Did your most recent Windows PC purchase come with a set of reinstallation media?
Maybe it did, maybe it didn't. As I noted in my coverage of Microsoft's lawsuit against UK retail giant Comet, big PC makers--the so-called royalty OEMs--are required to include a recovery solution as part of their installation of Windows. But the details of those recovery systems vary by manufacturer, so there's no one-size-fits-all set of instructions.
As part of its initial public response to the Microsoft lawsuit, Comet said it was acting on behalf of its customers. In a statement, the company said:
Comet firmly believes that it acted in the very best interests of its customers. It believes its customers had been adversely affected by the decision to stop supplying recovery discs with each new Microsoft Operating System based computer.
That is, as my friends across the pond would say, bollocks.
My research shows that Comet is acting in its own financial self-interest, overcharging customers for something they can get for free or for significantly less money than Comet is asking.
I've done a brief but thorough survey of options available to customers who purchase name-brand Windows PCs, including several brands sold by Comet. Comet asserts that someone (they don't say who) made 'a decision to stop supplying recovery discs' with new Windows PCs. That statement is not supported by any facts.
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I churn through a lot of PC hardware in my home and office. Many currently available PCs ship with reinstallation media. I have an office full of business-class and high-end consumer machines from Dell and HP, purchased over a four-year period. Every one of them included reinstallation media in the box. When I recently evaluated three 2011-vintage consumer laptops from HP, Samsung, and Sony, I found reinstallation media in every box. My wife's new Samsung Series 9, purchased online from the Microsoft Store, included this System Recovery DVD.
Some cheap consumer PCs don't include disks in the box. But every single PC sold with Windows preinstalled offers an easy way for the end user to create those recovery disks for literally pennies. The option is usually presented to the user as part of the initial setup and is included with the option to recover the PC from a hard drive partition. Here's what Sony's Recovery utility looks like:
And finally, a customer of any leading PC vendor should have no trouble ordering replacement media from the manufacturer of his or her PC, typically at a price well below the £15 charged by Comet (that's $23 at current exchange rates).
For this report, I surveyed five PC vendors that were consistently atop the Gartner market share reports for 2011: Acer, Dell, HP (which also sells PCs under the Compaq brand), Lenovo, and Toshiba.
A few general notes about ordering recovery media.
- In all the cases I looked at, you have to supply a serial number, service tag, or some other identifier to indicate that you own the system.
- Your replacement media is for the version of Windows that came with your PC. If you bought a PC with Windows Vista and upgraded it, your recovery media will be for the original Vista install. (Sorry.)
- Some companies require payment of a nominal fee to cover postage and handling.
- Most companies limit the number of replacement discs you can order.
This report includes as many details as I could uncover about the policies and procedures that each company follows for its products.
I've divided the available information into three pages:
Page 2: Dell's fast, free replacement -->
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Dell
Dell offered the best experience of any company for which I was able to complete a request. Surprisingly, I was able to request replacement media by filling in a form and supplying a service tag number. Within a few minutes, I had a confirmation e-mail. Less than 20 minutes after placing my order, I received another e-mail indicating that the product was about to be shipped.
And within three hours, I had a shipping confirmation with a FedEx tracking number.
The best part? I didn't have to pay a penny.
If you need replacement media for a Dell PC, start here: Request Backup Disks
As that page notes, all Dell systems sold with Windows 7 include one of two backup programs:
- Dell Inspirons, Studios, and XPS Systems use DataSafe Local Backup 2.0 as the PC Restore/Factory Image Restore option as of April 22, 2009.
- Dell OptiPlex, Latitude, Vostro, and Precisions use Dell Backup and Recovery Manager as the PC Restore/Factory Image Restore option as of May 26, 2009.
This page and the two detailed pages for the individual backup programs offer detailed recovery instructions, both for restoring a system from a factory partition and for creating recovery media from that partition.
You can also order discs from the same page. Fill in the form at the bottom, using the Service Tag number (found on the Dell PC) or your order number. The only additional information you have to provide is your name and shipping address. No credit card information is required. Finally, you need to specify a reason, as shown here:
Dell limits customers to one set of backup discs containing the original factory-installed operating system. It also provides disks with device drivers and utilities specific to the system identified by the service tag, with this note:
Please note that Dell will provide you the most up to date Resource disc available. This disc contains the latest drivers and diagnostic tools currently being shipped on new systems. Due to the frequent updates, this Resource disc may not have all the drivers needed for your specific system, especially if it is over one (1) year old.
