Lamb Chop Posted January 22, 2008 Report Share Posted January 22, 2008 Every time I hear about someone getting into stuk with their computer - they seem to have a disc to insert to reinstall the whole system.I never got one with my computer. Long story - was supposed to have a bundle of goodies like Money and other programs in it when I bought the package from Harvey Norm and got it home - no discs except Britannia and a floppy named recovery.I did naturally return to the shop next day and low and behold the big advertising of the bundle has disappeared and they denied it ever existed. Note to self: Always take a digital camera for evidence in future dealings with retailers. :lol: So where can I get a disc as one day I know I will need it?Do I write to Bill and ask for one as I do have a verified computer as get all the updates etc so not pirated. :D Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
-pops- Posted January 22, 2008 Report Share Posted January 22, 2008 It seems that you have your operating system disk equivalent on a hidden partition on the hard drive. The idea of the recovery floppy is to boot the computer with the floppy in place and that will then access the hidden partition from where you can reload Windows.I never thought this method was good as, in the event of the hard drive failing (which they most certainly do), you have lost everything unless, of course, you have a full backup. Even then, a backup may not have the hidden partition included in it.Were you given the opportunity to create your own full recovery disk when you bought the machine?Do you have a COA stuck on the back of the box? If you have, and in the event of failure, you could borrow a disk of the operating system (note it MUST be the same version that you have already installed), re-install Windows from that disk and re-activate using the COA that you already have.Note that it is a Microsoft condition of having and using Windows that the COA is firmly attached to the computer case and possibly with any manuals that are supplied relative to the operating system.If, by chance, you don't have a COA attached, it is possible to find the necessary twenty five digit Product Key from the computer itself. Let us know if you need that. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
andsome Posted January 22, 2008 Report Share Posted January 22, 2008 A lesson here is to refuse to buy a computer unless there is an installation disc included. This is one of the benefits of buying from a small local computer builder, and having the software that YOU want, not that which is bundled whether you want it or not. I know that this does not help you, but it may hopefully help others. :D Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lamb Chop Posted January 22, 2008 Author Report Share Posted January 22, 2008 COA?POPs - All I have on my tower - are rear - seal of Packard Bell and serial number.Top - warranty code. Also Label showing which processor cache etc.Only disc Britannia+ floppy as mentioned.Plus a diagram of what goes where when you install it. Which was done for me by tech from the store free.andsome - when I bought it was first time since buying a Radio Shack in the early 80's from Radio Shack. Went to a computer store and bloke made me feel an idiot and it had no machines on show - so went to Harvey Norm a franchised store within a store - that sells everything but has a good computer section or did have - changed hands now - also the computer store shut down - not surprised. Hey I live in Tasmania - as the bloke on the telly said recently when asked the time - 1964 mate. Has its compensations - well except for a Labor state government - well wall to wall now 9 of the little If I do break down will have to find someone with a XP and how do I know what version - XP home and this from Belarc.Windows XP Home Edition Service Pack 2 (build 2600)Also how do I back up - I have this drawer for putting in discs - but I dont know if it records or not. and this is from Belarc too.COMBI RW32/DVD [CD-ROM drive] I bought some discs and did try to back up once but was scared to put it in to see if it worked as didnt know what it may do. :( Were you given the opportunity to create your own full recovery disk when you bought the machine? NO actually not - never mentioned it - another in the book I will one day write - questions you should always ask. :D Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
doug Posted January 22, 2008 Report Share Posted January 22, 2008 Also how do I back up - I have this drawer for putting in discs - but I dont know if it records or not. Absolute classic Lamb Chop Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AlanHo Posted January 22, 2008 Report Share Posted January 22, 2008 Also how do I back up - I have this drawer for putting in discs - but I dont know if it records or not. Absolute classic Lamb Chop That drawer is either a DVD ROM - which will play discs but not record them - or a convenient cup holder. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dencandy Posted January 22, 2008 Report Share Posted January 22, 2008 This is also a trick now being played by Compaq, at least it is here in South Asia. No Windows master disk, just a little booklet telling me to make a full back up of the system using a special precedure requiring 10 CD's (which you have to provide yourself). These 10 disks are then to be used in case of a system failure.But, as pops says, if the hard disk fails?.... Aah, then I guess you have to go and buy a new hard disk and new Windows master disk. Geddit? Yes, more money for Microsoft and the computer retailers.We should all refuse to buy computers without a master disk and urge everyone else to do likewise.Lamb Chop, are you getting Windows Updates OK? This will prove you've got a genuine version at least and the unique number must be in there somewhere. I'm sure pops can tell you how to find it easily, but one way is to use Belarc.(And Belarcs to Microsoft and Compaq for foisting this one on the public ). Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
andsome Posted January 22, 2008 Report Share Posted January 22, 2008 We should all refuse to buy computers without a master disk and urge everyone else to do likewise.I have been criticised in the past for doing just that. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
