Vista OEM Home Basic Disk

DustyMiller

DustyMiller

DustyMiller

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Anyone know where I can get the above disk from, I have been given a Compaq PC to fix, but the HDD is dead, and the restore partition has gone with it. There is no restore disk for it, as it was HDD based. So need to get a disk to use the key on the Cert of Auth attached to the Laptop.
 
Might want to contact the OEM (or visit their website) to see what your options are. I hate not having restore discs for precisely this reason.
 
+1 for hating a lack of restore discs. However, unless I'm badly mistaken (which I doubt) Vista discs have all versions on there, and it's the serial/key you enter that determines which version actually makes it to your hdd.

If you have a Vista disc of your own, or can *ahem* acquire one, just use the serial printed on the COA and you should be set to go. I've never tried an OEM key on a Retail disc or vice versa though so maybe you'd need to ensure the disc you use is OEM no matter what "version" is printed on the label. :)
 
Oh, and just a though also, but depending on who the person actually is (a mate's mate's uncle's neighbour, or your brother for example lol)... It may be better to stick Win 7 RC on there and wait for the final? I replaced Vista Basic on my sister's laptop (1.6Ghz Celeron, 1GB DDR2) with Win7 Ultimate x64 and it flew along with full visual effects. Way better, actually :D

If it's someone who doesn't mind the fact it's "test" software (albeit basically an improved codebase of Vista, hence uber stable) and who you don't mind the odd support style phone call off, give it a whirl. If on the other hand it's a randomer you don't know, and who you cba supporting, stick Vista on as per my last post. :D
 
Have already tried another OEM disk, but it a Home Premium one, adn the key wont work. Might just have to order the disk from Compaq, and wait a few weeks to get it running properly.
 
The advantage of obtaining recovery media from Compaq is you'll get all the drivers and software too. The disadvantage is it'll probably cost you.
 
That's stupid. MS don't charge for the media, only postage, so if OEMs are to insist on this silly recovery-partition-with-no-discs malarkey why not have the image on their website? It'd only work for their branded PCs and still require a key, so no loss or breach of the license.

Dusty, I take it Win7 isn't an option then? It's a better OS anyway lol If I was in your position (and I have been) I'd be acquiring a disc however I could, and then getting on with restoring the laptop to working order.
 
Technically you can use someone else's disc as it's the license that makes it legal and you have that on the PC.

Yes you can download drivers, but my experience with HP is that you can only get software updates, not the actual software itself. While much of it is best left off, stuff like WinDVD and EasyDVD Creator are useful and without these you've got to buy or pirate them when you shouldn't need to.

HP owns Compaq, so I imagine they'll be similar in not offering the original software for download, just updates to installed software from the recovery CDs.
 
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