Any way to buy HP and get an operating system disk?

Hello,
I have always bought Dells but am leaning more towards HP and am baffled by the fact that the CSR says I cannot get a laptop with an operating system disk for use with the laptop I am purchasing. I would gladly pay a fee for the disk as I have when I have purchased my Dells.
Is there any way (other than just purchasing the operating system outside of the the HP purchase) to have HP include a oem disk with my purchase?

 

Nope. You can only get a factory image of the HDD which includes the OS, drivers and other software(bloat) that they pre-install on your HDD.

I had to buy an OEM edition of Vista to do a clean install on all my systems. Only 1 OEM disk was needed if you use the Activation backup and restore program as described in the Sticky thread in this section titled to the effect of "how to do a clean install with no activation."

 

If you configure HP's business notebooks, you can specify an OS DVD, which is an OEM clean install pre-activated disc. Additionally, most if not all retail preconfigured commercial notebooks come with these DVDs included.

 

I think it depends on the region, where you buy the PC. Here in Canada, the difference between a Business Notebook and a Consumer notebook, if u buy it from a major retailer like Staples, Best Buy, etc, is that Business notebooks come with Recovery DVD's, consumer ones dont; you have to make them.

 

Thanks for the idea, I called them and was really surprised how much more expensive the laptops are in the business end of HP. I guess my only real option is to purchase an OEM disk.

This seems like a waste to purchase a license to something that I have a legal license for. I feel like I would be getting more bang for my buck with an HP laptop so I guess I have to accept the downsides to that.

 

I don't think you have to purchase a new license only replacement media, try this link:

https://om.one.microsoft.com/opa/Va...c9dfbad47d0&LocaleCode=en-us&JavaScriptOn=yes

I ordered replacement media for my oem vista business dvd that got mangled in a faulty dvd-drive.

 

That was surprising. I get a copy of O/S when I buy a new notebook. Seems like guys there needs to get paid before they do anything.

 

Just so there's no confusion, if you buy a consumer HP notebook (i.e. Pavillion or HDX), they do not come with OS discs. What they come with is software on the HDD that allows you to make recovery media (CD/DVD). The recovery media is a factory image of your HDD with all the software including OS that came preinstalled. And HP only sells you the recovery discs but not OEM version of the OS.

 

"And HP only sells you the recovery discs but not OEM version of the OS."

Which is all you need if you are looking for recovery options for that laptop.

As far as getting the O/S, you can download any version if you are resourceful enough, and purchase an OEM licence, or purchase a OEM disc which will come with same.

 

The license code in the bottom of the laptop is a valid OEM license. All needed is an OS install disk, not even necessarily the same type.

Since Vista came out, one OS install disc is enough. The code you enter during installation defines what version you have. Basic, Professional, Home Premium or Ultimate, even OEM or Retail installs from same disc.

What you cant have from one disc, is 32 or 64bit and different languages.

As far as I know, Windows 7 is same. One disc to rul...install them all... eh

I think legislation differs in countries. Somewhere it doesn't really matter if you install from downloaded media or from friend's dvd. Some other aren't allowed to do so. Personally I've used any media necessary to get the job done, since after installation there's no way to tell if it was installed from original or burned disc

 

This guy speaks the truth. You already have a licence with the Certificate of Authenticity, so why not just find a friend with an install disc or download the retail/untouched version from the web? I think you might also order one from microsoft without a license. Its like $15 bucks or so - called Windows Anytime Upgrade.

Well anyway, just giving you some food for thought.

 

BWW…..
the points that both 2.0 and KLF have made are exactly correct.

1. Borrow and make a copy of either an OEM or Retail disk. It doesn’t matter if the disk you borrow is OEM or Retail as long the installation you choose matches the version (Home Basic, Home Premium, Ultimate…etc) that was originally installed on your unit… regardless of if it’s 32 or 64bit.
2. You can then use either the license key on the underside of your new notebook to register the software after a fresh OS install and deal with Microsoft or
3. Run the "Backup" function of the ABR program prior to the fresh OS install and let it backup the OEM license key and activation codes for you. It’s a little program you can run from a thumb drive and is very easy to use. Once your fresh OS install is complete, simply run the "Restore" function of ABR and you're done.

Example:
If your unit was originally installed with Vista Home Premium 32, you can use the key on your unit or the “restore” function of ABR to restore the OEM key and activation codes you previously extracted to re-activate a fresh installation of either Vista Home Premium 32 or Vista Home Premium 64. You can not however use either method to upgrade or downgrade to a different version (i.e. in this case Home Basic or Ultimate) but you can change bit rates (32 or 64).

The ABR program is a great little tool and as long as you keep the original ABR backup files, it’s all you need to do a fresh OS install. The point here is that with just a little bit of effort you do not need to purchase a new license or disk, beg the manufacturer for one, be forced to explain to Microsoft what you have installed or why, or use the crap "recovery" functions (partitions or disks) provided by the manufactuer. It’s also completely legal and works for any manufactures units because you are simply using the license that you already paid for.

They only drawback with ABR is that, for now at least, the program only works for Vista and (as stated on the ABR page) has not been tested with Windows 7. If you are purchasing a new notebook now and it comes with Vista then… problem solved.... and you get Windows 7 for free when it is released. If however, you wait a few more weeks and get a unit delivered with Windows 7…. resolution unknown.

Activation Backup & Restore (ABR)
http://directedge.us/content/abr-activation-backup-and-restore


Hope that helps.....

 

Its a $19.00 option from HP. You will find that 99% of all new computers do not come with OS discs anymore. You have to make you're own from the partition.

 

Makes sense. since most people misplace them. Some people can't even remember where they put their keys....

 

4. Install normally w/o key, then enter certificate+key manually ( http://forum.notebookreview.com/showthread.php?t=119587 Section 4) or use special software tool to enter them automatically. Works for Win7 too but can be used for illegitimate purposes also.

 

KLF.... Thanks....Good catch and addition !!

Opti.... I think you understand this, but the $19 dollar option from HP is for a "Recovery" disk.... not the OS install disk. Like a lot of folks (including me), he would prefer to have the clean OEM OS install disks instead of the "Recovery" disk or partition. You can not make an OS install disk from the recovery partition. The only thing you can make from the recovery partition are "Recovery" disks that restore the units software to its original delivery state.... with all the crap included.

 

Thanks, this is exactly what I will do, problem solved, and now I will not feel I am paying for something I am not getting.