Bad experience with third party service provider

isovenu

I had a bitter experience with third party service provider of ACER and would like to share the experience with the community so that otehers on the Forum get the benifit of my bitter experience.

 

I just wanted to know the process of getting the KEY of my WINDOWS 7 Home premium  supplied with my ACER ASPIRE ONE 722 (purchased in Dec 2011), just in case I wanted to format my computer. As this was no longer under warrenty, I was directed to a ACER Service provider. The call was answered by an Indian Agent. She was trying to charge me $199.99 and have one year warrenty instead of telling me the process of obtaining the KEY. I told her that I paid only $320 for my laptop when I purchased and paying $199 for just getting tghe KEY was ridiculous and declined her exploitation. Incidentally, I thought this was official service provides as the ACER website directed me here.

 

Subsequently I contacted Microsoft, who immediately told me tha the said KEY is at the bottom of my laptop.

I FOUND MICROSOFT CUSTOMER SUPPORT COMMENDABLE AND PROVISDING CUSTOMER DELIGHT INSTEAD OF JUST CUSTOMER SATISFACTION.

 

I request Community members to URGE ACER not to encourage such third rate service providers who are only exploiting the ACER customers to make quick money. ACER should have a system in place to identify and blacklist such EXPLOITERS. Otherwise ACER may lose market to competitors who provide excellent support, like say SONY.

 

 

Sharanji

hi....

 

A Certificate of Authenticity (COA) or product key  is a label that is used to identify genuine Microsoft Windows software.  The COA included with Acer products is not used to reinstall the operating system.

• For desktops, the COA is located on the right side of the system near the bottom.
• For netbooks or tablets, the COA may be located on the bottom of the system or in the battery compartment.
• For notebooks, the COA is located on the bottom of the system.

Note: Windows 8 systems do not have a COA label.

You do need a product key while reinstalling the operating system, since your computer is shipped with OEM version of windows. It's automatically applied and activated.

robinkardokus

The code on my COA label has worn off so bad that I cannot read it. Is there a way to retrieve this code through Acer or Microsoft? I am asking here first because the Microsoft website states that if the software was pre installed on the computer the computers manufacturer should be contacted.

padgett

First thing I do with a new computer is to record all serial numbers and keys. When badly faced I have found that one of two thing usually works:

1) A very bright light held close to the label (am talking 150-200W)

2) Setting the whole thing on a flat bed scanner and scanning in an image of the lable.

 

Finally there is some third party software that will retrieve the keys. Since they are considered Hacker tools Acer does not allow links to be posted but they exist.

 

Good luck.

AlanH

You might try to run Belarc Advisor.  Their software is used by many corporate IT professionals to keep track of software licenses and hardware. They have a version that's free for home use and it will give you very detailed information about the computer including its hardware, installed software, drivers, serial numbers, and product keys.  When I get a new computer all set up, I'll run it and make a printout of the whole report it generates for future reference. I used it recently to get the correct serial number for my Gateway ZX.  (The printing on the factory nameplate was so incredibly tiny that I was having trouble reading it even with a magnifying glass.)  I can't see how obtaining information about hardware and software you've already paid for could be considered hacking.