All in all, it's hard to find anything negative to say about this experience.
Page 3: HP is fast but not free -->
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HP/Compaq
HP has a straightforward recovery process, and its policy for providing replacement media is well integrated into its support pages.
I went through the replacement process for a two-year-old HP Pavilion Elite m9600t. This system was built in the summer of 2009, before Windows 7 shipped. Accordingly, my only option was Windows Vista 64-bit media. For first-class mail, HP's shipping and tax added up to $15.80. (I could have upgraded to 2-day or overnight FedEx delivery for another $6 or $12, respectively.)
Start at this page: HP and Compaq Desktop PCs: Looking for Recovery Discs?
It has step-by-step instructions for creating recovery discs for Windows 7, Windows Vista, and Windows XP. It also offers the option to order replacement discs, but warns that these disks might only be available for a limited time:
If you cannot create a set of recovery discs, you might be able to order a set of replacement discs from HP. HP maintains an inventory of replacement recovery discs for several years after the product has been released. However, because of licensing restrictions, HP is only able to provide these recovery discs for a limited time. If the computer is several years past its warranty period, HP might not be able to supply replacement discs for your computer.
I tried with a 2008 model HP (long out of warranty) and was able to locate replacement media.
The process for ordering media was slightly confusing. The key is to start with the correct model number and then click Software and Driver Downloads, as shown here:
On the next page, you're asked to select an operating system. The Recovery Media link in the results list is only available if you select the Windows version your computer originally came with. If you don't see a 'Recovery Media' section, HP advises you to 'make sure you are on the correct model number page and select another operating system.' That worked for me.
Interestingly, the last section on the page is titled 'Finding recovery discs from other Web sites.' It contains a warning at the top, in bold type: Try all of the other options in this support document before attempting to order recovery discs from outside HP.
If HP is no longer supplying recovery discs for your model of computer and a recovery disc can no longer be created, you might be able to find a solution outside of HP.
Popular online auction sites and some computer part suppliers might have an original recovery disc part in stock. However, be careful and understand the risks when purchasing recovery discs from any source outside of HP. Beware of sites that offer recovery solutions when they are not affiliated with HP.
Even though HP might not have a recovery disc set available for purchase, search the HP part ordering Web site to find the recovery kit part number that matches your computer. Once you find the part number of the recovery disc, use the number in your searches to get better results.
That's actually good advice. If you can find a part number, you might be able to find replacement disks from a legitimate outside supplier that specializes in parts for models from your PC's maker.
Page 4: Acer, Lenovo, Toshiba -->
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Acer
I don't currently have an Acer PC in my office, so I wasn't able to go through the entire order flow. If anyone has tried this, feel free to send me any details and I can incorporate them here.
Start at this page: Frequently Asked Questions, recovery media and restoring a system to factory load
Click Show Part Numbers to verify that the Acer model you're working with is covered by this page. If so, you can quickly skim through the bare-bones instructions on using the Acer eRecovery Management utility (part of what the company ambitiously calls its support tools, Acer Empowering Technology). Three sets of step-by-step procedures are included:
- How to make recovery media
- How to recover your system from within Windows
- How to recovery [sic] your system from bootup
Acer provides more detailed instructions, with video tutorials, on these two pages:
If the recovery partition isn't available, you can go to the Acer store to order recovery media. Under the Need a Recovery Disc? heading, click Order RCD.
You can also go to the Recovery Media Purchase Program page directly. That takes you to a form where you enter your 11-digit SNID or 22 character serial number to continue.
A side note: Acer's order page says, 'Per Microsoft regulations, requests for Windows XP Pro recovery media are no longer supported.' I found at least one other PC maker that noted it had stopped supplying XP recovery media as of July 31, 2011.
Lenovo
Bookmark this link, because it took me forever to find it!
Lenovo's support pages are chock full of information on how to install, update, and use its recovery utilities. But if you've lost your installation media and the recovery partition is no longer available, you need to go to the Product and Parts Detail page to see if replacement recovery media are available:
Clicking that link doesn't lead to an order form, as it does at HP and Dell. Instead, you have to call Lenovo's support line. And make sure you do this while your machine is still covered under its original warranty: the page that includes the phone numbers warns that you might be charged for the call if your system warranty has expired.
Toshiba
The starting point for any Toshiba recovery option is the
page, which includes a
Recovery Media
link.
If your recovery partition is intact, you can get detailed instructions from two separate pages:
- To restore the original Windows configuration using the Toshiba Recovery Wizard, follow the instructions in Support Bulletin 98082971.
