No recovery disks..hard drive dead

[anth]

In the last week or so I have a had three computers with this situation. Two laptops a Sony and a HP, and one desktop HP Compaq.

Customer does not have the recovery disks.

Dead hard drives, I'm sure that the recovery partitions are there, just can't get to them because the hard drives are completely dead meaning they will not power up or spin up.

I'd like to get some advice as to what you guys are doing in this situation, are you ordering the disks from the manufacturer or from another site that supplies recovery disks?

Seems kind of costly and time consuming to order the disks..was wondering if there a faster way..more of a blanket method of reinstalling the OS without the recovery disks.

 

[Knightsman]

Honestly, its best to figure this out on your own. And no im not being a jerk.

The best we can say.
The best, and legal way to do this is to go to the manufactors website and order the recovery disks.


You need to research OEM media.

 

[mraikes]

Usually I replace the drive, reinstall appropriate Windows OS (from my library of disks), download missing drivers from manufacturer's website or other source,

Occasionally I've ordered recovery disks from restoredisks.com. Less often from manufacturers themselves.

 

[StauntonComputerRepair]

Your best bet is to order the recovery disks. You never want to be in the grey area when it comes to the law. They have large rewards for turning in people and organisations for unlicensed software. Check out bsa.org for more info.

 

[MobileTechie]

I just use the key off the back of the machine with the appropriate Windows disk like most people.

 

[mraikes]

Your best bet is to order the recovery disks. You never want to be in the grey area when it comes to the law. They have large rewards for turning in people and organisations for unlicensed software. Check out bsa.org for more info.
http://www.stauntoncomputerrepair.com

No one's talking about unlicensed software. The question was what to do if no recovery disks or recovery partition.

 

[Knightsman]

No one's talking about unlicensed software. The question was what to do if no recovery disks or recovery partition.

He deosnt really mean unlicensed, he means that Using OEM media to fix a dell, hp, toshiba, etc is against Microsofts EULA. Which low life people will report you for using.

 

[MobileTechie]

Can anyone produce a verifyable case of anyone ever being prosecuted for installing Windows back onto a machine with a valid COA sticker by using a standard OEM or Retail disk? I'd be surprised. 90% of shops and people are doing this all the time.

 

[StauntonComputerRepair]

Thanks, Knightsman. I should have clarified that a little better.

 

[anth]

Can anyone produce a verifyable case of anyone ever being prosecuted for installing Windows back onto a machine with a valid COA sticker by using a standard OEM or Retail disk? I'd be surprised. 90% of shops and people are doing this all the time.

I agree, but I also think this where you have walk on egg shells..so to speak. I wonder if all the other restore disks for the other manufactures are like the Dell.

For example Dell you can use the same restore disks for any other Dell computer as long as you have the COA label and the right OS.

 

[Knightsman]

Can anyone produce a verifyable case of anyone ever being prosecuted for installing Windows back onto a machine with a valid COA sticker by using a standard OEM or Retail disk? I'd be surprised. 90% of shops and people are doing this all the time.

Thats not the point my friend. Everyone one here understands this.

But we cant "promote this" without feeling microsofts bad breath down our neck.

 

[MobileTechie]

I agree, but I also think this where you have walk on egg shells..so to speak. I wonder if all the other restore disks for the other manufactures are like the Dell.

For example Dell you can use the same restore disks for any other Dell computer as long as you have the COA label and the right OS.

Well Dell produce Dell OEM installation disks, like the green Dell XP Pro disk for example. That can be used on any machine with the Dell BIOS string. it's not a restore disk it's just a modified, semi automated XP install disk

 

[anth]

My question would be just to clarify, if I purchased restore disks from Sony and HP for either XP, Vista, or 7 could I use those restore disks to reinstall the appropriate OS on any Sony computer or any HP computer, verifying that the correct COA label is present for the particular OS.

