Selling Operating Systems Without Recovery Discs

[J. Moncrief]

You've got to be kidding. Circuit City/Compaq actually has
systems for sale without the recovery discs needed to
perform routine maintenance on the operating system. When
I asked the floor person if the machine had all the
required software - namely the OPERATING SYSTEM - I was
told no. I was told it didn't need it. I was told the OS
had features that repaired itelf without the need for
discs whatsoever. I was skeptical but I purchased the
system anyway. It seems I should have followed my first
instincts. A year down the road and my OS is a sad shape -
VERY unstable! When contacting Compaq, they're ideal
method for curing this problem is to SELL ME THE RECOVERY
DISCS for $37 dollars and change!

This business practice smacks of immoral and/or illegal
practices.

Is Microsoft aware of these practices? Does Microsoft
think it's right to sell a new PC off the shelf with
Windows XP loaded on it but without the recovery discs
that are a NECESSITY?

Lastly ... is this NG monitored by actual support personel?

Regards,

Extremely disgruntled

 

[Rocket J. Squirrel]

"This business practice smacks of immoral and/or illegal practices."

You chose to buy a computer without CDs. You could have chosen a computer
that came with CDs, if you were willing to spend some extra money.

Rocky

 

[Guest]

The recovery "disks" are in a seperate partition on the hard drive. Somewhere, possibly in the control panel, there is a program for you to burn these files onto blank cd's. There is also a way to run the recovery from the hard drive. Look in the owners manual...

 

[NoNoBadDog!]

Compaq and HP are currently integrating a utility that will make the
required Restore CDs for you. The instructions on how to do so are in the
owners manual that came with the computer.

Bobby

 

[Guest]

Wrong answer. No such option was offered. The floor person
is telling people the OS is foolproof. Like I said, I was
skeptical but went ahead and bought it. "Buyer beware" is
such a great slogan. Don't use it on me. ;0)

 

[Guest]

Good news. I hope.

 

[David Candy]

MS wants a monopoly. Mfg want cheap software. They pressure each other. To reduce the cost of the software MS sells it with less and less under pressure from mfgs.

Only buy computers from small shops. Don't buy brand name computers (mostly they are crap) but do buy branded motherboard (and mouse I think). All hard drives are branded. Everything else buy what's seems a good deal. Buy the OS seperate from computer.

 

[Jupiter Jones [MVP]]

You were told there were no CDs.
You bought knowing there were no CD.
You were informed in advance.
You were an informed buyer buying one of the cheaper brands.
This is one of the reasons it is so cheap.

Did you check your manual for restore information?
It is there. Read the manual.
The restore data is located on a hidden partition on the hard drive.
Some of the newer ones have the ability to make restore CDs for you.
Again, check your manual to see if you had this feature.

You were told "the OS had features that repaired itelf without the
need for discs whatsoever"
Pretty much true.
That is the purpose of the hidden partition.
Of course that is no help if the hard drive dies, but that is not your
concern in your post.

Microsoft is aware of this approved method.
The OEM is required to provide a way to restore the computer.
The hidden partition is only one of several methods available and is
also what was chosen by your computer manufacturer and thus by you,
the informed buyer.

I suggest you buy the CDs if you do not have the option to make them
on your computer.
Sooner or later you will need them.

Finally these newsgroups are not officially monitored by Microsoft
does stop by occasionally on their own time.
If you desire to contact Microsoft directly, this peer to peer
newsgroup is the wrong place.