Toshiba Laptop Recovery Disk?

[Kelemvor]

Not sure which topic to put this in so I guess I'll put it here.

I have a Toshiba a135-s2246 that came with Vista Home Basic on it. Of course Toshiba is too cheap to include a Recovery DVD with it but now I need to reimage and reinstall Windows.

Toshiba is nice enough to provide you the recovery disk for free it you give them $20 to ship it. Talk about a scam. I've looked online but can't find anywhere to download one either.

I do have a copy of Vista (Retail). Could I just use that with the code on the laptop instead of getting an actual recovery? I don't really want all the Toshiba software crap back on there but need to reload the system.

Just not sure what the best thing to do would be...


Moved to OS since it's mostly an OS question.

ATOT Moderator ElFenix

 

[benzylic]

It doesnt have a recovery partition on it? My HP laptop doesnt have the cd's but it has the partition you press some button on start up to boot into the recovery console then go from there. Thats real fucked up by toshiba if they didnt do either

 

[funkymatt]

probably should go under OS, but i'll bite. the vista OEM key won't work with the retail disc. Wtf did you do that you need to reimage?

 

[Kelemvor]

Originally posted by: funkymatt
probably should go under OS, but i'll bite. the vista OEM key won't work with the retail disc. Wtf did you do that you need to reimage?

It's just been around for a couple years and is getting slow like Windows does. Wanted to just start it fresh.

 

[2Xtreme21]

Usually there's a recovery partition so you can reformat. If not, you can pretty much either pay the money to get the system restore disc or use your retail license on it. It kind of sucks that they're too cheap to include recovery discs anymore, but whatever.

 

[RebateMonger]

The Toshiba almost certainly uses a BIOS-locked version of Vista. If you use a non-Toshiba DVD, you'll need to do a telephone Activation. The Key on the back of the laptop won't allow online Activation. Folks used to go to Best Buy, copy Keys, and use them to activate more PCs.

Personally, I'd just pay the $20 and get the Toshiba DVD. Or use the built-in recovery partition if it's available. Also, remember that laptops often have special drivers that aren't included in a standard OS installation disk. Be sure to make a list of drivers currently loaded and download them so you will have them available when you reload your OS.

Consider making an image-based backup of the entire laptop after you get it restored. That way, you can just restore the backup (along with all your programs) in one fell swoop.

 

[VinDSL]

Originally posted by: Kelemvor
I have a Toshiba a135-s2246 that came with Vista Home Basic on it. Of course Toshiba is too cheap to include a Recovery DVD with it but now I need to reimage and reinstall Windows.

Toshiba is nice enough to provide you the recovery disk for free it you give them $20 to ship it. Talk about a scam...

In Toshiba's defense, I have a Satellite A215-S4807 (Vista Home Premium) and it came with two Recovery and Applications/Drivers Discs. It's one of the reasons I bought a Toshiba! Most laptops/netbooks DO NOT come with recovery discs. As a matter of fact, it's very unusual for lappys to come with recovery discs. You are supposed to burn your own discs - but most ppl don't!

The (original) HD also included a partition that allowed you to burn your own Recovery Discs and/or do recover directly from the HD.

In other words, MY Toshy has this recovery scenario covered three different ways... 😉

Having said that, I'm with you - I would NEVER what to reinstall all the cruft - took me a full day to get rid of it the first time!

Originally posted by: Kelemvor
It's just been around for a couple years and is getting slow like Windows does. Wanted to just start it fresh.

Truthfully, I've never had this problem with Vista - it isn't like older versions of Windows!

I've been running the same install of Vista HP for 25 months, and it's as fast as ever - much faster than when I bought it, e.g. the original non-SP1 install, loaded with cruft.

Really, I think you're barking up the wrong tree...

If I'm understanding the situation correctly, I'd just clean up your install (burn a set of Recovery Discs) and call it a day! 😉