Archived from groups: microsoft.public.windowsxp.perform_maintain (
More info?)
On Tue, 14 Dec 2004 14:33:03 -0800, "Joshiaparra"
>Most computers (like HP's) come with a hidden partition on the harddrive
>where you can reinstall windows. Contact your manufacturer.
The (like HPs) is the crucial info.
The norm you want is to provide a fully custom-installable
installation CD. This is the standard in the warez world, so a
"genuine" license offering less is offering negative value.
However, some big-volume OEMs screw the user out of this happy norm,
in various ways. They worst will either force the factory
partitioning and installation, destroying everything on the HD (no
option to do a "repair install") or give you no CD at all, forcing you
to hope your HD survives (as seemingly in your case).
The slightly less awful with have the same force-factory-defaults
"recovery" CD, but one that will at least respect your partitioning.
So if you do (say) get BING to resize C: to less than all of HD, and
store your data off C:, you can at least protect your data.
I think it's a very poor show that MS colludes with these licensing
rip-offs, while sanctimoneously telling users they need a "genuine"
license for better value. These user-hostile OEM licenses suit both
MS (curbs piracy) and the OEM ("support" is simplified to "nothing we
can do, you have to wipe and re-install, and lose everything in the
process"). Only the user gets shafted. MS should care, but doesn't.
All you can do, is shop smarter next time.
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The rights you save may be your own
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