lost windows activation key, need new free os thats just as easy as windows

[ste2425]

Basiclly i came to reinstall windows, formatted my harddrive then when it came to activate i lost my oem key thing, it wasnt a sticker on my case but printed out and ive lost it. I no, noway of getting it back so i need an alternative os thats easy to use. Linux was way too hard for me. Things like updating flash player etc with windows you just doubble click the icon then next till its done, linux on the other hand was allot harder. So guys any advice?

[erocker]

Call Microsoft. They will issue you a new key.

[ste2425]

dumb question but how do i contact them? i mean ive checked the uk website and crnt find out

[erocker]

Do it the right way. Call MS: 1-888-652-2342

[xfire]

Or try Ubuntu.

[zithe]

Originally Posted by xfire

Or try Ubuntu.

No point. He already owns a copy of windows and can easily restore it.

[xfire]

He may have an Xp copy but that doesn't stop him from trying Ubuntu or any other distro.
For all you know he may even like Linux like most people are these days.

[ShadowFold]

Linux is useless. It cant play games..

[xfire]

Originally Posted by ShadowFold

Linux is useless. It cant play games..

Wine begs to defer
http://in.youtube.com/results?search...rch_type=&aq=f

[a111087]

Originally Posted by xfire

For all you know he may even like Linux like most people are these days.

most people never used Linux )
if u will look at his system, he does light gaming

[Mussels]

Originally Posted by xfire

Wine begs to defer
http://in.youtube.com/results?search...rch_type=&aq=f

WINE is definately not a perfect solution. not all games run it, and you definately cant do directX 10. Last time i used WINE (last year) it was stuck at DX8.1, couldnt even use SM3.0 - which is a requirement for a lot of modern games.

[FordGT90Concept]

Originally Posted by ste2425

Basiclly i came to reinstall windows, formatted my harddrive then when it came to activate i lost my oem key thing, it wasnt a sticker on my case but printed out and ive lost it. I no, noway of getting it back so i need an alternative os thats easy to use. Linux was way too hard for me. Things like updating flash player etc with windows you just doubble click the icon then next till its done, linux on the other hand was allot harder. So guys any advice?

So Windows is already installed and refuses to activiate or are you not getting through the install because you don't have to key to put in the boxes?

If you were never prompted for a key, the key is embeded in the install disk. You can retrieve the key via the registry.

If the activation wizard is being bitchy as usual, it gives you the phone number you have to call. Call them up, explain your situation, and they'll give you what you need to make it go away.

[DaMulta]

vmware running on suse

http://en.opensuse.org/Setting_up_VMware_on_SUSE_Linux

Which also supports DX9 so you should be able to play windows games in suse

Just wipe it after 30 days LOL and do another trial....it's legal.

http://www.vmware.com/support/fusion...usion_201.html

[Mussels]

wasnt VM fusion the mac-only version?

[DaMulta]

Originally Posted by Mussels

wasnt VM fusion the mac-only version?

Could very well be, I'll look into it.

[DaMulta]

VMware Workstation 6.5 Beta Release Notes
http://www.vmware.com/products/beta/...ws65_beta.html
Accelerated 3-D graphics on Windows XP guests — Workstation 6.5 virtual machines now work with applications that use DirectX 9 accelerated graphics with shaders up through Shader Model 2.0 on Windows XP guests. Hosts can be running Windows 2000, Windows XP, Windows Vista, or Linux.

[zithe]

Linux is for everything non gaming. Great for servers, code writing, game development, and stuff like all that.

[xfire]

Originally Posted by Mussels

WINE is definately not a perfect solution. not all games run it, and you definately cant do directX 10. Last time i used WINE (last year) it was stuck at DX8.1, couldnt even use SM3.0 - which is a requirement for a lot of modern games.

1.He's using Xp so no question of Dx10
2. Notice Fifa 09 is running which is pretty recent,it's not a complete solution but atleast a start.
Most games do work so it should be fine with his system.

[FordGT90Concept]

Originally Posted by zithe

...code writing, game development...

Not .NET Framework.

Most games I've seen are authored using Microsoft Visual C++ 7.1 (aka Visual Studio 2003).

It's good for servers because Microsoft Server costs an arm, leg, and spleen but when you need it, you need it (active directory/domain controller).

[Solaris17]

Originally Posted by Mussels

WINE is definately not a perfect solution. not all games run it, and you definately cant do directX 10. Last time i used WINE (last year) it was stuck at DX8.1, couldnt even use SM3.0 - which is a requirement for a lot of modern games.

this is true i hate wine but games like unreal tournament and stuff will run on linux nativly i used to do it and what game do you need other than UT? seriously?

[DaMulta]

Originally Posted by Solaris17

this is true i hate wine but games like unreal tournament and stuff will run on linux nativly i used to do it and what game do you need other than UT? seriously?

COD4 and BF2

Then your set!!!

[Mussels]

Originally Posted by xfire

1.He's using Xp so no question of Dx10
2. Notice Fifa 09 is running which is pretty recent,it's not a complete solution but atleast a start.
Most games do work so it should be fine with his system.

SM 2.0 only in WINE, and that VMware. Most modern games (in fact, nearly all of them) are SM3.0 required at minimum.

The OP should just contact where he got the PC from, and get them to look for the key - no OS is as good for gaming as windows.

[xfire]

What SM does FIFA 09 use?but lets put the topic aside.


Yes, the OP should contact the guys he got the PC from. For all you know it may be a pirated one that was installed before(happens here in India).

[ste2425]

hey guys thanks for all the help and i no allot of you have mentioned linux as an alternative and ive tried it, on ma lappy but i dont understand it teried many halp guides but im too used to the way windows works. you no with just clicking an installer and letting it doo all the hard work for you. I dont undertsand all the complicated bits. I mean i couldnt even install the latest flash player on linux to watch youtube vid's

[niko084]

Originally Posted by Mussels

WINE is definately not a perfect solution. not all games run it, and you definately cant do directX 10. Last time i used WINE (last year) it was stuck at DX8.1, couldnt even use SM3.0 - which is a requirement for a lot of modern games.

Pretty much, on top of WINE is not an easy thing for a linux noob to start making work.
*no offense*

Ubutunu, Fedora and Knoppix are all really easy distro's but like said before, just call MS, might be a pain but it will be much less work in the end.