Ubuntu erased, XP installed without permission

[CharlesA]

Not necessarily, a lot of machines have the license sticker stuck to them. It's not the actual disk you pay for with Windows, it's the license, which in the case of an OEM license stays with the machine.

Good point.

However, it was unprofessional of the repairer to wipe it without warning that they would do so. Check that it's not buried in some fine print somewhere before complaining.

Agreed. There is probably one of those 'cover our assets' clauses in their terms.

[neu5eeCh]

Even so, I would rant and rave until they shoved my nose into the fine print to show me where it says they can do that and they would have to have security escort me out.

+1

And you just know those guys were laughing their butts off.

Here's how it went:

Dude 1: Dude, check it out. This bonehead uses Linsucks.
Dude 2: He left his hard drive in there?
Dude 1: Yeah. What a bonehead. Check it out.
Dude 2: Oh, Dude, you gotta' mess with him.
Dude 1: Yeah, I mean, after all, I gotta' check the card works, right?
Dude 2: [Calling to Fred at the front desk.] Hey Fred! We got a Linsucks back here!
Fred: Really. Oh man, wait, wait, wait! Do we have Windows 3.1?
Dude 1: No man; but Dude, I gotta' DOS disk.
Dude 2: No, no, no. Windows ME, man.
Fred: Vista.
Dude 2: No, trust me man, there's nothin' these freaks hate more than ME.
Dude 1: No. XP. Dude, this is priceless.
Dude 2: Right, I mean. It says it right here in the fine print. What's he gonna' do?
Fred: I want to do it.
Dude 1: OK, but if I let you do it, you gotta' give me your first born.
Fred: Yeah. Deal.
Dude 2: Hey, you wanna' watch Ubuntu Forums tonight?
Fred: Totally. I'll order the pizza.
Dude 1: I'll bring the Bud.

[XP Install Screen Pops Up.]

Dude 1: Let's all three hit Enter at the same time. Ready? Oh yeah... it's the blue install screen o'Death, man!
Dude 2: Just warms the cockles of my heart.
Fred: I got tears in my eyes.

[zombifier25]

Ha, thanks for all the responses so far. I did make a backup of some files I deemed important some time ago, but it's not like I know precisely when it will break. Also, the machine did originally came with XP, and the sticker that has the product key is still there, so it's not pirated.

It's not that I could do anything about it though. I can't exactly remove the drive myself, and my mother took it to the repair, so I guess she did not read the disclaimer. And all this happened during the midterm exams.
Still, I got a good lesson from all this. A painful one, but it is a lesson.

[ciphoenix]

always backup before sending for repairs. Those guys could be annoying. Imagine mine returning with a 32bit win 7 that expires in 18 days. Was furious

[doja]

Did I miss the name and place of this professional repair in this discussion?

Just in case I need professional help.

[HermanAB]

Removing a HDD from a laptop machine requires loosening about 1 little screw. Figuring out how to do that before sending a machine for repair - priceless...

[nerdopolis]

Removing a HDD from a laptop machine requires loosening about 1 little screw. Figuring out how to do that before sending a machine for repair - priceless...

Not with the Dell Inspirion N5050... They made it so you have to open up the entire thing to be able to replace the hard drive...

[Warpnow]

I would not be surprised if the would send it back if it didn't have a hard drive. They're not going to replace parts without verifying they're needed, and they do that with windows based software. They'd probably call you and offer to sell you a hard drive is my thought.