Bootable CD, XP CD for new PC

[Guest]

I'm looking to purchase a notebook and learned a XP Home CD or a Bootable CD
isn't included. XP Home is already installed.
Isn't a XP CD needed to load uninstalled XP features plus to insert at
various times when prompted?

Also, can a bootable CD be purchased?

If both are purchased at retail, would they be compatible with the installed
version of XP Home and with the keycode differences?

To be prepared for maintenance, what is needed to support XP Home?
Thanks.

 

[Lanwench [MVP - Exchange]]

In

I'm looking to purchase a notebook and learned a XP Home CD or a
Bootable CD isn't included. XP Home is already installed.
Isn't a XP CD needed to load uninstalled XP features plus to insert at
various times when prompted?

Also, can a bootable CD be purchased?

If both are purchased at retail, would they be compatible with the
installed version of XP Home and with the keycode differences?

To be prepared for maintenance, what is needed to support XP Home?
Thanks.

What kind of notebook? Is this a used notebook, or is it just that the new
ones don't come with a CD? Often, they come with a recovery partition you
can use ...might be able to burn a CD from that. But your best bet is to ask
the manufacturer.

You could purchase your own retail copy of XP Home if you wish, and it would
certainly be bootable, but that seems silly if you're already paying for a
licence for the OS. You would need to use the retail CD-key and not the OEM
one.

Ask the manufacturer, or the seller, all the questions before purchasing.

 

[Rick \Nutcase\ Rogers]

Hi,

Call the notebook manufacturer and ask for a regular generic (not recovery)
disk. They may supply one at a nominal fee (you don't want a retail disk, as
it may not include all needed drivers for the proprietary hardware used in
the system). If they won't, let them know you are returning it for a full
refund and will find a different make.

Most do not come with disks now, but rather have recovery partitions which
just wipe and reload the system. The system files generally found on the CD
are usually in an I386 folder located on the hard drive if you should need
them. "Value add" programs, like the backup utility, are generally not
included in the preinstalled versions.

--
Best of Luck,

Rick Rogers, aka "Nutcase" - Microsoft MVP

Associate Expert - WindowsXP Expert Zone

Windows help - www.rickrogers.org

 

[Guest]

Thanks, when I ask Toshiba for a "generic disk" (not Recovery CD for that is
included), am I asking for a Bootable CD or Installation CD? What are some
names for it? Also, when would that CD be used; I'm assuming always prior to
complete recovery erasing everything.

 

[Mike Hall \(MS-MVP\)]

PCM

You are asking for whatever they are prepared to supply such that you can
repair or re-install the operating system in the event of failure..

 

[Spikey]

"Lanwench [MVP - Exchange]"

can use ...

I just thought I'd add that from my own experience the embedded OS supplied
seem to be problematic when adding certain popular applications such as
Norton. I wondered if they were "skeleton" versions?

 

[Guest]

Hi and thanks for information.

Call the notebook manufacturer and ask for a regular generic (not recovery)

disk.

You are asking for whatever they are prepared to supply such that you can
repair or re-install the operating system in the event of failure..

Spoke with manufacturer, Toshiba in my case, and they don't provide it at
all; can't even purchase one; they only provide the Recovery Disk. Also,they
advised against using any type retail installation disk because of different
drivers, etc.

I wouldn't be without the installation CD so that I can perform the repair
listed last. (You must not use one with service-pack-level later than the one
you are repairing.)

When would I use an Installation CD? Would it replace/restore XP if files
were missing or corrupted or would it re-install XP? Did manufacturer
provide your Installation CD?

What kind of notebook? Is this a used notebook, or is it just that the new
ones don't come with a CD? Often, they come with a recovery partition you
can use ...might be able to burn a CD from that. But your best bet is to ask
the manufacturer.

I'm looking for a new notebook and for a manufacturer that supplies the
Installation CD. It is possible no manufacturers offer it now.

Thanks again.

 

[Rick \Nutcase\ Rogers]

Hi,

You want an installation CD, but be careful to specify that you do not want
a System Recovery disk (which is basically just an image disk).

--
Best of Luck,

Rick Rogers, aka "Nutcase" - Microsoft MVP

Associate Expert - WindowsXP Expert Zone

Windows help - www.rickrogers.org

 

[Bruce Chambers]

I'm looking to purchase a notebook and learned a XP Home CD or a Bootable CD
isn't included. XP Home is already installed.
Isn't a XP CD needed to load uninstalled XP features plus to insert at
various times when prompted?

