This page last modified: Mar 19 2007
keywords:windows,xp,microsoft,hard,disk,reinstallation,recovery,crash description:Acer, Toshiba, and Dell options for operating system recovery. title:MS Windows recovery options One of my friends has an Acer laptop with Window XP (purchased July 2006). Acer does not provide a Windows re-installation disk. However, Acer includes a utility that is run on first boot up (the first time the customer starts the computer) that requests that the customer insert several CDs (one at a time, of course) and the Acer utility makes a "ghost" copy of the installed software. This can be used to restore the hard disk (or I assume a new hard disk of identical size) to the original state. While not an idea solution, this is easy, it will work well for many re-installation needs, and I'm sure that Acer will argue that this solution helps keep the costs down. Another friend has a Toshiba laptop (purchased March 2007). Toshiba includes a recovery disk which says "applications and drivers". I called Toshiba support 800-457-7777 and asked about recovery. If the hard drive is replaced by a hard drive of the identical size, the recovery disk will re-install Windows (in this case Windows Vista). However, if the mother board (main board) is replaced, or if the new hard drive is a different size, then the computer must be taken (shipped?) to a Toshiba service center. The technicians will do something to the computer that allows the recovery disk to re-install Windows. Dell offers a Windows installation disk as an added-cost option. This seems to be a real, full, complete copy of Microsoft Windows. From memory the cost is $15 (or is that $25?). If the Dell offer is for a real copy of Windows, this would be my preferred solution to the recovery/re-installation problem. For many users, the hard drive will last for the life of the computer. However, hard drives are mechanical, and will not last as long as other components in the computer. Typical life span is 3 to 5 years. If you do not have a way to re-install the operating system, you will be forced to buy a new copy of the operating system (typical retail cost is in the $150 to $200 range). This is irritating because you paid for a legitimate operating system license as part of the purchase cost of your computer. A list of common Microsoft operating systems: Windows 98, Windows NT, Windows 2000, Windows XP, Windows Vista. For more information about the general topic of operating systems, see the Wikipedia: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Operating_system