no more restoration CD's?

[collieman]

I heard that Compaq, E-Machines, HP etc. don't include "restoration CD's" with their computers anymore. Is this true? Thanks, Collieman

[HAL9000]

Well... just worked on an e-Machine and ran the restore CD. Had an HP demo in my shop for a while, also with a restore CD. HP and Compaq have merged, so I don't see why they wouldn't include one either.

[GaryRouth]

Hi Collieman (& Hi Hal)

Emachines is still advertising that it's including a Restore CD over at it's website, so is HP (and Compaq is part of HP now, like Hal mentioned). Where did you hear the rumor? I imagine it's just that: a rumor.
. . . Gary

[Force Flow]

As far as I know, they still all come with restoration CD's. What they don't come with sometimes are the O/S CD's. Or, if they do come, they're specifically for the machine they were sent with so you can't "borrow" it.

[collieman]

I was asked to build a computer by my wife's friend, but didn't want the hassle of keeping her computer running in tip-top shape so I suggested she get a computer that has a recovery system from Staples or Circiuit City. "They" told her that Compaq, HP E-Machines etc. don't include recovery CD's any longer. I found that hard to believe. Thanks guys for setting me/us straight. Collieman

[Miz]

Compaqs no longer provide "Quick Restore" CDs, they supply only "Recovery" CDs. The difference is that the QR disks have everything needed to install the OS (and Compaq's proprietary stuff, of course) while the Recovery CD only accesses the hidden partition on the harddrive, the data on which is then used to reformat/reinstall on the main partition.

The problem with this setup is that if the harddrive goes bad, you're dead in the water until you call Compaq and get a Quick Restore CD...which you have to pay for.

I never recommend buying a Compaq but for those who do anyway, I always urge them to go ahead and call Compaq, pay them their money and get the Quick Restore CD "just in case."

Neither the QR or the Recovery CD will let you do anything other than reformat/reinstall, either, so buyiing a Compaq without some sort of backup device (CD burner, zip drive) and then not doing regular backups of your data is courting disaster.

[Redo40]

I second what Miz stated, I worked on a Compaq awhile back and had to order the Restore cd, all she got with the computer was a recovery cd.

[Nuclear Krusader]

Another reason why I'll be never buying a brand machine.

I spend less time installing everything than waiting days for the CD to arrive. Plus they charge me!! That is an outrage!!

[GaryRouth]

Thank you Miz for clearing up the change in Compaqs policy. There have been a few threads on the forum lately from folks working on Compaqs, and often the partition on the hard drive has been erased. Do you know whether they still allow the proprietary partition to be recreated via downloadable files (then transferred onto a bootable floppy (or two) - or onto CD-R? Seems like a while back they used to. And is the charge for the "Quick Restore" type disk about $19 still?

We don't have any Compaqs here at the lab (although our DEC, Tandem, and HPs are all now technically HP/Compaqs I suppose), so Compaq information can be hard to come by.

And do you know if the policy might reverse because of the HP buyout of Compaq? (might the Recovery disks be once again capable of re-creating the partition, or the Quick Restore CD included with the PC at purchase time?)

Apologies for the many questions.
. . . Gary

[toomyg]

My Compaq 6000 has two of them 1 for a factory install of just windows XP and 1 for a factory install of compaq with all the extras (AOL , NETSCAPE and all that)