Beware :

I just used Compaq's system-file restorer, which promises twice
that it won't delete any user files while restoring the system files
for Windows XP. Don't believe it. I saw that it deleted the default
user's Documents and Settings subfolder entirely and replaced it
with a default mostly-empty folder. It left all others users's files
untouched. I guess this is what happens when you outsource
all programming to India. I would have thought it would store the
original files in a directory elsewhere. But no, all the Word files
and so on from the previous default user are gone; and not even
FileScavenger can find them. Yet another empty promise from
HP/Compaq.

Beware Compaq, PERIOD.
I will never own another.

"Zox" <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote in message
news:(E-Mail Removed)...
> Beware :
>
> I just used Compaq's system-file restorer, which promises twice
> that it won't delete any user files while restoring the system files
> for Windows XP. Don't believe it. I saw that it deleted the default
> user's Documents and Settings subfolder entirely and replaced it
> with a default mostly-empty folder. It left all others users's files
> untouched. I guess this is what happens when you outsource
> all programming to India. I would have thought it would store the
> original files in a directory elsewhere. But no, all the Word files
> and so on from the previous default user are gone; and not even
> FileScavenger can find them. Yet another empty promise from
> HP/Compaq.
>

Zox wrote:
> Beware :
>
> I just used Compaq's system-file restorer, which promises twice
> that it won't delete any user files while restoring the system files
> for Windows XP. Don't believe it. I saw that it deleted the default
> user's Documents and Settings subfolder entirely and replaced it
> with a default mostly-empty folder. It left all others users's files
> untouched. I guess this is what happens when you outsource
> all programming to India. I would have thought it would store the
> original files in a directory elsewhere. But no, all the Word files
> and so on from the previous default user are gone; and not even
> FileScavenger can find them. Yet another empty promise from
> HP/Compaq.

I don't think where the support comes from has anything to do with it.
Compaq / HP and (to a lesser degree) Dell make good business kit, in
particular the servers, but their desktops and laptops, especially the
home user ranges, ought to be banned by the geneva convention as "cruel
and unusual punishment".

Given the crud they put people through, as you confirm above, I can only
conclude that neither company wants my business wrt laptops and desktops.
I'm happy to oblige.

--
--
Rob Moir, Microsoft MVP for Security
Blog Site - http://www.robertmoir.com
Virtual PC 2004 FAQ -
http://www.robertmoir.co.uk/win/VirtualPC2004FAQ.html
I'm always surprised at "professionals" who STILL have to be asked:
"Have you checked (event viewer / syslog)".

I bought my first computer from a local shop in 1994. Since then every
computer has been built
by me from the parts I wanted. I remember building my first, the power
connection
to the MB had two plugs that plugged into the MB side by side. However there
was
no way to know which plug went on which side. I called one place and they
told me " if you don't know that
you have no business putting together a computer". Called another and they
told me. Well I have
continued to learn... and now others consult me. I am a gamer also, so none
of the "brand" name computers
would have been any good to me. JMTCW

Richard


"Robert Moir" <robspamtrap+(E-Mail Removed)> wrote in message
news:%(E-Mail Removed)...
> Zox wrote:
>> Beware :
>>
>> I just used Compaq's system-file restorer, which promises twice
>> that it won't delete any user files while restoring the system files
>> for Windows XP. Don't believe it. I saw that it deleted the default
>> user's Documents and Settings subfolder entirely and replaced it
>> with a default mostly-empty folder. It left all others users's files
>> untouched. I guess this is what happens when you outsource
>> all programming to India. I would have thought it would store the
>> original files in a directory elsewhere. But no, all the Word files
>> and so on from the previous default user are gone; and not even
>> FileScavenger can find them. Yet another empty promise from
>> HP/Compaq.
>
> I don't think where the support comes from has anything to do with it.
> Compaq / HP and (to a lesser degree) Dell make good business kit, in
> particular the servers, but their desktops and laptops, especially the
> home user ranges, ought to be banned by the geneva convention as "cruel
> and unusual punishment".
>
> Given the crud they put people through, as you confirm above, I can only
> conclude that neither company wants my business wrt laptops and desktops.
> I'm happy to oblige.
>
> --
> --
> Rob Moir, Microsoft MVP for Security
> Blog Site - http://www.robertmoir.com
> Virtual PC 2004 FAQ -
> http://www.robertmoir.co.uk/win/VirtualPC2004FAQ.html
> I'm always surprised at "professionals" who STILL have to be asked:
> "Have you checked (event viewer / syslog)".
>

This is why keeping a current backup of all data is a must.

