Oem Vista - No disk provided

I've just bought a new Acer computer from PC World and find that there is no
Vista backup disk or serial/licence number provided. Vista has been
pre-installed and I am supposed to create my own backup disk after starting
the system for the first time.

Are OEMs now allowed to supply computers without providing "genuine"
Microsoft software disks? And what happens if my hard disk no longer
functions? Am I supposed to buy a new Vista licence in order to do a
reinstall?

They have been doing it for years.

Acer is one of the worst. Even in XP, they provided 3 Cds! full of their
crap, not genuine ! Now, they don't even do that.

There is a "hidden" partition on your hard drive containig the recovery files.
You have to make the copy yourself.

"texeter" wrote:

> I've just bought a new Acer computer from PC World and find that there is no
> Vista backup disk or serial/licence number provided. Vista has been
> pre-installed and I am supposed to create my own backup disk after starting
> the system for the first time.
>
> Are OEMs now allowed to supply computers without providing "genuine"
> Microsoft software disks? And what happens if my hard disk no longer
> functions? Am I supposed to buy a new Vista licence in order to do a
> reinstall?
>

texeter wrote:
> I've just bought a new Acer computer from PC World and find that there is no
> Vista backup disk or serial/licence number provided. Vista has been
> pre-installed and I am supposed to create my own backup disk after starting
> the system for the first time.

Make that backup disk and you will be fine.

> Are OEMs now allowed to supply computers without providing "genuine"
> Microsoft software disks?

Yes, they are allowed to do so. It saves them and you a lot of money.

> And what happens if my hard disk no longer functions?

Install a new hard disk, install the backup and reactivate Vista (may be
you have to do it by a 5-minute phonecall to Microsoft)

> Am I supposed to buy a new Vista licence in order to do a
> reinstall?

NO!
--

Wim Hekken ;-)

Wim Hekken ;-) wrote:
> texeter wrote:
>> I've just bought a new Acer computer from PC World and find that there
>> is no Vista backup disk or serial/licence number provided. Vista has
>> been pre-installed and I am supposed to create my own backup disk
>> after starting the system for the first time.
>
> Make that backup disk and you will be fine.

Without a product key?

>
>> Are OEMs now allowed to supply computers without providing "genuine"
>> Microsoft software disks?
>
> Yes, they are allowed to do so. It saves them and you a lot of money.

DVDs are that expensive? Since when?

>
>> And what happens if my hard disk no longer functions?
>
> Install a new hard disk, install the backup and reactivate Vista (may be
> you have to do it by a 5-minute phonecall to Microsoft)

How does the OP do that without a product key?

>
> > Am I supposed to buy a new Vista licence in order to do a
>> reinstall?
>
> NO!

Funny how so many people think this is true. I wonder why. MS FUD per
chance?

Alias

HP/Compaq does the same thing - I think it's pretty common nowadays.

SV

Mick Murphy <> wrote:

>They have been doing it for years.
>
>Acer is one of the worst. Even in XP, they provided 3 Cds! full of their
>crap, not genuine ! Now, they don't even do that.
>
>There is a "hidden" partition on your hard drive containig the recovery files.
>You have to make the copy yourself.
>
>"texeter" wrote:
>
>> I've just bought a new Acer computer from PC World and find that there is no
>> Vista backup disk or serial/licence number provided. Vista has been
>> pre-installed and I am supposed to create my own backup disk after starting
>> the system for the first time.
>>
>> Are OEMs now allowed to supply computers without providing "genuine"
>> Microsoft software disks? And what happens if my hard disk no longer
>> functions? Am I supposed to buy a new Vista licence in order to do a
>> reinstall?
>>

Alias stated the following:
> Wim Hekken ;-) wrote:
>> texeter wrote:
>>> I've just bought a new Acer computer from PC World and find that
>>> there is no Vista backup disk or serial/licence number provided.
>>> Vista has been pre-installed and I am supposed to create my own
>>> backup disk after starting the system for the first time.
>>
>> Make that backup disk and you will be fine.
>
> Without a product key?

The productkey is on a sticker at the PC/laptop.

>>> Are OEMs now allowed to supply computers without providing "genuine"
>>> Microsoft software disks?
>>
>> Yes, they are allowed to do so. It saves them and you a lot of money.
>
> DVDs are that expensive? Since when?

It's easier for the Acer to play a pre-installed version of an OS and
cheaper.

>>> And what happens if my hard disk no longer functions?
>>
>> Install a new hard disk, install the backup and reactivate Vista (may
>> be you have to do it by a 5-minute phonecall to Microsoft)
>
> How does the OP do that without a product key?

He has one on a sticker on his machine or in that very tiny book that's
called:

"MANUEL"

"Que"?

"Manual"

>> > Am I supposed to buy a new Vista licence in order to do a
>>> reinstall?
>>
>> NO!
>
> Funny how so many people think this is true. I wonder why. MS FUD per
> chance?

