Vista - reinstall dvd, etc, just a curious question

Hello everyone,
I'm truly curious to know why there is such a difference. My Dell laptop came with an OS Reinstallment DVD as well as a Drivers/Utilities disk. Apparently some other makes do not include those upon purchasing. Why is that ??
Also, ( I think I know, but want to be sure ), is there a difference between Recovery disk and Reinstallment disk ?
Thank you.

"t-4-2" <guest@xxxxxx-email.com> wrote in message
news:774f9f720fd84643ae37e64c4ae24d75@xxxxxx-gateway.com...
Names can vary with OEM; so lets stick just to Dell.

I do not know what model Dell you purchased. Mine came with:

A "D" Recovery partition. This partition contains a as built image of
the computer. If you have this partition you should have a Dell folder on it
containing a Image folder. Using this partition you are able to restore you
computer to the condition you received it including all drivers, utilities
and applications installed by Dell. You may have received the recovery image
as a separate recovery disc vice being included on the Recovery partition.

A Windows Vista Operating system DVD. This disc is essentially the
Microsoft Vista OS disc. You can use it to format your hard drive and
install Vista. You can even use it to upgrade from your current Vista
version to your current Vista version {by running setup from Vista}. The
disc does not contain the Dell unique drivers and utilities not included by
Microsoft in the Vista DVD.

A Drivers and Utilities disc which contains the Dell unique drivers and
utilities not included on the Microsoft Vista DVD.

Additional discs for installing drivers, utilities and support not
included in either the Microsoft Vista disc or the Dell drivers and
utilities disc. For example, webcam and DVD Blu-Ray support.

Additional discs for installing the various applications that came with
your computer.

Your manual covers the use of these various discs.

Providing these discs is a cost. Some OEMs choose not to incur the cost.

Don

Thank you. Mine is a Dell inspiron 1420 laptop.
Would you eloborate my last question : difference between a Recovery Disk and a Reinstallment disk ? Thank you.

On Sat, 10 May 2008 12:26:32 -0500, t-4-2 <guest@xxxxxx-email.com>
wrote:


It's up to the vendor. OEM vendors are required by their agreement
with Microsoft to give you a means of reinstalling, should it be
necessary. They can do this in one of three ways:

1. An OEM copy of Windows
2. A restore CD
3. A hidden partition on your drive, with restore information.

If you don't have 1 or 2, you should have 3, but you should contact
your vendor to find out.

Personally, I find both 2 and 3 unacceptable (especially 3; a hard
drive crash can leave you with nothing), and would never choose to buy
a computer that came with an operating system unless I got a complete
generic installation CD for that operating system.


--
Ken Blake, Microsoft MVP - Windows Desktop Experience
Please Reply to the Newsgroup

>>>Recovery Disk and a Reinstallment disk <<<

A Recovery disk on most, but not all is the Operating system, drivers and
any software that came with your system. It's used to put the system back to
the original state it was when you bought it.

A Re-installment disk although I don't think that's the name most use is the
operating system only. Also along with the hidden partition they put
everything on it and many provide a "1 time" software app to create you own
disk from that. Once the disk is made the software deletes it's self and
there's no getting it back.



--
All the best,
SG

Is your computer system ready for Vista?
https://winqual.microsoft.com/hcl/
Want to keep up with the latest news from MS?
http://news.google.com/nwshp?tab=wn&ned=us&topic=t
Just type in Microsoft

"t-4-2" <guest@xxxxxx-email.com> wrote in message
news:6ad88d5d84963abaa493b075feeb985f@xxxxxx-gateway.com...

Thank you, SG. I meant to say Reinstallation Disk in stead of reinstallment. But you have answered my question. Reason of my question was that my laptop came with OS Reinstallation DVD and a Drivers/Utilities disk, and seems to me most other makes do not have them. So, others combine my 2 disks into one and call it Recovery disk.

t-4-2

BTW, if for some reason you or anyone else should damage, loose or the OEM
cannot provide you with your original disk you can get them here.
http://www.restoredisks.com/

I've dealt with these folks a few times and they are very friendly, prompt
and have excellent customer service. I had a little mishap on my part when I
ordered a set of disk for a older HP machine. I gave them the correct
numbers, but had two of the numbers in the wrong place. Turns out the
numbers I gave was indeed a set of disk for another system. When I tried to
install them it wouldn't work. I emailed them and they ask for the serial
number. They found the correct disk and sent them to me at no additional
charge and even paid to have to others sent back. Now that is service,
although I felt because it was my mistake I went ahead and sent them a check
for shipping and got a very nice letter back from them.

--
All the best,
SG

Is your computer system ready for Vista?
https://winqual.microsoft.com/hcl/
Want to keep up with the latest news from MS?
http://news.google.com/nwshp?tab=wn&ned=us&topic=t
Just type in Microsoft

"t-4-2" <guest@xxxxxx-email.com> wrote in message
news:2dc6e13136ef5b0165b21f7f8f6b124b@xxxxxx-gateway.com...

Thank you for the info. It will be in my reference file.