Yggdrasil wrote:
Cybermagellan wrote: I dunno...it just makes me upset that I have to circumvent the system to get my laptop back...
I think a relatively good analogy here would be a car alarm. The insurance company forces you to put one in even against your will, but if you forget your alarm code, can you blame the alarm for not having an easy workaround?
You are, to continue the analogy, trying to hot-wire your computer.
I think the blame here lies with HP. They should make it easy to get replacement media. If you have WGA, the media itself becomes a lot less valuable without the corresponding legit key anyway.
Failing that, the simplest way is to torrent the proper SKU that you have a key for.
I don't really think your analogy quite fits. My insurance company doesn't require me to have anything for my new Mercedes. An alarm is not tied to a financial compensation.
WGA is, however, required to start your legally purchased windows. It's more like losing the car key and having to pay 20-40% of the car price to get a replacement.
Any yes, HP is also to blame. 50$ for a new CD with the media on it is redicolous. I would do exactly what you did if my primary system was still windows. Download a pirated version and keep my scratched CD and key handy just in case someone comes knockin'!
