PCW would have told him that when he went back to complain.

[electron99]

The first step is to get together all the advertising and POS material for this laptop.It is very unusual for computers to be sold without an operating system. It could be argued that loading the trial version, and then making you pay after 30 days is a hidden charge on the price of the computer, which should be prominently displayed.Hence reading every single word relating to your model that can be found - including press adverts.If no mention of it is made anywhere then no messing - go straight to trading standards with all your evidence.

[electron99]

Just had a quick look at PC World website.As far as I can see all laptops are advertised with "genuine microsoft vista or XP". No mention anywhere that I can see, of trial versions.

 

I am just wondering if this is a [problem] by PC World engineers, since you can download the 30 day trial versions from the microsoft web site for free.

[Bookworm]

True, but they often come with a disc for trying out a higher version, which is what made me wonder.

 

TBH, this is PCW, as you say, they normally supply machine with OS pre-installed, so customer can buy, plug and play. I'd be surprised if their engineers were to try that kind of stunt... then again, what do we know, hey?

[gyzmo]

Bookworm says it all really. If it is a trial version, it should be advertised as so. Otherwise it will be like buying a TV and being told you can only have the inside parts for 10 days as they were on a trial basis only. You will have to be certain that there is no menion of it being a trial version though. With all respect, some people are very good at missing out inconvenient but important bits of information...

[spikeachu]

The trial is Microsoft Office. It is pre-installed as a 90-day trial, this is also made clear in the EULA that must be accepted before the software can be used.

 

As far as i'm aware, PC World do not advertise Microsoft office with any of their laptops or PCs and if a trial is installed, it is purely that.

 

Hope this helps.

[electron99]

The trial is Microsoft Office. It is pre-installed as a 90-day trial, this is also made clear in the EULA that must be accepted before the software can be used.

 

As far as i'm aware, PC World do not advertise Microsoft office with any of their laptops or PCs and if a trial is installed, it is purely that.

 

Hope this helps.

 

The original post said the trial was for Windows Vista, not Office.Microsoft do a Vista trial for 30 days.What is suspicious is the PCW engineers first said the key would cost £100, then reduced it to £50.PCW are currently selling a retail pack of Basic Vista for £49.99.

[spikeachu]

To find out what software should have been supplied, you can visit PC World's support site and select the relevant model, followed by Software.

 

http://support.pcworld.co.uk/layout.aspx?CatID={994684ee-11c8-417b-8eb8-ac6a26367e10}&ID={b30ec085-b1fd-4d43-92b2-3c092f5710e2}

 

All PC World's laptops and PCs are supplied with genuine OEM Windows operating systems, which is why I'm led to believe that it is actually a trial of Microsoft Office that has expired.

 

Incidentally, the Windows Vista product key should be on a sticker on the base of the laptop.

[dx100uk]

TBH i would think the owner has clicked on a link to upgrade the version of vista [this is standard on many retail versions sold at shops like pcworld].

simply uninstall it and it will evert back with no errors

 

dx100uk

[MATTYFEZ]

The trial is Microsoft Office. It is pre-installed as a 90-day trial, this is also made clear in the EULA that must be accepted before the software can be used.

 

As far as i'm aware, PC World do not advertise Microsoft office with any of their laptops or PCs and if a trial is installed, it is purely that.

 

Hope this helps.

 

Thats what I'm thinking, you can either pay for Microsoft office, or if you dont want to use it, uninstall microsoft office and download openoffice, its free, and will suit your friends needs.

 

Your friend needs to clarify weather it the office software or the actual windows operating system he's trying to upgrade...

[fred_2009]

i have seen this myself with people i know.. some machines OEM setups for their OS have failed. if you were supplied with a recovery CD then use it to format and reinstall the OS properly.

 

alternatively pressing F8 at start up comes up with the safe mode option screen. at the top of the list should be a repair pc option. this is standard for most computers now.

 

try that.

 

if it is a trial then go into store and look at the Posters and price sticker. if it mentions the word "Vista" then legally it should state it being a trial. if there is no mention of "Vista" then the sale by description excludes Vista so legally it does not need to include any OS on the PC.

 

i simply beleive that it is a bad install of OS at manufactuing and the staff at the store have not come across the issue before to know what to do so presumed it was a trial version.

[splifftin2]

Bookworm says it all really. If it is a trial version, it should be advertised as so. Otherwise it will be like buying a TV and being told you can only have the inside parts for 10 days as they were on a trial basis only. You will have to be certain that there is no menion of it being a trial version though. With all respect, some people are very good at missing out inconvenient but important bits of information...

 

It is an upgrade trial of the non basic version of Vista,don't want to pay for upgraded version? don't pay,it still has Vista as its os as standard........duh?

[Conniff]

splifftin2 this thread is nearly 7 months old......duh

[gyzmo]

It is an upgrade trial of the non basic version of Vista,don't want to pay for upgraded version? don't pay,it still has Vista as its os as standard........duh?

 

Obviously you have had one spliff too many. read the OP's post, read mine and then tell me exactly what is wrong. Insulting posters will not endear you to assistance - or friends.

[labrat]

ussually all pc worlds laptops come with vista on it, either basic or premium depending on model (some come with ultimate but i feel that this isnt one of them if what i think has happened has) they also come with a disk called vista update or upgrade or ive just forgotten the full name of the disk. if this is installed the vista becomes the higher version but only a trial version if that makes sense

 

best way to check this is it asking you to enter the key for vista premium or ultimate, theres the windows vista sticker on the bottom does that say the same version on it.

 

if its a differnt version then you would probably need to recover the laptop as if i remember you can only downgrade for the first 3 times you turn the computer on after its installed.

 

a recovery should give you the full legal version back again

 

Sorry thought was new thread due to useless post buy just as pointless poster

Edited May 31, 2008 by labrat
duhh me thick

[Andy7807]

Sorry people, should have updated several months ago to put this to bed. I had been getting all this information from my mate over the phone who is not particularly IT savvy. As it turned out the trial was for MS Office not Vista. Everytime he opened a mail with a word document attached and he tried to open it he got the key info request. Just a shame that when he went back to PC world the 'experts' there didn't work out what he was on about before I wasted peoples time here!! Cheers anyway.

[Bookworm]

No worries, and thanks for letting us know anyway.

[roboticboy]

Lol