$10 OS Recovery disk is now $19.99!!

What's up with that? I have heard other people recommend purchasing the disk, but do I need it if I am planning on buying my own discounted version of Windows?

 

Heh.. they sent me one for free, after I got the computer. I just told them I forgot that I needed one. I assume you are talking about Dell?

10 dollors more isn't really a big deal. Especially when no one really pays that 20 dollors for the disk.. from dell it's free.

 

No, it's HP I'm talking about.

 

it should be free...we paid for the license to use the software, including the right to install it as we see fit!

 

Is HP still including straight WinXP install CDs in that $19.99 package or are they just the infernal bloatware-infested recovery DVDs?

 

I don't know; I guess that's the million dollar question.

 

To HP/Compaq and Dell. I will never again by laptops from you guys. And that is just too bad.
Tim

 

I noticed that too. I have a DV9000T on order and I went for the reinstall disk. One thing I noticed is the old one ($10) was a CD, and this one ($20) is a DVD. So I'm guessing it not only includes the OS but all of the app software too. What I'm wondering (hoping) is that each component (drivers, os, apps) can be installed separately so we can pick and choose.

Most likey though it's just a reinstall everything back to factory (all bloatware included).

Anybody know this? I'll report when mine comes in, but that won't be until Sept 19 or so.

Zany

 

if that is the case, i will never buy this option from HP, Dell, Gateway...whomever. i'll just get one OEM copy and install it on each new notebook (that is when I upgrade)...thus saving me $$$ over the long term because I won't be buying overpriced XP Home -> XP Pro "upgrades" during the custom orders.

my next purchase, probably nc8430, will be CTO with FreeDOS installed...I have my own copy of Pro I'm using.

companies will also charge you more, hoping you will not get it and be stuck with all the bloatware...i'm sure that's what happened here. that DVD is little more than a recovery from HDD...which is useless for uninstalling bloatware.

 

couldn't I just do a backup of the computer when I get it and have the same kind of disc I would if I had paid the $20?

 

Well it depends if the recovery disk contains all the bloatware. The recovery disk you can make on your laptop contains all the bloatware. We will have to see when someone buys the recovery DVD.

I think it is VERY unethical for them to make a profit by selling the installation disk that should have been included for free with your laptop purchase.
Tim

 

So if I had my own Windows disk would I not need their recovery disk? I'm planning to by Windows anyway to reformat my old laptop for my daughter.

 

Yes, they ship with all the bloatware. I got mine for free after arguing with a half-dozen phone and chat support agents. Looking back, it would have been much easier to pay for the darn discs. I hope to never have to deal with HP/Compaq again.

 

Someone correct me if I am wrong, but I believe as long as you have the CD Key you should be able to do that. I am not sure if it is legal though.
Tim

 

Can you explain that a bit more? I'm not familiar with the term CD Key.

 

It's not illegal to install using other media, but the cd key on the bottom of your laptop will only work with an OEM installation CD... which means it won't work with a retail CD.

If you are worried about whether it is legal to use your own Windows license with other installation media, perhaps you deserve to be charged the fee.

 

Okay, this discussion about CD keys and OEM installation is above my head. Plain English please. Define OEM. Are you saying that it is illegal to buy a Windows CD and install it on a laptop I bought? That's confusing.

Can someone elaborate and explain this? If that were the case, Windows would have no reason to sell their CDs because it would then be illegal to load them. There must be something I'm missing.

 

Here is a definition of OEM software taken from http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Original_equipment_manufacturer

The CD key/product key is a set of numbers that is normally put on a sticker and applied to the bottom of your laptop.

To reinstall windows you would need to purchase the OEM CD (you can search ebay to find one). The next step is to place it in your CD drive and go through the installation steps. One of the steps is that you will need to enter in the CD/product key. You use the number that you found on the bottom of your laptop.

Hope that is easier to understand.
Tim

 

I just re-installed windows using the CD that I bought from Dell when I got my laptop ($10), but it did not ask me for any key.....

 

Okay, I understand a little bit more. Tell me if I'm understanding correctly.

1. It is illegal to purchase a retail version of Windows and put it on a laptop.
2. If I want to reinstall windows I need to look for an OEM version of windows and install that instead.
3. If I order the $19.99 disk from HP, I will have the OEM Windows, but also all the bloatware.

