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Man, Seeking New Copy of Windows 7 After Forced Windows 10 Upgrade, Sues Microsoft (bleepingcomputer.com)

Posted by msmash on from the not-the-onion dept.

Catalin Cimpanu, writing for BleepingComputer: An Albuquerque man has sued Microsoft and its CEO -- Satya Nadella -- seeking a fresh copy of Windows 7 or $600 million in damages. According to a civil complaint filed last week on February 14, Frank K. Dickman Jr. of Albuquerque, New Mexico, is suing Microsoft because of a botched forced Windows 10 upgrade. "I own a ASUS 54L laptop computer which has an OEM license for Windows Version 7," Dickman's claim reads. "The computer was upgraded to Windows Version 10 and became non-functional immediately. The upgrade deleted the cached, or backup, version of Windows 7." Dickman says that the laptop's original OEM vendor is "untrustworthy," hence, he cannot obtain a legitimate copy of Windows 7 to downgrade his laptop.

10 of 357 comments (clear)

  1. $600 million by fred6666 · · Score: 5, Insightful

    about 0 chances of winning

    1. Re:$600 million by ColdWetDog · · Score: 4, Insightful

      But the second prize is .....

      Oh, you're correct.

      --
      Faster! Faster! Faster would be better!
    2. Re:$600 million by alvinrod · · Score: 5, Insightful

      I think the $600 million is so Microsoft just rolls over and gives him a Windows 7 key. As easy as this would be to defend in court, I have a feeling that the lawyers would love nothing more than to drag it out long enough to bill at least a reasonable fraction of that $600 million for their own efforts.

    3. Re:$600 million by VanGarrett · · Score: 3, Insightful

      OEM Windows keys won't activate a Retail copy of Windows. It'd actually be a hell of a lot easier for him to just use the manufacturer's installer. The OEM version of Windows has a simplified activation procedure, and the last time I had to do an install using it, I didn't even need to type in the key.

      --
      Learning about brewing beer, by brewing beer.
  2. Multiple issues here that you see all the time by oldgraybeard · · Score: 3, Insightful

    All mute now since the system is hosed and he has a dysfunctional Windows 10 install. But for the future.

    1. Make a set of Recovery CD's
    2. Verify you have a good Windows 7 product key on the label stuck to the laptop.
    3. If no label with a product key, checked the Control Panel->System to get it.
    4. Note to everyone who gets a new windows computer. Make Recovery CD's, record your product key, put everything that came with the computer in a box or manila envelope and file it away. You will need it at some point ;)

    You can still get OEM copies of Windows 7 Pro on ebay with product key.

    1. Re:Multiple issues here that you see all the time by apoc.famine · · Score: 5, Insightful

      Why in the world should have to do all of those things to ensure continuous access to something I legally purchased? If I need more than a license key, there is something majorly wrong with that product.

      --
      Velociraptor = Distiraptor / Timeraptor
  3. Re:Guy seems... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 5, Insightful

    And the forced Win 10 upgrade is not a dick move?

  4. Re:Just download it, dummy by richy+freeway · · Score: 4, Insightful

    OK, so to reply to myself and completely contradict myself I just tested it with another OEM key and it didn't work... Curious...

  5. Re:Guy seems... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 2, Insightful

    I didn't think OEM licenses would work.

  6. Re: Those numbers are all the same up there by nctritech · · Score: 4, Insightful

    That's fine, but Microsoft's forced and/or deceptive auto-"yes" Windows 10 upgrades didn't give people a choice to accept the EULA and install only if they agree. If they didn't want to be liable, they shouldn't have been so hugely aggressive in forcing the upgrade on people.