Hi, HP have also done a similar thing on their desktops and laptops for ages. In this case, the hidden partition is used for recovery, and you have to purchase recovery CDs. Its quite a good idea backing up the recovery disks to DVDs on machines with a DVD writer, however. Can anyone remember the old days where we had to use endless backup disks to create reinstall didks on some systems? Thanks. Andrew. -----Original Message----- From: access-uk@xxxxxxxxxxxxx [mailto:access-uk@xxxxxxxxxxxxx] On Behalf Of Clive Pallett Sent: 20 July 2005 14:49 To: Access-UK Subject: [access-uk] New computers without backup software discs Hello everyone, Recently I purchased a Sony Vaio laptop for my wife, advertised on recycle-it. This was sold on behalf of someone who had purchased it just over two months ago from their local Dixons shop. When it arrived, we couldn't understand why there were no software discs included. I phoned our local dixons and was told this is now the case with new laptops. The C: drive is partitioned into C: and D:, the latter used for making backups. There is a hidden partition used for recovery in case of a system crash. when you first boot up there is a flashing message prompting you to make a system backup on read-only CDs or DVDs. the idea of the recovery on the hard drive saves you having to take discs with you when travelling. Has anyone else had experience of this? Best wishes, Clive pallett ** To leave the list, click on the immediately-following link:- ** [mailto:access-uk-request@xxxxxxxxxxxxx?subject=unsubscribe] ** If this link doesn't work then send a message to: ** access-uk-request@xxxxxxxxxxxxx ** and in the Subject line type ** unsubscribe ** For other list commands such as vacation mode, click on the ** immediately-following link:- ** [mailto:access-uk-request@xxxxxxxxxxxxx?subject=faq] ** or send a message, to ** access-uk-request@xxxxxxxxxxxxx with the Subject:- faq ** To leave the list, click on the immediately-following link:- ** [mailto:access-uk-request@xxxxxxxxxxxxx?subject=unsubscribe] ** If this link doesn't work then send a message to: ** access-uk-request@xxxxxxxxxxxxx ** and in the Subject line type ** unsubscribe ** For other list commands such as vacation mode, click on the ** immediately-following link:- ** [mailto:access-uk-request@xxxxxxxxxxxxx?subject=faq] ** or send a message, to ** access-uk-request@xxxxxxxxxxxxx with the Subject:- faq