Lost Windows OS

[chomerly]

I have a laptop that uses Windows XP Media Center for the operating system. I had a problem with the hardisk just after the warranty run out by 2 days and PC World said they wouldn't do the repair without charging me because warranty had run out. They also said i could get a recovery disc from Techguy's but it was something like 40 quid In the end i went out and bought a new drive but because i never got a disc with the operating system on it i had to download a copy.

The problem is i can't seem to find one where my Genuine key works and i've downloaded a few. I have an Advent 7109 laptop and the label with the windows key on it says 'Microsoft WindowsXP Media Center Edition 2005 Retail DSG' or something to that effect (i don't have at hand as i'm on my desktop).

Does anyone know where i can get a copy that will work with my genuine key?

[-pops-]

Any Windows copy that you download from the Internet will be illegal and thus most likely not amenable to being activated with a genuine Product Key.

If you are not prepared to buy a new copy, the only thing you can do is ask around to see if anyone will lend you a copy that you can install. This is legal as you have the Product Key already but note that the version you download MUST be the same as the one you are replacing otherwise the key may not work.

[andsome]

If you contact Trading Standards, they will almost certainly confirm that warranties are not worth the paper they are written on, and in most cases instead of helping the consumer, they help the retailer. One year and two days could by no stretch of the imagination be considered by a court of law to be an acceptable life for a computer. :D