New pc - XP loaded - what does it mean?

[Jodie]

Thinking about buying a new pc. When the description states Windows XP Home
loaded, would this normally mean a Windows XP software CD would be provided
also?...and if not what happens if in the future its necessary to reinstall
Windows?
Thanks.

 

[Yves Leclerc]

It does not mean that you may get an original XP Home install CD. The PC
vendor/maker must provide you a method of replacing the XP Home. This can
mean that they would provide you with a System Recovery system (note: Not
XP System Restore feature!!!!!) which will replace the installed copy of XP
with a "disk image" of when the hard driver was first set up. This can be
in the form of a CD or stored on a hidden disk partition.

I my honest opinion, Avoid this!!! Always ask if you can get an original XP
install CD. They mat have to charge you extra for this. Also, this version
will be an OEM version and will be license to only THAT PC. If that PC
dies, so does the XP license.

 

[Will Denny]

Hi

You will have ask the suppliers of the PC if you will be provided with an XP
CD. Some suppliers don't give out CDs as there is a hidden partition for
the reinstall of XP.

--


Will Denny
MS MVP Windows Shell/User
Please reply to the News Groups

 

[Alceryes]

You will have ask the suppliers of the PC if you will be provided with an

XP CD. Some suppliers don't give out CDs as there is a hidden partition
for the reinstall of XP.

Some mfgs. also allow you to burn your own restore image CD's (Gateway,
Dell, etc.). There's usually a prompt regarding this the first time you boot
up your system or the first time you run your CD burning software. It may
also be listed under your program menu.
This option is also OK but, as someone else noted, that OEM copy of XP is
tied to THAT machine any may not be transferred to another system even if
that one dies.
--


"I don't cheat to survive. I cheat to LIVE!!"
- Alceryes

 

[TeVan]

Loaded = a truckload of preinstalled software.
XP CD, not likely unless stated.

Future implications = Plan ahead, clone it, image it, whatever...

I wouldn't buy it.

Well... it would have to be real cheap to even consider.

Red flag keywords = Loaded, Home (not necessarily in that order).

 

[Ken Blake]

In

Thinking about buying a new pc. When the description states
Windows
XP Home loaded, would this normally mean a Windows XP software
CD
would be provided also?

It depends on the vendor, but it normally means that a Windows
installation CD is *not* included.

...and if not what happens if in the future
its necessary to reinstall Windows?

An excellent question. Many people buy such machines without
asking the question until too late.

OEM vendors are required by their agreement with Microsoft to
give you a means of reinstalling, should it be necessary. They
can do this in one of three ways:

1. An OEM copy of Windows
2. A restore CD

3. A hidden partition on your drive, with restore information.

If you don't have 1 or 2, you should have 3, but you should
contact the vendor to find out.

Personally, I find both 2 and 3 unacceptable (especially 3; a
hard drive crash can leave you with nothing), and would never
choose to buy a computer that came with an operating system
unless I got a complete generic installation CD for that
operating system.

 

[Jodie]

In


It depends on the vendor, but it normally means that a Windows
installation CD is *not* included.




An excellent question. Many people buy such machines without asking the
question until too late.

OEM vendors are required by their agreement with Microsoft to give you a
means of reinstalling, should it be necessary. They can do this in one of
three ways:

1. An OEM copy of Windows
2. A restore CD

3. A hidden partition on your drive, with restore information.

If you don't have 1 or 2, you should have 3, but you should contact the
vendor to find out.

Personally, I find both 2 and 3 unacceptable (especially 3; a hard drive
crash can leave you with nothing), and would never choose to buy a
computer that came with an operating system unless I got a complete
generic installation CD for that operating system.

 

[Peabody]

TeVan says...

Loaded = a truckload of preinstalled software.
XP CD, not likely unless stated.

Future implications = Plan ahead, clone it, image it,
whatever...

I wouldn't buy it.

Well... it would have to be real cheap to even consider.

Red flag keywords = Loaded, Home (not necessarily in
that order).

Here's the problem.

I'm going through this now too, and as I understand it, NONE
of the well-known brands are going to give you a real
Windows XP CD-ROM, even an OEM one, without charging you the
retail price for it. So that means you pay twice for
Windows.

I haven't checked with all the manufacturers, but based on
information I got from Best Buy, Circuit City, etc., Dell,
Hewlett Packard, Compaq, eMachines - pretty much all of the
less expensive brands - use restore CD's, and even there you
may have to burn your own.

So if you insist on getting the real XP, you're pretty
much eliminating all of these brands. Morever, you also end
up in the position of having to build your own computer, or
get someone locally to do it for you. I don't know - maybe
a Sony Vaio at Best Buy comes with an XP CD-ROM, but now
you're running into real money.

This is a tough decision because you really can save a lot
of money if you catch something like an eMachines on sale.

I don't know what to do yet. I've always had a CD, and
could do a repair reinstall, and could install additional
Windows components, and similar things. I don't know if any
of that would be possible with a restore disk, but I doubt
it. So even if you do lots of Ghosting to cover the backup
side, it still isn't the same.

What's a mother to do?

Oh, one more thing. It looks to me that if you want XP Media
Center, there is no such thing as a real O/S CD-ROM. It is
only available preinstalled. Is that right?

 

[Bruce Chambers]

Thinking about buying a new pc. When the description states Windows XP Home
loaded, would this normally mean a Windows XP software CD would be provided
also?...

Not necessarily. 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, MPC, and Gateway, do
provide a full OEM installation CD, that does permit custom
installations and repairs. Many uncaring OEMs, especially those who
sell their computers through department stores and chain outlets, such
as Compaq, HP, eMachines, Toshiba 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."

and if not what happens if in the future its necessary to reinstall
Windows?

You follow the recovery instructions provided by the computer manufacturer.



--

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

 

[Bruce Chambers]

........

I haven't checked with all the manufacturers, but based on
information I got from Best Buy, Circuit City, etc.,

Do not, repeat, *DO NOT* accept the advice of any Best Buy or Circuit
City employee when it come to computers. Those are two of the very
worst places from which to buy a computer.

Dell,
Hewlett Packard, Compaq, eMachines - pretty much all of the
less expensive brands - use restore CD's, and even there you
may have to burn your own.

That's not true of Dell, but the cut-rate brands you mentioned do
short-change the buyer.


--

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

 

[Plato]

Thinking about buying a new pc. When the description states Windows XP Home
loaded, would this normally mean a Windows XP software CD would be provided
also?...and if not what happens if in the future its necessary to reinstall
Windows?

No, it doesn't mean you will get an XP CD. You may NOT get any CD at
all. So, if your hard drive fails, you will/may have to buy XP again.

 

[TeVan]

Oh well, true enough I guess. It gets uglier by the second.

Never know what's going to happen next. Just like today, plugged a brand new w2k3 into t1 (cuz of 3rd party proxy-firewall/winup authentication issues) so could activate, grab winups, and sp1 and got hit with something (blaster, sasser, who knows?) within minutes!!! It's a jungle out there.

 

[Michel]

That is very sad that Microsoft don't enforce the you sell my product you
will give the microsoft CD and not just your restore CD.

The way I see it is who care what the builder is doing as long as the
consumer have a way to rebot and start from scratch we are ok with that.