Slipstreaming with OEM machine

[Guest]

I would love to be able to repair or reinstall when necessary, so I would
like to create an SP2 slipstreamed CD. My problem is that I have OEM restore
CDs and, from what I read, these won't work. The manufacturer is balking at
my request, only offering more restore CDs for a price. Didn't I pay for the
XP operating system? Is there a way to use these disks?
Any help would be MOST appreciated.
Thanks,
Randy

 

[D.Currie]

I would love to be able to repair or reinstall when necessary, so I would
like to create an SP2 slipstreamed CD. My problem is that I have OEM
restore
CDs and, from what I read, these won't work. The manufacturer is balking
at
my request, only offering more restore CDs for a price. Didn't I pay for
the
XP operating system? Is there a way to use these disks?
Any help would be MOST appreciated.
Thanks,
Randy

Unfortunately, you paid for the OS as the manufacturer provides it, and
since they pay less, you get less (and you paid less than if you had bought
a computer from a mom & pop shop with a generic version of the OS).

One thing that a lot of people don't get is that there are different
versions of the OS and owning one doesn't entitle you to the benefits of
another. Buying a computer from a big OEM gets you the OS the way they offer
it, and unfortunately it doesn't entitle you to the OS on a generic OEM cd.

 

[Tom]

That sucks I own two laptops like that. But my restore disk is based on a
Norton Ghost image. Now if I had a DVD Burner. I just live with SP2 on CD
and besides how often do ya need to reinstall XP anyways

 

[Jason Haynes]

it, and unfortunately it doesn't entitle you to the OS on a generic OEM
cd.

While that's true of most OEM's (HP/Compaq being the biggest practitioner),
both Gateway and Dell ship with an actual Windows XP CD, labeled with their
logos, with their systems which can be used the create a slipstream disk. Of
course, buying one now should already have SP2 slipstreamed in. I was able
to slipstream the os disk that came with my Gateway purchased in 2002
without a problem.

 

[Guest]

Is there a reliable method for OS repair with these disks (Norton Ghost
style), or should I pick up a real XP CD?

 

[Jerry]

Go buy a real XP CD with SP2 already incorporated.

 

[D.Currie]

While that's true of most OEM's (HP/Compaq being the biggest
practitioner), both Gateway and Dell ship with an actual Windows XP CD,
labeled with their logos, with their systems which can be used the create
a slipstream disk. Of course, buying one now should already have SP2
slipstreamed in. I was able to slipstream the os disk that came with my
Gateway purchased in 2002 without a problem.

Like I said, you get the OS "the way they offer it." and Dell and Gateway do
things differently than HP or Compaq. And if you don't get exactly what you
want, you aren't due anything else.

As far as it goes, those Dell CDs aren't identical to the generic OEM cds.
The install files are there, but they are customized.