PLUG: OT: ADV:ETC - Good training for mouse-challenged *nixpeople

[Mike Schwartz (PC Support)]

> To save money, they no longer supply media, but rather have a separate
> partition on the drive which holds the recovery data.  (The spin is
> that "you can't lose it".)  They do, however, include software which
> will allow you to burn your own media.  It took 4 DVDs!
> 
> --
> KenBrody at BestWeb dot net        spamtrap: <g8ymh8uf001 at sneakemail.com>

   I installed a Compaq computer in my house last year and burned the
recovery media.  Compaq only gives you one (1) shot at burning the media. It
turned out that the DVD burner was no good, and the DVD's wouldn't pass
verify.  Compaq told me that it would cost $200.00 to purchase a replacement
set of media!!!   I was told this is due to licensing agreements with
Microsoft and others.
  
   They did replace the DVD burner for free, but I still don't have a backup
media set, so if this computer ever gets corrupt, I will have to either
shell out $200.00 or install a different operating system (Linux?) on it.

   So, my advice is to test the DVD burner C-a-r-e-f-u-l-l-y before you
attempt to create your recovery set.

   I purchased this through Office Depot, and a couple of my friends
purchased the same systems, but they chose XP Home, whereas I got XP Pro.  I
was going to borrow one of their recovery sets if the computer ever gets
corrupt, but I don't imagine my XP Pro license key would work on their XP
Home recovery sets.

Mike Schwartz