Whoever told you that misinformed you (euphemism for lied to you). When
Windows XP comes pre-installed on a brand name new system, it's what's
called an OEM version of Windows XP. Support for those OEM versions of
Windows XP (and the CDs that contain the operating system) are the
responsibility of the PC maker, in your case Compaq/HP, NOT Microsoft. You
have 2 choices: You can return the system to Wal-Mart, and claim that you
were misinformed when you purchased it, and ask for a refund. You can get
in touch with Compaq, and request a Windows XP CD, which they may or may not
supply, and which they may or may not charge for, or which they might charge
a shipping fee for, or for which they might offer a System Recovery CD
instead, which is not the same as a Windows XP CD (it will only wipe your
hard drive clean, and restore your software and Windows operating system to
an "As Shipped" state, losing all of your data files and configurations).
I avoid Compaq/HP systems. Companies like Dell and Gateway ship with OEM
Windows XP CDs. My last few systems have been Dell "As Advertised"
specials, which change weekly. The week that I ordered my last system, the
freebies were: double memory, CDR/CD-RW, Flat Panel monitor, shipping, and a
$100 mail in rebate. That loaded Dell was probably a few hundred dollars
less than your Compaq. BTW, a client had a similar experience with a
Compaq/HP system purchased at Wal-Mart. The person in the PC dept. offered
to fix whatever the problem was, but didn't offer a Windows XP CD. I
advised the client to return the system, because if any problem happened in
the future, he still wouldn't have a Windows XP CD to be able to make a
Repair Install. The Windows Setup files were on a hidden partition. The
problem that he had, made it impossible to access to that partition. Even
after 3 months, Wal-Mart gave a full refund.
If you do return your system to Wal-Mart (they have a very liberal return
policy), make sure that you wipe the drive of any personal information.
If Compaq won't supply a Windows XP CD for a nominal fee, the last option
would be to buy a retail version of Windows XP. I wouldn't recommend that
though, since it's expensive, and because many PCs in the same price range
ship with OEM Windows XP CDs.
At a time when a virus/worm can trash your system in milliseconds, one
should always have a Windows XP CD.
--
T.C.
t__cruise@[NoSpam]hotmail.com
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