Is that it? Okay, then again I ask--If it's illegal to install the retail version of Windows, why is it sold? Who can use it legally since all laptops come preinstalled with Windows?

 

#1 is wrong, you can put a retail version on but why when you already have a licence that came with the laptop.

#2 I believe you have the option to create recovery disks yourself on either DVDs or CDs (Mine did). So the whole point of buying the 10$ CD was to get a clean windows install. Now you are spending 20$ for a DVD you can burn yourself.

 

Well, I was going to buy a discounted retail version mainly because I wanted to reformat an old laptop that I bought used. I'm not sure if there is a key on the bottom of the old laptop or not. And I figured if I was going to buy it anyway then I might as well use it to reformat the new computer.

If it's okay to use a retail CD, what are people refering to when they say something is illegal?

 

You can get a copy of a retail Windows installation CD and use your HP-supplied license key with it... if it lets you. There's no need to buy a redundant license. It would be illegal to use a pirated license key.

HP could, of course, save everyone a lot of grief if they included straight install discs with their $19.99 package. You're making building my next notebook with a MSI barebones more and more attractive HP.

 

So you're saying there is no guarantee that a copy of retail Windows would work with either my new laptop or my old laptop?

By "Pirated License Key" do you just mean illegally made copies of Windows? How do you know if it's pirated? Are the discount software sites legal or pirated?

 

Can anyone that has an HP verify whether or not a retail XP cd will work? I have a couple retail XP CDs here, and I really don't want to have to track down an OEM copy to rid myself of the HP bloatware on a clean install. Thanks a lot.

 

Yes a retail copy will install on the laptop ONLY with the origional key it came with. You can not use the licence on the bottom of your laptop with a retail copy because it will say it isn't valid. So either you can search for an OEM XP CD with no licence and get it for like 25ish or you can buy a complete new CD & licence and install that.

 

This is incorrect; a retail copy will not accept an OEM key, please stop spreading misinformation

 

To be fair, I don't think Biznatch was saying you could use an OEM key with a retail CD, just that a retail version could be loaded onto a laptop. Seems like he was just asking why I would buy a retail version when I already have a windows license with the laptop.

 

I just received my DV5000 with Windows ME DVD. I will try and re-install tomorrow and report back. I don't know if this applies to the systems you're talking about though, because mine was the $10 DVD.
The DV5020US I had a few months ago (and returned) came with two disks: one with a clean Windows installation, and one with all the bloatware (although there was a lot of good stuff on that one). I was expecting the same thing, but didn't happen. Does anyone know if I'll be able to install without bloatware?
If you use another clean disk to install, how do you install the unique HP drivers?

Thanks


Also:

Read the statement again - it was correct.
To paraphrase: You can pay for a normal Windown version...but this would be a waste of money if you already have an OEM installed with an OEM registration key.

 

It is definately possible as long as you have the clean OS disc. Read the Hp/Compaq Reinstallation guides sticked in the forum. There are 2 different ways to go about it. But since you have Win MCE, there might be additional issues. So read up on the MCE installation guide as well. In any case the drivers are located in C:/SWSetup folder. Make a backup copy of this and burn those recovery discs sicne they will allow you to get back to factoy state in case of any issues with your installation.

 

Thanks, but what I'm really wondering is if the DVD I received (and paid for!) with the computer is 'clean'. I suspect not, but the one with my previous computer was. Of course, I was not smart enough to burn a copy before returning it!

If its not a clean disk, you have to buy on off ebay, right? In this case, how can you be sure it will work. That is, does it just have to be any HP OEM disk, or what?

 

I'd bet it's not "clean" as well. HP describes it as capable of restoring the computer to its original state (or something to that effect), and I'm sure they wouldn't want to deprive you of the bounty of bloatware, should you have to reinstall.

 

I just found this on the HP site. This refers to the $10 disc provided with my DV5000T. I don't know if it will apply to the $20 discs or other models.
I found this by going to customize a DV5000T, scrolling down to the OS disc option, then clicking the link for more info.