Also, can a bootable CD be purchased?

If both are purchased at retail, would they be compatible with the installed
version of XP Home and with the keycode differences?

To be prepared for maintenance, what is needed to support XP Home?
Thanks.

Legally, the OEM has met it's contractual obligation to Microsoft
by providing a means of returning the PC to its ex-factory state,
whether it's a Recovery CD or a Recovery Partition. They are not
legally obliged to provide a true installation CD as part of the sale.
Reputable, customer-service aware OEMs, like Dell and Gateway, do
provide a full OEM installation CD, that does permit custom
installations and repairs. Many uncaring OEMs, such as Compaq, HP, and
Sony, however, in an effort to save pennies and reduce their support
costs by having to hire support people that can only say "Boot from the
Recovery CD to return your PC to its original condition," provide only a
CD bearing a disk image of the hard drive as it left the factory. These
Recovery/Restore CDs cannot perform normal installations, nor can they
be used to do any sort of customizations.

Essentially, it boils down to "You get what you pay for."

As others have suggested, you can contact the computer manufacturer and
ask about getting an installation CD. If they refuse to provide one,
don't hesitate to "vote with your wallet." Simply give your business to
a company that's willing to provide you the product that you need.
Don't settle.


--

Bruce Chambers

Help us help you:



You can have peace. Or you can have freedom. Don't ever count on having
both at once. - RAH

 

[NoStop]

I'm looking to purchase a notebook and learned a XP Home CD or a Bootable
CD
isn't included. XP Home is already installed.
Isn't a XP CD needed to load uninstalled XP features plus to insert at
various times when prompted?

Also, can a bootable CD be purchased?

If both are purchased at retail, would they be compatible with the
installed version of XP Home and with the keycode differences?

To be prepared for maintenance, what is needed to support XP Home?
Thanks.

Personally, I wouldn't buy any laptop or desktop that didn't provide a
bootable o/s installation CD. If the manufacturer won't accomodate ask them
if they'll sell the computer without the OS and then and purchase a full
installation OS some place else or better still - after you get the laptop
without any OS, go and get a free Linux distro and install that.

 

[Paul Knudsen]

I'm looking for a new notebook and for a manufacturer that supplies the
Installation CD. It is possible no manufacturers offer it now.

I believe Dell will supply an XP Installation CD, but ONLY if you ask
at the time of purchase!

 

[Guest]

Thanks all for the information. I haven't found a laptop manufacturer that
provides a bootable o/s installation CD. The software comes pre-installed.
Anyone know about or used the pre-installed recovery on the Thinkpads?

 

[Paul Knudsen]

Thanks all for the information. I haven't found a laptop manufacturer that
provides a bootable o/s installation CD. The software comes pre-installed.
Anyone know about or used the pre-installed recovery on the Thinkpads?

I've seen it posted many times in the Dell group. You can get a XP CD
**IF** you ask for it at the time of purchase. Call them and let me
know.

 

[Ken Blake]

In

Thanks all for the information. I haven't found a laptop
manufacturer that provides a bootable o/s installation CD. The
software comes pre-installed. Anyone know about or used the
pre-installed recovery on the Thinkpads?

My Dell laptop, bought just under a year ago, came with a Windows
XP installation CD. Whether they still offer it that way, I don't
know for sure.

 

[Z]

I've seen it posted many times in the Dell group. You can get a XP CD
**IF** you ask for it at the time of purchase. Call them and let me
know.

Will Dell, you can also get the O/S CD long after you've bought, as long
as you're still under warranty. It'll cost you about $10. Also a good
idea to ask for any system diagnostic utility CDs they have for your
system (another $10 or so).

 

[Z]

My Dell laptop, bought just under a year ago, came with a Windows
XP installation CD. Whether they still offer it that way, I don't
know for sure.

If it's XP Pro, MAKE SURE it's not mislabeled - boot to it and make sure
it says XP Professional. About 9 mos. ago Dell shipped a ton of XP Pro
CDs that were actually XP Home.

I know because I got one of 'em. It was quite a surprise when my brand
new disk failed after a few months and I had to reinstall the O/S from
the CD.

 

[Ken Blake]

In

If it's XP Pro, MAKE SURE it's not mislabeled - boot to it and
make
sure it says XP Professional. About 9 mos. ago Dell shipped a
ton of
XP Pro CDs that were actually XP Home.

No, it's not mislabeled, but thanks anyway.