- To use the Toshiba Recovery Media Creator utility to create your own reinstallation disks, see Support Bulletin 98082984.
If neither of those options is viable, go to the Acclaim recovery media page and enter your serial number to get started.
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Content provided for informational purposes only. eBay is not affiliated with or endorsed by Microsoft Windows 7.Multi OEM Project (Windows Vista, 7, 8x, 10) Build 04.07.2016 | 25 MB
100+ OEM's: Acer Advent Action Alienware AOC Aquarius ASRock Asus ATcomputers Bangho Beko BenQ BGH-SA ByteSpeed Casper CCE chiliGREEN Compaq crea CZC Dell Depo digimix eMachines Epson Equus Everex Excimer EXO Exper Extra Founder FSC Fujitsu Gateway Genuine Gericom Gigabyte Greatwall Haier Hannspree Hasee HCL Hedy Higrade HP Hyrican IBM Impression Infinity Insys Intelbras iQon Itautec Jetway JooyonTech Kohjinsha Kouziro Kraftway KSystems Lanix Lenovo LG M&A Technology Maxdata Mecer Medion Megaware Mesh Mitac Mouse MSI NEC Nokia Olidata Olivetti Onkyo OQO Packard Bell Panasonic Paradigit Paragon Philco Positivo PowerSpec Prolink qbex Quanmax RMplc Rover Samsung SCC Semp Toshiba Seneca Sharp Sony Stone Synnex Systemax Targa Tarox TCL TTL Tongfang Toshiba Trigem Twinhead Velocity Vestel Viewsonic viliv WD Corporation Wortmann xplore Zoostorm ZT ~incl. (branding only): BioStar Foxconn Intel M$ $urface VirtualBox VMware.
Makes me feel hope again :)
To answer SIW2:
wim-files:
- G:winRE.wim (323MB)
- G:factoryrecoverysdrivebackup.wim (10MB)
swm-files:
- G:factoryrecoverycdrivebackup.swm (1.99GB)
- G:factoryrecoverycdrivebackup2.swm (1.99GB)
- G:factoryrecoverycdrivebackup3.swm (1.99GB)
- G:factoryrecoverycdrivebackup4.swm (1.99GB)
- G:factoryrecoverycdrivebackup5.swm (1.79GB)
The full G: looks like:
G:boot
G:efi
G:factoryrecovery
G:System Volume Information
G:Autorun.inf
G:bootmgr
G:bootmgr.efi
G:LenovoQDrive.cmd
G:qdrive.ico
G:usb.tag
G:winRE.wim
Does this help? How would I now go about recovering the OS?
To answer torchwood:
Using the tool you linked I can't navigate to the backup, as it looks for the folder SOURCES, which I don't have. What to do?
Now what's interesting: when I enter the product key, which I got from a tool running on the preinstalled windows (before I started wiping everything) it shows, that it's a 'Win 10 RTM Professional OEM:DM'
The other key I got from this tool is the one you mention (base key Lenovo W7 Pro -- 237XB-GDJ7B-MV8MH-98QJM-24367 which is called in the tool: Windows 7 Professional OEM:SLP)
The sticker looks similar to this: , without the 'academic use'. So it doesn't say explicitly '8' on there, but the design implies it I thought. That's why I interpreted it the same way as SIW2: it was shipped with an already downgraded windows 7.
But not downgraded from Win 8 as it now seems but from win 10?!
Does this shed any new light on the situation?
(sorry for the large pic, but how to define the size within the [img]-tag?)
- ByLine
- How to Download a Vista ISO and Create an Installation DVD or USB
Downloads are available for the 32 (X86) and 64 bit (X64) versions of Vista Ultimate only, in English, French and German, but if, during the install, you do not enter the product key when initially prompted for it then you will be asked to select the version of Vista you want to install. It can be any of these four:
![Iso Iso](https://www.4winkey.com/images/article/lenovo-thinkpad-windows-7-password.jpg)
![Windows Windows](https://www.alphr.com/sites/alphr/files/styles/og-image/public/2018/06/lenovo-thinkpad-52.jpg)
Lenovo Singapore Service Center
Windows 7 Pro Oa Lenovo Torrent
Remember to activate after the install has completed.
Note: You may need to download drivers for the computer from the manufacturers web site so I would suggest getting the Network (LAN and Wireless) and video/VGA drivers ahead of time so you can install them as soon as you finish installing Vista.