Re-installing OEM software

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Technofreak

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#106714 30-Jul-2012 13:47

We're looking a a couple of new computers. Some come pre-loaded with MS products like Office Home and Business and or Office Professional

There are no software disks provided. How does one get on in the situation where either the HDD needs to replaced or a bigger HDD is required?

How do you re-install the software including the OS?

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#663995 30-Jul-2012 14:18

If the software came with the original PC then creating recovery DVD or USB keys should be what you need for a fresh install.

You should look at software like Acronis to make images of your HDD for backups - in case of a disaster or if you need to replace the HDD with a larger one you can just use the software either restore an image or transfer from one drive to another and it will adjust partition size, etc.

I was in Las Vegas for the HP Discover when my laptop had a driver problem after installing an update (something I usually don't do when travelling). I had a small external 500GB HDD with an image taken a day before going away, so it only took me about 20 minutes to get the whole laptop back in action, with no loss of anything (whatever was not in the image was in my online backup).

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#664005 30-Jul-2012 14:27

Pay a company that has access to install media to do it for you.

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#664007 30-Jul-2012 14:27

Technofreak: We're looking a a couple of new computers. ?Some come pre-loaded with MS products like Office Home and Business and or Office Professional?

There are no software disks provided. ?How does one get on in the situation where either the HDD needs to replaced or a bigger HDD is required?

How do you re-install the software including the OS?

I don't understand why they can't just provide the disks, which only cost a few cents. Or at least give you a link to download the DVD image from the net, which they do for some student versions. I wouldn't buy them without the disks. Sure you can do a image backup and restore etc, but personally I like to do clean installs, especially if you change significant pieces of the hardware after the image was made.

freitasm

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#664010 30-Jul-2012 14:29

They don't provide the discs because they would charge more for that. Instead they put a partition in your brand new HDD and a software that allows you to create a recovery set in DVD or USB key. I always create the recovery set before installing anything, then delete the partition to get as much space on the HDD as possible - I store the USB key with the original box until I decide to sell the computer, when I restore it to the original image and send it off...

coffeebaron

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#664019 30-Jul-2012 14:43

Try here: http://office.microsoft.com/backup

or 2007 here: http://www.microsoft.com/office/backup2007/en-us/default.mspx

You will need your product key from the license card.

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#664020 30-Jul-2012 14:43

freitasm: They don't provide the discs because they would charge more for that. Instead they put a partition in your brand new HDD and a software that allows you to create a recovery set in DVD or USB key. I always create the recovery set before installing anything, then delete the partition to get as much space on the HDD as possible - I store the USB key with the original box until I decide to sell the computer, when I restore it to the original image and send it off...

I know, it just amazing how many people don't do it when they buy a new computer. I guess not providing disks also means the computer manufacturers get another chance to make money when they need to restore their software, by selling them disks later on.

Technofreak

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#664168 30-Jul-2012 19:50

freitasm: They don't provide the discs because they would charge more for that. Instead they put a partition in your brand new HDD and a software that allows you to create a recovery set in DVD or USB key. I always create the recovery set before installing anything, then delete the partition to get as much space on the HDD as possible - I store the USB key with the original box until I decide to sell the computer, when I restore it to the original image and send it off...

I would have thought providing the choice to buy the disk for a nominal price at purchase time would be a good option.

However to follow up on the recovery partition. This sounds like a viable option for me.

Do you just copy the contents of the recovery partition onto a DVD or USB stick? Is there anything special that needs to be done at that time or whenever you use the recovery data?

I presume deleting the recovery partition is a straight forward exercise?

I see on a little HP netbook we have that there is a recovery disk (partition) of 12.2 Gb with 1.38 Gb spare and an HP Tools disk (partition) of 3.95 Gb with 1.1 Gb spare. Am I correct in assuming if I didn't want the HP tools I could delete this partition along with the the recovery partition (after it's been copied). This would give me about an xtra 15 Gb of space?

Coffee Baron thanks also for those links

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#664197 30-Jul-2012 20:11

Technofreak:
freitasm: They don't provide the discs because they would charge more for that. Instead they put a partition in your brand new HDD and a software that allows you to create a recovery set in DVD or USB key. I always create the recovery set before installing anything, then delete the partition to get as much space on the HDD as possible - I store the USB key with the original box until I decide to sell the computer, when I restore it to the original image and send it off...

