What if I just can't get installation media with my new machine?

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You can download cracked windows iso and make a CD. Because you have your license key on your computer case, just type it after instaliation. Siple and i think its leagal because you have a license. Just be shure to get same version of windows as your license is.

Hi Leo

In the event of a complete hard drive failure & having to rely on your 'Full disk image backup', just how do you go about restoring that image back onto your new drive?

Does that 'Imaged CD' boot just like a normal install disk, except that all programs, files, utilities etc are already there once the 'install' is complete?

I understand the creation of the 'image backup', but not quite what you do with it in the event of a failure, or needing to rely on it in any way.

Is it just a case of pop the cd in the drive & boot from it, or am I missing a vital part?

I am a professional PC consultant, and I buy many desktops and laptops for my clients exclusively from Dell for over 13 years. To be fair to Dell, every PC that I have purchased from them throughout the years have always come with the full Windows installation CD/DVD and separate CDs for all the drivers and software that was installed on that particular PC. I have bought many models from Dell lately, and there is no additional charge for these CDs or DVDs. You don't even have to request them, Dell ships them with every PC. The Windows CD/DVD is a full installation version and not a recovery CD/DVD. I like that. Other manufacturers may be cheap and do not supply these very important medias, but Dell definitely does supply them free without the customer asking for it. That is why I buy from them exclusively.

There is actually a method of creating an XP disc from the i386. Perfectly legal, don't need to risk cracked ISO's. But Vista owners are stuffed, as I'm pretty sure it doesn't have one.

At this moment both Samsung (who make excellent pcs) and Fujitsu Siemens are both shipping pcs with full installation disks.

I am an IT Manager and i will only purchase pcs that contain install cds as a matter of principle.

One concern I had with the reader's question is that even if he does successfully create an image of his current system, he appears to want to transfer this to a new PC in the near future. This could be disastrous to the new PC as it would likely wipe out any drivers or other special utilities, apps, etc., that came with the new PC.

One of the things to remember about making full image copies, if you use full disk encryption (getting more and more popular on laptops), the current generation of image making software doesn't work (at least all the ones I've tried failed).

The regular supply of installation disks may be routine in the US but it is certainly not the case in the UK. I have had new computers from Dell, Gateway and HP and have never received a full installation disk. The only time I received one was when I had a custom PC made up for myself from a specialist company and specified in the requirements.

The 5 Windows Versions
*** only the Retail Full Version allows you to move Windows from one PC to another !!

Full - also called Retail Full version - most expensive, can be transferred to another machine, so long as it is uninstalled from the old machine. If you lie and do not uninstall it - then the old machine will run, but will act as any other machine running a pirated version (i.e. it will not validate with WGA and will only be allowed to receive critical updates). CAN MOVE FROM MACHINE TO MACHINE (just make sure you uninstall then reinstall, and re-activate. You may need to call Microsoft for re-activation)!!

Upgrade - also called Retail Upgrade version - much less than Full - and usually just a tad more than OEM unbranded. The setup.exe will not run from DOS, but all you have to do is boot from the CD, start installing, and when XP says that it doesn't detect an operating system and to please insert an OS disk, put in your Win98 disk. CANNOT MOVE FROM MACHINE TO MACHINE and CANNOT Replace/Update CPU or Motherboard (will fail validation when running Windows update) !!

OEM Branded - comes installed with a new PC (branded OEM). Functionally identical to unbranded OEM. Can only be installed on ONE MACHINE. After that, even if you have a fire or a complete system failure and need to get a new machine . . . you will have to but a new copy of Windows XP. OEM = One Machine. CANNOT MOVE FROM MACHINE TO MACHINE and CANNOT Replace/Update CPU or Motherboard (will fail validation when running Windows update) !!

OEM UnBranded - bought separately (not with a PC). Functionally identical to branded OEM. Can only be installed on ONE MACHINE. After that, even if you have a fire or a complete system failure and need to get a new machine . . . you will have to but a new copy of Windows XP. OEM = OnE Machine CANNOT MOVE FROM MACHINE TO MACHINE and CANNOT Replace/Update CPU or Motherboard (will fail validation when running Windows update) !!

Recovery CD - comes with new PC, and contains an "image" of the hard drive, including Windows XP and all the software drivers and utilities that come with the PC. Very restrictive because you need to wipe out the entire drive, then the image is refreshed. Cannot be used when the system asks you to "insert the Windows XP CD". Cannot be used to refresh certain XP files that are missing or corrupted, unless you blow everything away and start over. A terrible idea and a terrible way to go !!! CANNOT MOVE FROM MACHINE TO MACHINE and CANNOT Replace/Update CPU or Motherboard (will fail validation when running Windows update) !!

If I want to reformat my hard drive to clean it up, what happens when I reinstall a full image backup? Won't the machine immediately slow down and be all full of rot again? What is the advantage to reformatting if I'm just reinstalling the same files?

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