HP and Operating System CDs

Is it true that they don't give you a CD of the OS when they ship it to you? I heard this from a friend who tried to do a clean install, except all they could do was to make "recovery" CDs, with all the bloatware on it. In addition, the computer did not come with a registration number for XP either. He tried ordering the CDs online, except they were "out of stock". Is this an isolated case?

More specifically, does the dv4000 come with a clean install disk of Windows XP and the registration number for the OS?

 

i got a cd i didnt look at what it was, but isnt the xp serial numb on the bottom of your notebook pc? its that sticker isnt that the numb? I didnt open any of my cds its all in the box

 

All HP's laptops supposedly come with a Windows cd and a Drivers cd. The Product key is beneath the laptop. The only scenario I heard not having a windows cd is Dell.

 

i didnt have windows XP Cd nor Drivers CD when I purchased my Sony Vaio FS640/w notebook from circuitcity. I was told that notebooks dont come with original Win XP CD and for future re-installs of the notebook i had to do an Image Disk of my hard drive saving the operation system and all Sony programs and drivers which come included when purchased.
Does and HP notebook really comes with original disk of Win XP?

 

i dont think its original but heres what my cd saids

Operating System CD
Microsoft Windows XP Pro SP 2
Contains software and drivers already installed, for software reinstallaion and repair only

For distrubtion only with a new HP or compac computer

 

all HP/Compaq notebooks ought to have an installation disk for the OS. It is a slighly modified version (wallpapers, themes...OS "enhancements") but it is 100% original and operational. After all you cannot configure a notebook without Windows, right? I think MSI offers notebooks without OS, which I would prefer since I already have several OS disks.

 

As of December 2005, my V2000z came with Windows XP CD and drivers.

I ordered another V2000z last week, will let you know when I receive the laptop, if it comes with Windows XP CD.

 

the cd is the black/white one right? i should take a pic of it =) i didnt open any of my cds their all still in the package cause i dont know what their used for i got like 4-5 cds

 

When I got my notebook two months ago, I came with two discs. Here is what is on the discs word-for-word:

1.)
Application and Driver Recovery DVD

2.)
Operating System CD
Microsoft Windows XP Home Edition
Service Pack 2

'Nuff Said.

P.S. Although on the Recovery DVD, Norton does NOT come preloaded. Thank you HP!

 

here are my 6 cds =)
Operating System CD Pro SP 2
AOL
Application + Driver Recovery DVD
Microsoft Works 8 + Money, hey look therse a serial numb on it lol
HP Notebook Series User Guides
HP Image Zone Plus v 4.5

those those are my cds =)

 

HP is godly with it's OS reinstall CDs. HP and Compaq laptops come with 2 discs. The first is an OEM version of Windows XP Home/Pro with the CD-key hard coded(no junk). The second disk comes with a VERY savvy app that will let you install the drivers and applications YOU want to install with minimal effort (it's mostly unatteneded, no clicks required).

No worries on OS reinstall discs. HP values your time and doesn't have a crappy re-install partition or "recovery disc" like some OEMs out there. *cough*Dell*cough*. :hp:

 

Wait wait wait... But can I set up custom partitions with the Windows XP installation CD that comes with HP laptops? IE: Instead of installing Windows to the entire hard drive, tell it to use only 80% and leave the remaining 20%? I didn't think they let you do this. That would be great, would make installation of Debian GNU/Linux that much easier.

Of course the installer in Debian lets you resize NTFS partitions (from the installation guide)... But it'd still be easier if I could build the partition tables myself in the XP installation.

 

I just got a Compaq V2410CA come with recovery disc, thus it means that in case there are something wrong with the OS, I can use the recovery disc for repair?
Is it still necessary to backup my HD by using third party software ?
Thanks for advices.

 

Yes, the recovery discs providd by HP is just like any retail Win XP disc, except it comes with an OEM license.

Yes, you can use the repair function on the OS disc but having said that it is also a good idea to backup since in the event of a reformat the discs will delete everything and do a fresh install of the OS. In this case you will lose your documents/files. So having a backup is handy in such cases.

 

As promised guys...

I just received my 2nd V2000Z last Friday. Yes, it still comes with Windows XP CD and the drivers CD.

I haven't checked all, but some of the drivers/apps in drivers CD are newer than what is in the SWSetup folder.

 

Even though the Windows XP OS installation CD HP included with my zx5078cl was OEM and included HP's help and support information and other HP modifications to Windows XP, I was able to create a XP SP2 installation CD from it. Following information posted at Tom's Hardware, I slipstreamed the XP SP2 patch into my HP OEM XP OS CD. After formatting and installing a new harddrive recently, my homemade slipstreamed installation CD installs XP with an OEM keycode but does NOT install any HP modifications to XP. This is just what I wanted... I let Windows Update install everything it wanted to, then I went to HP's support to download just a couple of drivers.

If I could only find a way to totally reclaim the ATI Mobility Radeon 9200 video card from HP's control... I would love to be able to use ATI drivers and not HP's one year old drivers. Omega has been helpful.

Jeremy

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