Currys laptop advice needed, supplied with fake Windows Vista

[Zatoichi_Samurai]

Sorry is this is posted in the wrong forum, I wasn't sure where else to ask.

Hi, I would appreciate any advice on the best angle to approach this return from, for when I go into the store tomorrow.

I ordered a refurbished laptop from currys online earlier this week, great spec and great price, so far so good. The Laptop has arrived and it is in great condition, and I'm very pleased. However as I start to unpack it I notice the supplied Acer Windows Vista re-install CDs are copied CDs, with cheaply printed labels stuck on to look like the real thing, and the Windows Genuine sticker, on the bottom of the laptop, has been ripped in the middle so a small part is missing. Switching the laptop on it boots to a "activate your windows vista screen by connecting to the internet", so I plug in a network cable, and the program thinks for a bit, then says this copy of Vista is already registered, please enter the product key manually, trying this with the key printed on the ripped sticker, brings up the same warning. Which just leaves me with the option: start a handicapped version of vista so you can buy a new product key online, which I'm not going to do as I payed for a laptop that was advertised as arriving with Vista Premium.

As I mentioned I am going into a currys store tomorrow to sort this out, as I am driving back to London Monday morning, and need the laptop for work. The actual laptop seems fine, and I'm happy with it, and I just intend to ask for a new copy of Vista. I was hoping for any advice on what I should ask for, the legal or illegal (as I'm sure they are breaking piracy laws) terms of what currys have done.

Thanks in advance, and I apologise for such a long post.

[MartyG]

It might be worth contacting Microsoft too, and explaining the situation, especially given you bought the machine from a prominant retailer. Historically, MS have granted licences to people who've been duped like this without charging for it.

[Zatoichi_Samurai]

Ok, I'll give them a ring tomorrow too. Thanks Marty.

(And sorry about the misplaced thread mods! )

[Mr_Skinny]

The newer stickers are supposed to have the piece missing, but the DVD should have various holograms on it rather than a label.

[JamesS]

Some preinstalled laptops don't actually come with install disks but give you the option to create your own XP/Vista recovery disks. So it might not be a pirated copy just because it's on a writable disk.

[mt50]

Some preinstalled laptops don't actually come with install disks but give you the option to create your own XP/Vista recovery disks. So it might not be a pirated copy just because it's on a writable disk.

yep both my acer laptops didn't come with any cd's you have to create them yourself. and the VISTA cd key looks like a bit is missing in the middle

looks to me like the last owner might have registered the copy of vista before sending it back to currys.