New PC

[Joshua Sparks]

I bought a Compaq Presario that came loaded with WinXP Home but I
didn't get a copy of the OS install CD's. Instead, I was told that it
was up to me to create a set of recovery CD's which would allow me to
recover the system and reinstall WinXP and all the bundled software.
Now for my question, it used to be that you couldn't buy a PC without
getting a CD to install the OS. Now it appears that the rules have
changed. Is there any reason why this has happened? If I wanted to
reinstall WinXP and do any customization while I installed it, I would
not be able to because my recovery software does not allow for any
tweaks.

[Carey Frisch [MVP]]

The rules haven't changed. Computer manufacturers decide whether it
is best to offer a recovery or restore CD, a hidden recovery partition,
or an actual OEM Windows CD. Microsoft only stipulates that computer
manufacturers supply a method to restore the operating system.

If you wish to perform special customizations, then purchase a
conventional "full version" of Windows XP. Any other information
should be asked of Compaq Technical Support.

--
Carey Frisch
Microsoft MVP
Windows XP - Shell/User

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

"Joshua Sparks" > wrote in message:
m...

| I bought a Compaq Presario that came loaded with WinXP Home but I
| didn't get a copy of the OS install CD's. Instead, I was told that it
| was up to me to create a set of recovery CD's which would allow me to
| recover the system and reinstall WinXP and all the bundled software.
| Now for my question, it used to be that you couldn't buy a PC without
| getting a CD to install the OS. Now it appears that the rules have
| changed. Is there any reason why this has happened? If I wanted to
| reinstall WinXP and do any customization while I installed it, I would
| not be able to because my recovery software does not allow for any
| tweaks.

[Alex Johnson]

Carey Frisch [MVP] wrote:
> The rules haven't changed. Computer manufacturers decide whether it
> is best to offer a recovery or restore CD, a hidden recovery partition,
> or an actual OEM Windows CD. Microsoft only stipulates that computer
> manufacturers supply a method to restore the operating system.
>
> If you wish to perform special customizations, then purchase a
> conventional "full version" of Windows XP. Any other information
> should be asked of Compaq Technical Support.
>

Microsoft may do this now, but there used to be a law somewhere (I
remember some lawsuits being won ten years ago) that required that "if a
computer is sold with software, all original disks and manuals that
would accompany the software from the vendor must accompany the
computer." Today's era of "software is a service not a product" seems
to have changed that.

Alex
--
My words are my own. They represent no other; they belong to no other.
Don't read anything into them or you may be required to compensate me
for violation of copyright. (I do not speak for my employer.)

[null]

Carey Frisch [MVP] wrote:
> The rules haven't changed. Computer manufacturers decide whether it
> is best to offer a recovery or restore CD, a hidden recovery partition,
> or an actual OEM Windows CD. Microsoft only stipulates that computer
> manufacturers supply a method to restore the operating system.
>
> If you wish to perform special customizations, then purchase a
> conventional "full version" of Windows XP. Any other information
> should be asked of Compaq Technical Support.
>

He could buy a copy of Symantec's Ghost, or DriveImage (now owned by
Symantec, I believe) and make an exact copy of his hard drive, to be
restored later if necessary. I would recommend he purchase a second hard
drive to put the 'copy' onto, just in case the original drive fails.

This costs money and time, but well worth it!

--
-the small one

All postings carry no guarantee or warranty, expressed or implied.
Proceed at your own risk, and perform system and data backups prior to
making changes to your system, and on a regular basis, to protect your
system.

[Joshua Sparks]

Hey, it's cool with me. Somehow I think that the price of the PC would rise
quite substantially if Compaq decided to include the install CD's instead of
just giving an opportunity to recover. I don't know enough about XP (yet)
to do much tweaking.... God knows.. I'm having enough problems without
doing too much other stuff.

"Carey Frisch [MVP]" > wrote in message
...
> The rules haven't changed. Computer manufacturers decide whether it
> is best to offer a recovery or restore CD, a hidden recovery partition,
> or an actual OEM Windows CD. Microsoft only stipulates that computer
> manufacturers supply a method to restore the operating system.
>
> If you wish to perform special customizations, then purchase a
> conventional "full version" of Windows XP. Any other information
> should be asked of Compaq Technical Support.
>
> --
> Carey Frisch
> Microsoft MVP
> Windows XP - Shell/User
>
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------
-----------
>
> "Joshua Sparks" > wrote in message:
> m...
>
> | I bought a Compaq Presario that came loaded with WinXP Home but I
> | didn't get a copy of the OS install CD's. Instead, I was told that it
> | was up to me to create a set of recovery CD's which would allow me to
> | recover the system and reinstall WinXP and all the bundled software.
> | Now for my question, it used to be that you couldn't buy a PC without
> | getting a CD to install the OS. Now it appears that the rules have
> | changed. Is there any reason why this has happened? If I wanted to
> | reinstall WinXP and do any customization while I installed it, I would
> | not be able to because my recovery software does not allow for any
> | tweaks.

[David]

(Joshua Sparks) wrote in
m:

> I bought a Compaq Presario that came loaded with WinXP Home but I
> didn't get a copy of the OS install CD's. Instead, I was told that it
> was up to me to create a set of recovery CD's which would allow me to
> recover the system and reinstall WinXP and all the bundled software.
> Now for my question, it used to be that you couldn't buy a PC without
> getting a CD to install the OS. Now it appears that the rules have
> changed. Is there any reason why this has happened? If I wanted to
> reinstall WinXP and do any customization while I installed it, I would
> not be able to because my recovery software does not allow for any
> tweaks.

Money. It's cheaper for the OEM to provide a Restore Partition then
create a CD.

This is one reason why I buid my own PC and recommend that people
either build thier own or have one built to thier specs rather then
buying a Branded PC like Compaqs or Dells. It may cost more. But, it
saves many hassles in the long run.

--

David

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