Pre-installed Windows versions

So, if I grab a laptop or a desktop with those kinds of Windows pre-installed, do I actually get a receipt for it? Like, a specific invoice just for the Windows license itself? And can I take that OS and slap it onto a different machine instead of using it on the one I actually bought?
p.s. When you pick up a laptop—say an HP or a Dell—do the Windows licenses come pre-activated right out of the box?

So, just for the sake of argument—if I were planning on selling a license (totally illegally, obviously :-))—would I actually need my own specific Windows installation disc?
It’s a bit of a wild question, I know, but has anyone ever actually gone through the hassle of asking for a refund because of pre-installed software they never even touched?

John Palmer4 said:it's not a crazy question, honestly. I stumbled onto some guy's blog ages ago—total Linux enthusiast—who basically doesn't even touch Windows.

Crazy as in impossible, maybe...
I tried Googling "Windows refund," but who knows if that actually works here in the States or if anyone has even bothered to try it. Usually, when you buy stuff from a retailer, they aren't handing out cash from their own registers; they tell you to take it up with Microsoft, and those guys will probably just give you the runaround regarding licenses.

John Palmer4 said:
so why don't you want Windows anyway?

Because it feels like a total shakedown and the price is just way too high, IMO. For that kind of money, I'd rather just beef up my laptop's hardware, or maybe just jump ship to Linux altogether.

John Palmer4 said:
by the way, what you're really paying for is the license, not the actual media. though, I don't know if it's worth all the headache to mess around with that.

What's that supposed to mean?

coastalmarlin64 said:It’s kind of a wild question, but has anyone actually tried getting a refund for pre-installed software they never even touched?

Look, if it’s truly *factory* installed, you aren't getting your money back. It's simple. It’s like trying to return a screwdriver that came in a toolkit just because you already have one at home. You don't get a rebate for the tools you didn't need, right?

@Michelle Bennett5 look, the whole thing boils down to Microsoft's own EU rules. Basically, if you didn't install Windows and you flat-out rejected their EULA, you've got grounds to demand your money back.

Can someone please explain to a complete newbie what "pre-installed" Windows actually means? Especially since I'm looking at these posts from way back in 2006... 🙂

So, you pick up a computer or a laptop that comes with Windows already pre-installed... You just plug it in, hit the power button, and you're good to go. But, if you're looking at a listing and see FreeDOS mentioned next to the device, that basically means the machine is coming to you empty—no operating system included. In that case, you'll have to go out and grab Windows yourself and handle the installation.

That's probably just how things work around here. In the real world, Windows comes pre-installed on the machine when you buy it, unless you're custom-building the rig—then you can actually choose to go without an OS.