Good heavens, NO!
--

Wim Hekken ;-)

Its unfortunate OEMs continue to do this, Dell provides install disk for
Windows on their most basic systems, I don't know why it should be so hard
for either Acer or HP.
--
Andre
Blog: http://adacosta.spaces.live.com
My Vista Quickstart Guide:
http://adacosta.spaces.live.com/blog...3DB!9709.entry
"texeter" <> wrote in message
news:714A86E8-3D09-413E-A9DF-...
> I've just bought a new Acer computer from PC World and find that there is
> no
> Vista backup disk or serial/licence number provided. Vista has been
> pre-installed and I am supposed to create my own backup disk after
> starting
> the system for the first time.
>
> Are OEMs now allowed to supply computers without providing "genuine"
> Microsoft software disks? And what happens if my hard disk no longer
> functions? Am I supposed to buy a new Vista licence in order to do a
> reinstall?
>

Regardless of which company manufacturers your PC they have to provide an
option by which you can recover should you have problems with your system.
The two main ways are :

1/ Recovery Partition on your hard drive
2/ Set of Recovery Disks
(there is another option and that is a OEM copy of Vista, but that only
applies to small businesses, like your local PC repair man who has built a
PC for you. In this instance he must give you the OEM copy of Vista, but it
only applies in this instance, no other.)

Acer like HP, Packard Bell etc install the recovery software on a hidden
partition on your hard drive. It is then up to you to create a set of
recovery DVDs from this partition. You should find details of how to do this
in your computer's manual.


--
--
John Barnett MVP
Associate Expert
Windows - Shell/User

Web: http://xphelpandsupport.mvps.org
Web: http://vistasupport.mvps.org

The information in this mail/post is supplied "as is". No warranty of any
kind, either expressed or implied, is made in relation to the accuracy,
reliability or content of this mail/post. The Author shall not be liable for
any direct, indirect, incidental or consequential damages arising out of the
use of, or inability to use, information or opinions expressed in this
mail/post..

"texeter" <> wrote in message
news:714A86E8-3D09-413E-A9DF-...
> I've just bought a new Acer computer from PC World and find that there is
> no
> Vista backup disk or serial/licence number provided. Vista has been
> pre-installed and I am supposed to create my own backup disk after
> starting
> the system for the first time.
>
> Are OEMs now allowed to supply computers without providing "genuine"
> Microsoft software disks? And what happens if my hard disk no longer
> functions? Am I supposed to buy a new Vista licence in order to do a
> reinstall?
>

Wim Hekken ;-) wrote:
> Alias stated the following:
>> Wim Hekken ;-) wrote:
>>> texeter wrote:
>>>> I've just bought a new Acer computer from PC World and find that
>>>> there is no Vista backup disk or serial/licence number provided.
>>>> Vista has been pre-installed and I am supposed to create my own
>>>> backup disk after starting the system for the first time.
>>>
>>> Make that backup disk and you will be fine.
>>
>> Without a product key?
>
> The productkey is on a sticker at the PC/laptop.

Not according to the OP. Reading comprehension problem, Wim?

>
>>>> Are OEMs now allowed to supply computers without providing "genuine"
>>>> Microsoft software disks?
>>>
>>> Yes, they are allowed to do so. It saves them and you a lot of money.
>>
>> DVDs are that expensive? Since when?
>
> It's easier for the Acer to play a pre-installed version of an OS and
> cheaper.

Play? Yeah, no DVD is what, a couple bucks cheaper? How much does the
lost PR cost?

>
>>>> And what happens if my hard disk no longer functions?
>>>
>>> Install a new hard disk, install the backup and reactivate Vista (may
>>> be you have to do it by a 5-minute phonecall to Microsoft)
>>
>> How does the OP do that without a product key?
>
> He has one on a sticker on his machine or in that very tiny book that's
> called:
>
> "MANUEL"
>
> "Que"?
>
> "Manual"

Not according to the OP. Please read what you reply to, thanks.

>
>>> > Am I supposed to buy a new Vista licence in order to do a
>>>> reinstall?
>>>
>>> NO!
>>
>> Funny how so many people think this is true. I wonder why. MS FUD per
>> chance?
>
> Good heavens, NO!

I'm afraid so as many Windows users think that is the case.

Alias

Andre Da Costa[ActiveWin] wrote:
> Its unfortunate OEMs continue to do this, Dell provides install disk for
> Windows on their most basic systems, I don't know why it should be so hard
> for either Acer or HP.

That would require caring for one's paying customers. Microsoft, with
their activation/licensing scam and the big OEMs with their no restore
disk crap/bundled crap ware prove they don't care one iota for their
paying customers and ONLY care about the bottom line. The ironic thing
is that this lack of caring will eventually affect the bottom line
dramatically in a negative way.

Alias