Should I have a Windows XP CD?

When I bought my pc, XP was already installed, is it standard practice to NOT include an XP cd? Should I have a cd? Need to re-install MS Works but don't have the disc, I do however have a genuine Windows notice in the stuff that came with the pc so I know that is genuine Windows I have so can i do anything to get a disc, ie, contact Microsoft? Please help!! Thanks on advance

 

Unfortunately, yes, major computer manufacturers have started putting a recovery or restore partition on the harddrive which can do essentially everything the XP CD can do.

Microsoft requires that a computer sold with their operating system preinstalled be provided with some way to reinstall that operating system. Microsoft does not specify the manufacturer must do that by providing a Windows disk. So if your computer does not have a recovery or restore partition on the harddrive, whoever built that computer better hope Microsoft's legal department doesn't find out.

The bad news is that if the harddrive fails, you'll have to get the disks from the computer manufacturer and they don't always provide them for free.

The good news is that they also include software for making your own recovery/restore disks.

On Dells, for example, that software is on the Start Menu under All Programs>Dell Accessories. It's called "Dell OS Recovery CD. "

New eMachines, Compaqs and Hewlett-Packards also include that software, also with shortcuts on their Start Menus. I know that on eMachines and Compaqs, it requires six CDs or one DVD to make the disks.

I recommend to all my customers that they make those disks as soon a possible; preferably as soon as they have the computer up and running.