I don't have an Windows XP CD, should I?

  • Thread starter Thread starter Casey
  • Start date Start date
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Casey

I recently bought an Emachines computer with Windows XP
installed on it. I noticed that there was no Windows XP
CD, and I was wondering if you only get that when you buy
the Windows operating system from the store or whatnot. I
can't remember if my old computer (equipped with Windows
98) came with a Windows 98 CD, but it seems like it did
since I had to install some Themes from the CD onto the
hard drive.

Thanks in advance.
Casey
 
You should of gotten either a RECOVERY CD or the full OEM version. Be aware
that most RECOVERY disk will restore the PC to original factory installs,
deleting everything on the HDD before reinstalling the OS and the
manufactures supplied files and programs. with a FULL OEM disk you can do
repair installs and add OS components. You should call the place you
purchased it or the maker to find out if they offer a CD. You should also
find the whole OS install files on the HDD under a folder named i386.
 
Casey said:
I recently bought an Emachines computer with Windows XP
installed on it. I noticed that there was no Windows XP
CD, and I was wondering if you only get that when you buy
the Windows operating system from the store or whatnot. I
can't remember if my old computer (equipped with Windows
98) came with a Windows 98 CD, but it seems like it did
since I had to install some Themes from the CD onto the
hard drive.
Click to expand...

Check your documentation from eMachines. They *must* provide some
method of recovering the operating system and at least restoring it to
the same condition as when it left the factory.

What they may have done is to create a hidden partition on the hard
drive and loaded a "system recovery" disk image into that partition.
And they may also have added a function to the BIOS setup that will
access this hidden partition and copy the image to the boot partition.

That will restore your Windows XP to the "factory door" condition,
wiping out everything else on the hard drive in the process. My
daughter has an IBM Notebook that has exactly this configuration. It
is far from optimum but it does meet the licensing requirements.

Good luck


Ron Martell Duncan B.C. Canada
--
Microsoft MVP
On-Line Help Computer Service
http://onlinehelp.bc.ca

"The reason computer chips are so small is computers don't eat much."
 
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