Is this ok? What do you think?

[FoolishTech]

All the major OEM used bios locked disks. Never seen one that didn't except Whitebox cloners.

Uhh.... Have you worked on anything but a Dell before?

Been in the biz since 97ish and never seen anyone but Dell lock a vanilla disk to the BIOS. Have you ever worked on HP, Compaq, Gateway, eMachines, Lenovo, Acer, etc. etc. etc.? Sure, they all now use partitions on the HDD, but back when they came with disks that weren't 'recovery media' with all the bloatware, they were vanilla OEM and they were NOT BIOS locked.

In fact, even Dell media isn't 'BIOS locked' so much as you think. You can use any Dell Windows disk to install on ANY PC. The only difference is if there isn't a Dell BIOS it disregards the SLP key and you have to actually enter in the key on the side of the case.

Like I said I've been mostly out of 'the game' for the last 2 years having turned most of my efforts to coding, so things may have changed RECENTLY, and if so accept my digression, but don't hand me that garbage about how you've never seen such and such. I know damn well you've been in the game longer than the last few years I've missed being in a busy mainstream shop.

Oh, and yes we all know what an SLP key is. Thank you for that

 

[nlinecomputers]

Have you read anything I posted? I've already said that Dell disks will install on other systems. I've also got a Dell xp sp1 disk that ONLY installs on dell. Over the years Dell has done both. So has HP.

You obviously not reading what I am posting so there no point in replying further to you. PLONK

 

[FoolishTech]

Have you read anything I posted? I've already said that Dell disks will install on other systems. I've also got a Dell xp sp1 disk that ONLY installs on dell. Over the years Dell has done both. So has HP.

You obviously not reading what I am posting so there no point in replying further to you. PLONK

Sorry, I didn't read *everything* you posted, I quit reading after the BS.

 

[mikeroq]

Sorry, I didn't read *everything* you posted, I quit reading after the BS.

I love foolishtech and yeoldstonecat

If you are using system builder copies of windows, you must give the customer the install disc. This is their "recovery media". But you are authorized by microsoft to create a recovery partition, but not recovery discs. AFAIK

The full version of the Windows operating system is included in the system builder pack via the hologram CD,
and acts as recovery media.
• This hologram CD must be transferred to the end-user at the time of delivery. The system builder license prohibits the replication
of Microsoft software, therefore replicating your own recovery CDs and selling them with the systems you build is not allowed
under the system builder license.
• System builders can offer hard-disk recovery solutions.
• System builders may use the Windows Preinstallation Environment (Windows PE) or use the software of a third-party to help
create a hard-disk recovery solution.

 

[hightechrex]

I don't think I've ever seen a laptop or desktop with a "bios locked" disc. I've seen locked BIOS, but a bios restricted disc?

 

[nlinecomputers]

I don't think I've ever seen a laptop or desktop with a "bios locked" disc. I've seen locked BIOS, but a bios restricted disc?

Bios locked is a bad term. Bios responsive maybe?

The point is the OEMs can ship with a disk that will not prompt you for the serial number if the bios code matches what the disk expects. Back when Xp first came out with no service pack and I think on some service pack 1 versions they would not load on anything but the bios they were designed for. I have a old Dell disk somewhere that does that. Will only load XP on a Dell. Now they will prompt if the BIOS doesn't match. Dell is about the only company that uses this method. Most use the factory image disks. But almost all the companies have them if you request them. And many business series system ship with them. I've got an HP disk and a Gateway disk somewhere. I buy Equus systems and they all function that way. No images. All are bootable SLP disks that see it is a Noblis/Equus brand and skips the key prompt.

 

[ohio_grad_06]

For vista business and windows 7 systems maybe you'd be better off partitioning part of their drive if doing a reformat, and then use the windows backup software included in the versions I mentioned to create an image, then simply create a windows repair disc for them in control panel, give them that, and tell them to boot from that and restore the image you created.

 

[Tony_Scarpelli]

We have copies of OEM's and Branded recovery disks and if a Client needs one we give them one.

 

[brandonkick]

I've had a couple dell disks that would install and activate on anything you put them in, and I've also had ones that as stated before will only work on the appropriate machine.

I've seen HP machines that "tattoo" the motherboard with an H/W BOM number that the recovery media had to match in order to run.

I'm not 100% sure if it's illegal or not.

I don't think your authorized to give a client a copy of YOUR OEM disk even if they have the same computer that came with the same set of disks.

It's stupid, but I believe in the eyes of the law that if you and I both own the same DVD movie I'm still not allowed to make a copy of mine and give it to you. Even if you still have yours and yours still works. You are allowed to make a backup copy of a dvd you own for archival purposes, as long as you still possess the original.

SO, this logic would have me believe that infact you cannot do what is being asked here.

I probably wouldn't do it anyways, because you have no idea how much or how little the "customer" knows. I wouldn't want to be responsible for "my disks" causing the customer to lose their data or "break" their machines.