I've seen this with just about everything but Dell. Just bought a new
laptop for the office and it came with a restore CD. I do think they
keep an image on the computer as well, but I think this is more for
instant repair of system problems.
I *always image the system once its set up anyway. Makes life so much
easier if there is a problem later.
Back in the day, and you probably did this too, I used to xcopy
everything to a partition on the HD and install from there. With Win
95/98 it was much easier to install software, or run file utilities.
This way you didn't have to pull out the CD every time you wanted to
check system files, or for that matter do a reinstall. Also, the
installation was mucho faster. But then the entire system was less than
100MB if I remember right.
On 12/30/2005 8:57 AM, Russ Blakeman duly noted:
Most machines now out of the box have the restore partition, some have a program to make your own restore or XP cd from an image - a lot like the 286 and 386 era when they (mostly Packard Bell then) told you to run a batch file with 12 or so floppies to make a restore set before getting into use of the machine - no one ever did or they lost/damaged the floppies and were unable to restore anyway.
Even some white box builders are imaging the OS int he partition and including a CD burner and putting a sticker on that you have to have X number of 700 mb CDR disks to make a restoration set. I think if it has a valid COA, printed EULA and you paid for the machine with an OS that a factory MS CD is in order to be included, plus installation CDs for the bundled software
-----Original Message----- *From:* computertalkshop-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx [mailto:computertalkshop-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx]*On Behalf Of *Hal *Sent:* Friday, December 30, 2005 5:22 AM *To:* computertalkshop@xxxxxxxxxxxxx *Subject:* [CTS] Re: dell laptop reload question
This is not a Dell issue. Win XP hides system files by default. I think what he was talking about was a hidden partition with an image file of the entire system on it. Some companies, like HP for example, are too cheap to give you a restore CD, but instead put it on the HD. I've never seen Dell do this. If or when the HD goes out, you're SOL unless you have a copy of Windows to install on the computer.
I've never dealt with this, but you can unhide the partition and
burn that to a CD if you have one of these computers. The only
time I work with assembly line computers is at work. I haven't
bought one for myself since 1964... :-D No, really since the early/mid ninties, and I don't see a reason
to ever do that again.
Something I am looking forward to is Mac running on Intel. The word is, they will embed a chip in their MBs so that you cannot install Mac on an ordinary PC, but I know someone will hack that. I'd love to have a new Mac, but refuse to lay out the money they want (read steal) for it. I'm talking about a high-end $5000.00 job.
Hal
On 12/29/2005 11:01 PM, CRAZYDOVE@xxxxxxx duly noted:
Hal..my first laptop is a Dell..and when I started doing
explorations into it..I found that in Explorer, most of the
system files were hidden. I had to and still have to check to
make sure they aren't hidden, such as when I do a search for a
file..I have to make sure it checks hidden files. I guess Dell
sets it up thinking we're all newbies when we get our laptops..or
sumthin'. LOL
Jackie
In a message dated 12/29/2005 7:41:36 PM Eastern Standard Time,
hdbrown@xxxxxxxxx writes:
I've never seen a 'hidden' folder on a Dell. You do not have
to format the HD before installing Win XP. It will be
formated during the installation. Strongly suggest you format
it using NTFS.
--
Hal Brown email: hdbrown@xxxxxxxxx
Home: 937.864.7523
Work: 937.286.4941
http://daytonlodge147.org
-- Hal Brown email: hdbrown@xxxxxxxxx Home: 937.864.7523 Work: 937.286.4941 http://daytonlodge147.org