--
Regards,
Bert Kinney MS-MVP Shell/User
http://bertk.mvps.org

"Zox" wrote
> Beware :
>
> I just used Compaq's system-file restorer, which promises twice
> that it won't delete any user files while restoring the system files
> for Windows XP. Don't believe it. I saw that it deleted the default
> user's Documents and Settings subfolder entirely and replaced it
> with a default mostly-empty folder. It left all others users's files
> untouched. I guess this is what happens when you outsource
> all programming to India. I would have thought it would store the
> original files in a directory elsewhere. But no, all the Word files
> and so on from the previous default user are gone; and not even
> FileScavenger can find them. Yet another empty promise from
> HP/Compaq.
>

In article <(E-Mail Removed)>, Zox
<(E-Mail Removed)> writes
>Beware :
>
>I just used Compaq's system-file restorer, which promises twice
>that it won't delete any user files while restoring the system files
>for Windows XP. Don't believe it. I saw that it deleted the default
>user's Documents and Settings subfolder entirely and replaced it
>with a default mostly-empty folder. It left all others users's files
>untouched. I guess this is what happens when you outsource
>all programming to India. I would have thought it would store the
>original files in a directory elsewhere. But no, all the Word files
>and so on from the previous default user are gone; and not even
>FileScavenger can find them. Yet another empty promise from
>HP/Compaq.
>

To quote from the manual for an SR1799

Standard Recovery —
This option recovers factory shipped programs, drivers, and the
operating system without affecting any data files that you may have
created since purchasing this PC. Some data files may be difficult to
find after the System Recovery, so it is best to back up all hard disk
drive files before performing a System Recovery.

It warns some data files may be difficult to find and it is best to back
up all files if possible.

--
Nicholas David Richards -

"Où sont les neiges d'antan?"

Modification:

Zox wrote:
> Beware :
>
> I just used Compaq's system-file restorer, which promises
> twice that it won't delete any user files while restoring
> the system files for Windows XP.

[ and I stopped reading there, completely ignoring the advice
that I should have my files backed up in case something goes
wrong. ]

That's not just a Compaq issue: It can happen on ANY computer or
os anywhere. ALWAYS have a recent backup handy of your data
files.
When a machine is borked to start with, anything can happen
when one messes with any of the sytem files and features.
Learn how to backup: This loss is YOUR fault, not Compaq's.

I dislike Compaq also and wouldn't buy one, but for other, much
more legit reasons, such as their OEM software and such. But
they are far from alone in that problem too, so they're among
many I won't touch.
Never buy OEM software if it can be avoided. The extra few
bucks are well worth it for the retail versions.

BUSS!

Pop`



Don't believe it. I saw
> that it deleted the default user's Documents and Settings
> subfolder entirely and replaced it with a default
> mostly-empty folder. It left all others users's files
> untouched. I guess this is what happens when you outsource
> all programming to India. I would have thought it would
> store the original files in a directory elsewhere. But no,
> all the Word files and so on from the previous default user
> are gone; and not even FileScavenger can find them. Yet
> another empty promise from HP/Compaq.

Cripes, was there a point to that or just a senseless gloat?


Richard wrote:
> I bought my first computer from a local shop in 1994. Since
> then every computer has been built
> by me from the parts I wanted. I remember building my
> first, the power connection
> to the MB had two plugs that plugged into the MB side by
> side. However there was
> no way to know which plug went on which side. I called one
> place and they told me " if you don't know that
> you have no business putting together a computer". Called
> another and they told me. Well I have
> continued to learn... and now others consult me. I am a
> gamer also, so none of the "brand" name computers
> would have been any good to me. JMTCW
>
> Richard
>
>
> "Robert Moir" <robspamtrap+(E-Mail Removed)> wrote in
> message news:%(E-Mail Removed)...
> > Zox wrote:
> > > Beware :
> > >
> > > I just used Compaq's system-file restorer, which
> > > promises twice that it won't delete any user files
> > > while restoring the system files for Windows XP. Don't
> > > believe it. I saw that it deleted the default user's
> > > Documents and Settings subfolder entirely and replaced
> > > it with a default mostly-empty folder. It left all
> > > others users's files untouched. I guess this is what
> > > happens when you outsource all programming to India. I
> > > would have thought it would
> > > store the original files in a directory elsewhere. But
> > > no, all the Word files and so on from the previous
> > > default user are gone; and not even FileScavenger can
> > > find them. Yet another empty promise from HP/Compaq.
> >
> > I don't think where the support comes from has anything
> > to do with it. Compaq / HP and (to a lesser degree) Dell
> > make good business kit, in particular the servers, but
> > their desktops and laptops, especially the home user
> > ranges, ought to be banned by the geneva convention as
> > "cruel and unusual punishment". Given the crud they put
> > people through, as you confirm
> > above, I can only conclude that neither company wants my
> > business wrt laptops and desktops. I'm happy to oblige.
> >
> > --
> > --
> > Rob Moir, Microsoft MVP for Security
> > Blog Site - http://www.robertmoir.com
> > Virtual PC 2004 FAQ -
> > http://www.robertmoir.co.uk/win/VirtualPC2004FAQ.html
> > I'm always surprised at "professionals" who STILL have to
> > be asked: "Have you checked (event viewer / syslog)".