My goal is to build a library of these disks to coincide with each manufacturer and each OS, the Dell recovery disks install the base operating system with out any of the drivers particular for the computer, it's up to you to find the drivers and install them

 

[Xander]

One thing I often do is, when they're bringing their systems to me, I tell them to bring "any CDs that came with it originally." I started this when it was harder to find drivers but it's mostly habit now and, from time to time, they've brought me restore discs and I've made copies.

Good way to build up a library.

 

[Martyn]

One thing I often do is, when they're bringing their systems to me, I tell them to bring "any CDs that came with it originally." I started this when it was harder to find drivers but it's mostly habit now and, from time to time, they've brought me restore discs and I've made copies.

Good way to build up a library.

Another good idea

 

[Knightsman]

Well Dell produce Dell OEM installation disks, like the green Dell XP Pro disk for example. That can be used on any machine with the Dell BIOS string. it's not a restore disk it's just a modified, semi automated XP install disk

Not true, call dell and ask them if you can do this. Their answer will be no.

"dell recommends ordering recovery disk for every system that windows is installed, or reinstalled on".

Same goes for all other companies. Like I said before, we get what your saying dude. Everyone does, but we cant say thats the way to do it because we dont want big M breathing down our necks.


Whats funny to me is people speak highly of keeping the licensing of malwarebyes, SAS, and the likes but when it comes to this issue, its like no big deal. It is a big deal and we shouldnt promote the use of copied OEM disk to restore a computer. Whether or not we do it ourselves.

 

[anth]

Not true, call dell and ask them if you can do this. Their answer will be no.

"dell recommends ordering recovery disk for every system that windows is installed, or reinstalled on".

Same goes for all other companies. Like I said before, we get what your saying dude. Everyone does, but we cant say thats the way to do it because we dont want big M breathing down our necks.


Whats funny to me is people speak highly of keeping the licensing of malwarebyes, SAS, and the likes but when it comes to this issue, its like no big deal. It is a big deal and we shouldnt promote the use of copied OEM disk to restore a computer. Whether or not we do it ourselves.

I would have to disagree, I called Microsoft..I purchased several Dell desktops that were in good working condition but needed OS reinstalled.

I only had one recovery disk. I asked Microsoft over the phone if I could make a copy of the recovery disks to send along with the computer that I sold, they told me as long as the COA label was there and readable and I also sent along a hard copy of the XP license agreement I could make a copy for my customers.

 

[Knightsman]

I would have to disagree, I called Microsoft..I purchased several Dell desktops that were in good working condition but needed OS reinstalled.

I only had one recovery disk. I asked Microsoft over the phone if I could make a copy of the recovery disks to send along with the computer that I sold, they told me as long as the COA label was there and readable and I also sent along a hard copy of the XP license agreement I could make a copy for my customers.

Disagree all you want, Call Dell and ask them. And, im sorry I doubt Microsoft said you can make a copy of your OEM disk, to give to a customer. That just doesnt sound right to me. Recovery media on the other hand, I dont know. This is exactly why you cant sell recovery disks on E-bay, or online without Microsoft being a bitch.

 

[anth]

It is the truth...I would not have done it if I did not get the OK from Microsoft, of course Dell would want you to purchase the disks.

You can purchase restore disks here:

restoredisks.com/

 

[Ccomp5950]

Whats funny to me is people speak highly of keeping the licensing of malwarebyes, SAS, and the likes but when it comes to this issue, its like no big deal.

Might have something to do with the asinine licensing Microsoft uses perhaps?

If I use a copy of an archived backup copy of an original Microsoft disk to install the software on an OEM computer that has a valid license on the side I should not have any problem doing so. The idea that it's in Microsoft's license that you can't do so is ridiculous.

I'll speak with one of the patent and copyright lawyers who are my clients about this and how easily it would be to push fair use as a defense.

(Marshall Texas just happens to be the rocket docket and is where most patent cases come in the world since our docket favors the prosecution most)