Where's the Operating system?

[Joao]

Hello. I've got a HP Pavillion Desktop. The installation files of Windows XP
is somehow kept in some place inside the computer, because I can format the
whole HD DISK (including erasing partitions) and installing the XP without a
CD/DVD or other data media. I just choose the BIOS setup after restarting and
install it. My question is:
Where are those installation files in the pc and how the manufacturer used
to store them?

 

[Bob I]

Hidden partition. See
http://h10025.www1.hp.com/ewfrf/wc/siteHome?lc=en&dlc=en&cc=us

 

[Bill Sharpe]

Hello. I've got a HP Pavillion Desktop. The installation files of Windows XP
is somehow kept in some place inside the computer, because I can format the
whole HD DISK (including erasing partitions) and installing the XP without a
CD/DVD or other data media. I just choose the BIOS setup after restarting and
install it. My question is:
Where are those installation files in the pc and how the manufacturer used
to store them?

The documentation from HP is scanty, but it should tell you where the
installation files are located, generally in a hidden partition. My
Pavilion came with details on how to create bootable recovery disks and
a routine that would delete the hidden partition after creating such
disks. You might check HP's help and support and/or visit their web site.

Bill

 

[Harry]

There should be a hidden partition where an __image__ (and not the XP
install
media) is stored. When you boot from a menu to restore your PC,
a restore program is invoked, and your C: drive is restored with the
image.

You can use a partition manager to unhide the hidden partition; and
hence backup
the image to DVD media.

PowerQuest Partition Manager, Acronis Disk Director are just a couple
of
commercial partition managers.

There are some free partition managers too; just google "free
partition manager".

 

[Joao]

Thank you for all of your explainations.
So, if I take off my Hard Disk from the PC, bye bye XP installation, isn't it?