How does an OEM user boot from cd/dvd

[Jay]

For the first time ever I have a pc that came with an OS preinstalled - no
disk supplied.
To this day I have built my own and never bought a "name" PC.
Obviously in times of trouble I couldn't put the cd/dvd in the drive and
boot from disk.
So what are my options should I need to?

If need be I could drive to work and pick up my MSDN copy of Vista Biz but
do I have any other options?
A recovery disk I could burn for just that reason?
Would Vista notice that my MSDN dick was not the same instance of Vista and
refuse to setup from it?

Jay

 

[Jerry]

Most off the shelf computers offer some way to restore to factory
conditions. Read the user manual or contact the manufacturer. Each brand
has a difference way to restore.

 

[Ronnie Vernon MVP]

Jay

If you just need the disk to use the recovery environment tools, you can get
the same or similar tools using a Bart PE disk.

If you just want to recover the installation, then you can use the included
Complete PC Backup in Vista or your favorite disk imaging program to create
a recovery disk.

Most manufacturers who pre-install Vista will create a hidden recovery
partition on the HDD for recovery. Have you checked for this partition?

Bart's Preinstalled Environment (BartPE) bootable live windows CD/DVD:
http://www.nu2.nu/pebuilder/

 

[Jay]

Oh no, don't make me RTFM
There is a D drive (partition) that is HP with "stuff" on it.
So assuming there are no HD problems, I suppose they expect me to boot from
there.
I'll have a read up though.

 

[Jerry]

You can restore from the D partition and it will
restore it back to the day you bought it. Does not save
data or programs that you have installed.

It is akso recommended that you burn the D partition to
DVDs so if your HD becomes totally corupted, you van
boot from the CDs and restore from them.

Be sure you read the manual on how to do both
procedures.

Jerry