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Dragonlich · 06-15-2004, 11:51 AM

Actually... I'm gonna play the devil's advocate for a bit.

Microsoft doesn't like to supply CDs - they're too easy to copy and abuse. They encourage their position by giving a discount to companies that use "recovery partitions" or other non-standard install media. They've been doing this for a couple of years now, since Windows ME, but people still expect to get the damn original cd. What people don't seem to understand is that when you buy the Windows OS with a computer, you buy the *right to use the Windows OS with that specific computer*. You don't buy the media it's distributed on, just the right to use Windows. Therefore, there's no reason for MS or HP or anyone else to give you those discs, no matter how upset you are. As long as they provide you with the OS and a valid license, they've done their legal duty.

Why the hell does every John Doe need a friggin Windows install cd when there's a perfectly good way of re-installing the OS *without* it? Does this original cd have some sort of magical properties that allow the average computer user (note use of average!) to install it better or something? The answer, of course: No, it does not. Most people buying a HP don't *want* a Windows cd; they want to be able to re-install Windows if needed, and have been told by their local computer nerd that they need an original disc. HP uses a recovery partition with all the software (Works suite, etc) pre-loaded, which allows the average user to get back to a working computer in the least amount of time. With an original Windows disc, and all the seperate discs of the programs HP supplies, the average user would have to do much more work to get his computer back to working conditions, if they are able to do it at all.

See where this goes? <b>You</b> might need the Windows disc, but most people shouldn't get the disc at all, because it'll only confuse them. In other words, supplying the windows disc (instead of using a recovery partition) will actually reduce the service HP supplies to it's users. You are not an average HP buyer, so their service isn't going to be of much use to you!

...but luckily, there's a solution to your "problem". First of all, HP allows you to make a bunch of recovery cd's, which will allow you to re-install windows in case of a harddrive failure. Furthermore, your Windows license and key are usable with every (similar) Windows installation medium available. That means you can use your Windows XP Pro US key with any official Windows XP Pro US install cd. It is even legal to copy one from your friends, or even to get it somewhere else (download it), as long as you use your own license and key. And finally, HP allows you to buy a set of recovery discs from them for a reasonable fee.

As for the drivers and such: you can probably download these from HP's website. Besides, most of the hardware is just standard, with standard chipsets, regular video chips, etc. You can probably use the drivers from the original producers (Intel, Ati, etc).

FYI, I work at a computer shop, and we sell both the recovery version *and* the OEM cd version. The first costs 100 Euros, the latter 129 Euros. Technically, you can buy the former, and ask us to make a copy of an OEM cd for a reasonable fee (We'd do that for free). But at the end of the day, the recovery version is the most user-friendly, simplest and fastest method of re-installing Windows, even if doesn't come with a CD.

in short: stop blaming HP, start blaming MS if need to blame anyone at all.

06-15-2004, 11:51 AM	#20 (permalink)
Dragonlich 42, baby! Location: The Netherlands	Actually... I'm gonna play the devil's advocate for a bit. Microsoft doesn't like to supply CDs - they're too easy to copy and abuse. They encourage their position by giving a discount to companies that use "recovery partitions" or other non-standard install media. They've been doing this for a couple of years now, since Windows ME, but people still expect to get the damn original cd. What people don't seem to understand is that when you buy the Windows OS with a computer, you buy the right to use the Windows OS with that specific computer. You don't buy the media it's distributed on, just the right to use Windows. Therefore, there's no reason for MS or HP or anyone else to give you those discs, no matter how upset you are. As long as they provide you with the OS and a valid license, they've done their legal duty. Why the hell does every John Doe need a friggin Windows install cd when there's a perfectly good way of re-installing the OS without it? Does this original cd have some sort of magical properties that allow the average computer user (note use of average!) to install it better or something? The answer, of course: No, it does not. Most people buying a HP don't want a Windows cd; they want to be able to re-install Windows if needed, and have been told by their local computer nerd that they need an original disc. HP uses a recovery partition with all the software (Works suite, etc) pre-loaded, which allows the average user to get back to a working computer in the least amount of time. With an original Windows disc, and all the seperate discs of the programs HP supplies, the average user would have to do much more work to get his computer back to working conditions, if they are able to do it at all. See where this goes? <b>You</b> might need the Windows disc, but most people shouldn't get the disc at all, because it'll only confuse them. In other words, supplying the windows disc (instead of using a recovery partition) will actually reduce the service HP supplies to it's users. You are not an average HP buyer, so their service isn't going to be of much use to you! ...but luckily, there's a solution to your "problem". First of all, HP allows you to make a bunch of recovery cd's, which will allow you to re-install windows in case of a harddrive failure. Furthermore, your Windows license and key are usable with every (similar) Windows installation medium available. That means you can use your Windows XP Pro US key with any official Windows XP Pro US install cd. It is even legal to copy one from your friends, or even to get it somewhere else (download it), as long as you use your own license and key. And finally, HP allows you to buy a set of recovery discs from them for a reasonable fee. As for the drivers and such: you can probably download these from HP's website. Besides, most of the hardware is just standard, with standard chipsets, regular video chips, etc. You can probably use the drivers from the original producers (Intel, Ati, etc). FYI, I work at a computer shop, and we sell both the recovery version and the OEM cd version. The first costs 100 Euros, the latter 129 Euros. Technically, you can buy the former, and ask us to make a copy of an OEM cd for a reasonable fee (We'd do that for free). But at the end of the day, the recovery version is the most user-friendly, simplest and fastest method of re-installing Windows, even if doesn't come with a CD. in short: stop blaming HP, start blaming MS if need to blame anyone at all. Last edited by Dragonlich; 06-15-2004 at 12:00 PM..