I would have thought providing the choice to buy the disk for a nominal price at purchase time would be a good option.

However to follow up on the recovery partition. ?This sounds like a viable option for me.

Do you just copy the contents of the recovery partition onto a DVD or USB stick? ?Is there anything special that needs to be done at that time or whenever you use the recovery data?

I presume deleting the recovery partition is a straight forward exercise?

I see on a little HP netbook we have that there is a recovery disk (partition) of 12.2 Gb with 1.38 Gb spare and an HP Tools disk (partition) of 3.95 Gb with 1.1 Gb spare. Am I correct in assuming if I didn't want the HP tools I could delete this partition along with the the recovery partition (after it's been copied). ?This would give me about an xtra 15 Gb of space?

It should come with some software to lets you build the disk.

Technofreak

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#664201 30-Jul-2012 20:18

mattwnz:

It should come with some software to lets you build the disk.

Do you mean the computer should come with the software. Where would you find it?

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Technofreak

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#664203 30-Jul-2012 20:26

Technofreak:
mattwnz:

It should come with some software to lets you build the disk.

Do you mean the computer should come with the software. Where would you find it?

Don't worry, stop looking!!!!!!!!!!!. I did some digging and found the HP Recovery Manager. All questions answered there I think.

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#664239 30-Jul-2012 21:14

Yes, HP Recovery Manager. And Lenovo. And Dell. They all have similar programs. So now you know, for future reference. Once you create the recovery disc, stash it away and delete the partition to get the space back.

These days you will need a 16GB USB key. Don't start creating it without the USB key or it will be a waste of time.

Technofreak

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#664276 30-Jul-2012 22:03

It looks to me that the HP Recovery manager might create the USB key as part of the process, once you have inserted the USB drive. Am I correct in assuming this and also correct in assuming that other OEM's like Dell do the same, or do you need to get the key from somewhere else?

Also I'm assuming that when you create the backup USB not only are you able to recover the OS but also any OEM supplied software like MS Office?

Does the creation of the USB key etc have to be done before the computer is put to use or can it be done at any time?

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freitasm

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#664287 30-Jul-2012 22:11

Technofreak: It looks to me that the HP Recovery manager might create the USB key as part of the process, once you have inserted the USB drive. Am I correct in assuming this and also correct in assuming that other OEM's like Dell do the same, or do you need to get the key from somewhere else?

Sorry, come again?

Technofreak: Also I'm assuming that when you create the backup USB not only are you able to reecoved the OS but also any OEM supplied software like MS Office?

If the software is part of the PC when you bought it then it should be in the recovery image created. HOWEVER, most of the PCs I've seen come with Office Starter. If you are not running Office Starter I'd suspect it installed after by someone.

Technofreak: Does the creation of the USB key etc have to be done before the computer is put to use or can it be done at any time?

It can be done at any time as it is a copy of the recovery partition contents and a bootable partition. This is not changed in any way by any software - unless you of course deleted the partition or the HDD died before you created the recovery image.

Having said that, my Dell Zino HTPC is dying - for the last few days it's been having strange problems and the HDD is clicking. Tonight we had some trouble watching the TV recordings, so I am at this moment using Acronis to duplicate the HDD to an external drive and then will swap the HDD. If it doesn't work for any reason I have an image created last week. If still doesn't work then I have the recovery USB created two years ago...

Technofreak

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#664304 30-Jul-2012 22:52

freitasm:
Technofreak: It looks to me that the HP Recovery manager might create the USB key as part of the process, once you have inserted the USB drive. Am I correct in assuming this and also correct in assuming that other OEM's like Dell do the same, or do you need to get the key from somewhere else?

Sorry, come again?

What I was trying to establish was where do you get the USB key that you say is needed before making the recovery disk/USB?

I've discovered that Dell provide the option of buying an OS disk at the time of purchase. So that goes part of the way to answering my question if we buy a Dell.

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#664336 31-Jul-2012 00:04

You go to Dick Smith and buy a USB memory key of 16GB.

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