-pops- Posted January 22, 2008 Report Share Posted January 22, 2008 Sorry for spouting a load of jargon, Lamb Chop.COA = Certificate Of Authenticity which has a twenty five digit code (five sets of five figures) which uniquely identifies your computer. It should be on a sticker on the machine. the MS sticker is a hologram one but your supplier may have their own style.I don't know this for certain but I thought that Packard Bell gave a method of making your own recovery CD in case of hard disk failure. If they don't (or you don't have one anyway), you can use the procedure I gave before by inserting a borrowed copy of Windows. This is legal - you have the Product Key to prove it. If you don't have the Product Key, let us know and we'll show you how to find it. DO NOT PUBLISH THE KEY HERE. If you are unsure you have the right number, you can post part of it to me by PM and I'll have a look at it - I don't need the whole number, keep that to yourself. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Boris Posted January 22, 2008 Report Share Posted January 22, 2008 Hello Lamb ChopI believe you may have a Philips Combo 32x CD Rewriter/DVD Reader in your Packard Bell ?Look here :- http://www.storageupdates.philips.com/en/identify.html+ try the "Philips Intelligent Agent" - http://www.storageupdates.philips.com/en/pia.html to either confirm/refute this ? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lamb Chop Posted January 23, 2008 Author Report Share Posted January 23, 2008 Hello Lamb ChopI believe you may have a Philips Combo 32x CD Rewriter/DVD Reader in your Packard Bell ?Look here :- http://www.storageupdates.philips.com/en/identify.html+ try the "Philips Intelligent Agent" - http://www.storageupdates.philips.com/en/pia.html to either confirm/refute this ?thanks for that Wow Used the Info Tool on above - great stuff - yes told me I can write CD-R and CD-RW Read Same plus DVD-ROM & DVD -R & RW So I guess that means it will back up my system then?Thanks for that - it is super - tells me what I have but when I went to print it out 84 pages - got the whole system on this tool.So that is the problem of back up solved. :D Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lamb Chop Posted January 23, 2008 Author Report Share Posted January 23, 2008 Sorry for spouting a load of jargon, Lamb Chop.COA = Certificate Of Authenticity which has a twenty five digit code (five sets of five figures) which uniquely identifies your computer. It should be on a sticker on the machine. the MS sticker is a hologram one but your supplier may have their own style.I don't know this for certain but I thought that Packard Bell gave a method of making your own recovery CD in case of hard disk failure. If they don't (or you don't have one anyway), you can use the procedure I gave before by inserting a borrowed copy of Windows. This is legal - you have the Product Key to prove it. If you don't have the Product Key, let us know and we'll show you how to find it. DO NOT PUBLISH THE KEY HERE. If you are unsure you have the right number, you can post part of it to me by PM and I'll have a look at it - I don't need the whole number, keep that to yourself.Arghh - found it - it is on the side of the tower and thought it was packing code or some such as in with other stuff - 5 sets of numbers marked product code. BTW My computer speaks Turkish as that is its home country Ha Ha Ha. thanks Pops :D Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lamb Chop Posted January 23, 2008 Author Report Share Posted January 23, 2008 Ok do get auto updates - some waiting now to be downloaded as I do it that way B) Now on the Info Tool - Under HD Readiness it says I need some upgrades.CPU - Is 2.00 gh Intel Pentium 4 -say upgrade required too :0 OOps what does that mean? Memory- 223 but I have capacity for another ram to be fitted I know that to 512.Graphic card sis650 upgrade requiredGraphic Driver upgrade required.Last 2 - what does that mean? Is there a place to go download?Full of questions me Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
-pops- Posted January 23, 2008 Report Share Posted January 23, 2008 I make it a rule that I only install updates from Microsoft that apply to their own products: that is Windows, MS Office and the like. They do have a nasty habit of interfering with other people's products (such as CPUs and graphics cards) offering updates and often the result can be a total cock-up.If your CPU and graphics card are working to your satisfaction, leave well alone. You can introduce all sorts of problems by unnecessary messing about with vital parts of your machine - I know, it's happened to me in the past! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lamb Chop Posted January 23, 2008 Author Report Share Posted January 23, 2008 I make it a rule that I only install updates from Microsoft that apply to their own products: that is Windows, MS Office and the like. They do have a nasty habit of interfering with other people's products (such as CPUs and graphics cards) offering updates and often the result can be a total cock-up.If your CPU and graphics card are working to your satisfaction, leave well alone. You can introduce all sorts of problems by unnecessary messing about with vital parts of your machine - I know, it's happened to me in the past!Fair enough - working fine so leave it.Also found an update for my DSL 200 Link on the update and did download it - now strange thing is that since then been a bit wonky - dropping out and then having to reconfigure it - so I will not take any more on your advice - once bittenI did in fact take a look to see if I could find it but no luck and it settled down to just dropping out which may be to do with my Telstr phone line or some such and it does reconnect after about 3 tries when distant computer realizes it is genuine etc and responds.So left it until something worse arrives.Thanks pops. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Boris Posted January 23, 2008 Report Share Posted January 23, 2008 So I guess that means it will back up my system then?Yes - you can write whatever you want to CD :) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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