XP disks, systems & drivers and boot disks

[Flaxton]

"I didn't have the XP disc with my Hewlett Packard either. I called them and they sent them to me ( all 8 of them)."

Thanks, Blizey, that's pretty encouraging - I'm now looking through the literature to try and find a Packard Bell customer contact centre number - or maybe that'll appear if I start up the warranty on my computer.

The brochure says that 'on selected models' you can create a recovery boot disk, but it appears mine isn't one of them.
It seems there's a Recovery Program, too, though, as well as Smart Restore - Destructive and Non-Destructive. There's also a Master CD Creator program I've just discovered that back up/recovery data can be transferred from the hard drive to master cds with, apparently (Though it says that if you do this, you'll no longer be able to use all the options of the Packard Bell Recovery Program.)

[Flaxton]

"a lot of systems are comming preloaded with no restore disk, on-board restore systems suck. but if you look in your C: drive on these machines you may have a i386 folder, if so you have a installable copy of xp in the making."



Thanks for this info, known criminal - I do have an i386 folder. So things are looking up!

[Flaxton]

An update - blizey, you're right; if you ring their help desk Packard-Bell *are* supposed to send you any missing disks for free if they're not included in the package. It depends on you filling in the warranty, and it only stands for three months after buying the computer and setting off the warranty. Maybe not good for you, Mike?

Thanks for everyone's advice.


UPDATE: Actually, no - just rang the official line to be told they don't supply these disks any more. Everything you need is on the computer, and you can create a set of master cds using a programme in smartrestore. What I got was what I was supposed to get.

[Play_The_0dds]

you can use norton ghost(symantec) or power quest drive image to make restore cd sets of everything on your computer, they will work just like the ones from the computer mfg. most of the cd restore disk that come with computers are made by those two programs. i like drive image a bit better, but norton ghost is very good.

[slauhter]

Hi,
You definately can create your own restore disks from within the system, otherwise you would be stuffed if ya HDD died.
Post your Model# and Serial# and I will double check exactly where you go to do it.

I am a Packard Bell ASP.
But can't remember of the top of my head where to do it as it changes.

The other option is call the Packard Bell helpdesk they will talk you through doing it.

[Flaxton]

Thanks, Slauhter - I've found the Master CD Creator programme now though, which "allows you to transfer your computer's recovery data to a set of 'Master cds'" in case "you need to restore a programme or the whole computer", so that' ll be what you're referring to, won't it?

Though it says if you do it, the back-up data on your hard drive will be permanently deleted and you'll no longer be able to use all the options of the Packard Bell Recovery Program - and it fills up to 10 blank CD-RS.

Presumably it's better to do this thing though rather than just leave the Recovery Program working as normal?

[slauhter]

Yes that is correct it is much better having the CD's, then if Windows dies and you cannot run the restore program you still have the CD's.
When you create the CD's you should still be able to run the restore as normal.
Its just when you re-image the drive with the CD's that you can no longer use the HDD recovery partition options.
This may have changed on the new models but I don't thinks so.