I've added the bold, but otherwise a direct quote:

"Here is a solution to restore your Operating System in case of a technical issue. Feel at ease knowing that your Operating System backup solution is right next to you if you need it. Due to the new System Recovery feature located on a separate partition on the hard drive, it is STRONGLY recommended that recovery discs be created to insure that the system can be restored to its original, purchased state. The Windows(R) XP Media Center Edition Backup CD will ONLY install the Operating System."

Good news for me at least.

 

Greetings everyone!

I purchased a dv6000Z with the $10 disk about a month ago. I performed a clean re-installation of XP Pro with this disk and the SWsetup folder. I removed the recovery partition and reformatted to one big drive minus the Quickplay partition. XPpro never asked for the key .

I have since purchased a second HP laptop but this time a dv2000t because my wife has completely taken over the dv6000z.


HP dv2000t
* Intel(R) Core(TM) 2 Duo processor T7200 (2.00 GHz)
* 512MB DDR2 SDRAM (2x256MB)
* 80 GB 5400 RPM SATA Hard Drive
* LightScribe Super Multi 8X DVD+/-RW w/Double Layer
* 128MB NVIDIA(R) GeForce(R) Go 7200
* Intel(R) PRO/Wireless 3945ABG Network w/Bluetooth
* 14.1" WXGA BrightView Widescreen (1280x800)
* Genuine Windows XP Professional
* Microsoft(R) Works/Money
* HP Mobile Remote Control
* HP Sport Backpack
* 6 Cell Lithium Ion Battery
* HP IMPRINT Finish + Microphone + Webcam
* System Recovery DVD w/Windows XP Professional
* 1-yr Accidental Damage Protection & Express Repair


I ordered the 19.99 disk with this unit and the build date is September 14. Im worried this new disk is filled with bloat ware and recovery partition nonsense.

Can anyone tell me if I can use the $10 XPpro disk I received with the dv6000z to perform a clean re-installation of XP Pro on the new dv2000t when it arrives? or do you think the cd could be keyed to only one computer?

 

Please be sure to come let us know what's on that $19.99 disk. I refuse to buy it until others comment about what's on it. if it's full of bloatware I can just make my own recovery disks, correct?

 

Yes that is correct...
the computer comes with a program to make a "one time" backup of the original setup on to CD's or DVD. It will only make one copy.

 

You can only make one!?!?!

That has to be the most pathetic thing I've heard since "you can only change your DVD drive's region code four times"!

Why don't people just call HP and ask what's on the disc?

 

You can only make one copy from the HP program. You can however burn as many copys of the backup disks as u like once created.

 

Don't buy the discs - just create the recovery DVD's from the system when you first get it. My dv8000t needed FOUR DVD's to get it all on there - I assume that $19.99 gets you the full thing. Since it's four DVD's (or two DL-DVD's), that's probably why they charge you so much for it. The discs are meant to get you to "factory default" configuration. If you burn it yourself, it'll cost under $4, but takes some time to do (couple of hours or so).

If you want more than one copy, just make copies of your copy.

Thanks!

S.

 

Sorry, the doesn't make a whole lot of sense to me. If you really needed 4 DVD's to burn your backups, and the $20 disc is only 1 DVD, that would suggest to me that the $20 disc contains ONLY the OS. This is what people want - just the OS. I'm pretty sure the $10 disc that came with my DV5000T only has the OS (although I haven't reinstalled it yet), so it was worth the $10.

 

If only one disk comes with the $19.99 package, then I agree - this is wrong. I thought maybe all four DVD's (or 2 DVD's if on DL disks) came for $19.99. If the disk only comes with the OS, then it's a bit of a rip-off although "technically" you haven't paid for the media, in the eyes of the OEM. The boxed retail version of Windows XP Pro, for example, at $300 a pop includes the cost of the media in there. When an OEM purchases bulk licenses from Microsoft for, say, $100 each, that doesn't include the media. Since you are requesting media, which they don't normally ship, they are making some profit on it, but as less and less people ask for it, the costs do go up.

Also, I think HP, and other manufacturers, are trying to convince people to make their own recovery disks of the default config. This would also explain why they'd push the price up so that you won't want the recovery disks.

The solution? Install Linux

Thanks!

S.