You might be entitled to a refund for Microsoft Windows and any other related OEM software that may also be included if you have installed Linux, a BSD, BeOS, OS/2, Solaris, Novell NetWare or another computer operating system on a laptop, notebook or PDA, which came preloaded with Microsoft-Windows*. See the Windows Refund.org(http://www.windowsrefund.org/) and MS-Free-PC(http://www.msfreepc.com/) . There are even laptop manufacturers and resellers which offer machines without any pre-installed operating system.

To make your claim you may use the Microsoft-Windows Removal Certificate(http://linux.vandeplas.com/acer/winrefund.htm) available as PDF and OpenOffice SXW file.

Success Stories

• A successful refund(http://www.linuxjournal.com/article.php?sid=7040): Steve Oualline got a refund (manufacturer unknown).
• DELL Customer Gets Windows Refund(http://www.linuxworld.com/news/2006/110706-dell-windows.html): Dave Mitchell got a refund from DELL.
• The Toshiba Portege standoff(http://www.linuxjournal.com//article.php?sid=6318): Adam Kosmin got a refund from Toshiba.
• money back(http://www.zdnet.de/news/business/0,39023142,2046119,00.htm): Geoffrey Bennett got a refund from Toshiba (in German).
• How to get a MS-Windows tax refund(http://www.linux.com/article.pl?sid=07/01/03/227237): Serge Wroclawski got a refund from DELL.
• successfull refund(https://www.fsfe.org/fellows/refund/belgium)Tim Speetjens (Belgium) explains how he got a refund from DELL.
• Israeli Linuz fan squeezes Windows refund out of Dell(http://www.theregister.co.uk/2008/12/04/dell_windows_eula_israel/)Ziv Devir (Israel) got a refund from DELL.
• SEOPHER(http://www.seopher.com/articles/acer_asks_for_50_more_for_a_notebook_without_windows_): Acer asks for 50 GBP more for a notebook without Windows.
• Italian Judge Tells HP To Refund Pre-Installed XP(http://www.aduc.it/dyn/sosonline/modulistica/modu_mostra.php?Scheda=129428)Pieraccioli Marco (Italy) got a refund from HP/COMPAQ.
• Lenovo refund(http://www.muftor.com/blog/?p=12): Eddy Pronk (Australia) got a refund from Lenovo.
• Amazon UK refund(http://tech.slashdot.org/article.pl?sid=09/07/23/1855211): Alan Lord (UK) got a refund from Amazon for an ASUS netbook.
• Amazon US refund(http://news.slashdot.org/article.pl?sid=09/07/31/1215248): R. Rohbeck (US) got a refund from Amazon for an ASUS netbook.
• Poul-Henning Kamp (DK)(http://yro.slashdot.org/article.pl?sid=09/08/14/1324238): got a refund for the Windows Vista Business license from Lenovo.
• Graeme Cobbett (UK)(http://www.theregister.co.uk/2009/10/19/windows_dell_linux_refund/): got a refund for the Microsoft-Windows Vista license from DELL (Studio 1555 notebook).

What to do with the Microsoft-Label or the Microsoft-Sticker?

Are you eager to remove the Microsoft label? Here are some instructions how to remove the Microsoft label.

Laptops Without MicroSoft-Tax

These manufacturers offer laptops and notebooks without pre-installed MicroSoft operating system (note: these options are not available for all countries):

• CeBop
• Issam
• MaxData
• Xeron

FSFE Repository

Windows-Tax Refund(http://www.fsfe.org/fellows/greve/freedom_bits/fosdem_followup_fellowship_section_on_reclaiming_windows_tax): A knowledge and experience repository on how to reclaim your "Windows Tax".