What do you do when there is *intentionally* no Recovery Disk?

[Smilin]

I just had to fix my next door neighbors laptop last week. It was the classic "missing or corrupt system32\config\system" error.

His laptop was some big-brand OEM (hp, toshiba?? cant remember) but as usual they sent him only the "wipe and restore to factory" OS CD and not even an OEM copy of XP. I used my own XP CD to get him into recovery console and fix things.

I think it's an utter load of crap that you can buy a $1000 laptop and the OEMs can't be bothered to throw in a $1 OEM CD in some cheap paper sleeve.

In situations like this it could have cost the guy his data if he reloaded, or lots of hassle to go spin up a Knoppix or some other "recovery consol(ish)" solution. In other situations it will give this guy fits if he ever has to repair using someone else media etc. The whole OEM thing really sucks IMHO.



Apoppin: You overestimate my influence. 🙂

 

[apoppin]

i'd beg the janitor for the india office if i thought it might work

there is always that admittedly less-than-slim chance that a single butterfly may exercise some influence on the great storm if it positions itself well within it's eye and maneuvers itself as though with purpose

what the heck?!