Question/Thoughts Other Vista Discussions Discuss Question/Thoughts in the Windows Vista forums; Wow... I didn't know that! Thanks mojavekroc! Glad I am getting full retail crabby...

[crabby]

Wow... I didn't know that! Thanks mojavekroc!

Glad I am getting full retail

crabby

[Snuffy]

My Acer Laptop.. did not come with a disk ... but they did provide info in the manual(very small print) that Full restore was in a hidden partition..with a install_with.txt
upon looking it actually was a FULL XP Pro.iso...Nice of them. I have found that almost all LAPTOPS and other machines have a FULL RESTORE somewhere and some call them Z:\ drive...some are D:\ but you never know unless you look...(often wondered why people ordered Laptops with NO CD or DVD Drive.)

[Znod]

Originally Posted by Znod

So, apparently you guys thing that full versions and upgrade versions also will be on the same disk. What about 64 bit (upgrade and full) bit and 32 bit? I guess MS could get all of this stuff on one disk, depending on how things are done.

I was mainly asking about 64 bit and 32 bit being on the same disk. Thoughts anyone???

[Znod]

Originally Posted by Snuffy

My Acer Laptop.. did not come with a disk ... but they did provide info in the manual(very small print) that Full restore was in a hidden partition..with a install_with.txt
upon looking it actually was a FULL XP Pro.iso...Nice of them. I have found that almost all LAPTOPS and other machines have a FULL RESTORE somewhere and some call them Z:\ drive...some are D:\ but you never know unless you look...(often wondered why people ordered Laptops with NO CD or DVD Drive.)

Right. My Dell laptop is like that. In fact my 3 iterations of Dell laptops have had that feature. Years ago you typed "ZZTop." The restore partitions on Dells are supposed to take your machine back to the way it came from the factory. Despite including no disks, Dell, because I have an XPS and a good service contract, sent me disks for everything on my machine including XP Pro and MS Office.

[mojavekroc]

I was aware about the hidden partition because that is the reason I needed a restore disk. In trying to install XP Pro x64, I inadvertantly wiped the restore partition. I then had no way to restore my PC. They sent me the disk for free and it looked like it was made to be in the box.

It appears that the two versions of Vista (x86 and x64) will not be on the same disk even though the two versions do fit on a single disk. I think that if you combine the two versions on a single disk it adds up to around 4.4 gb because some of the files are used by both. There is such a disk floating around the torrents but it probably wasn't compiled by MS.

[felix8406]

I got two Dell Laptops for my daughters about seven months ago. When I bought the PCs, I was told about the recovery partition and was given a choice of buying the software, including XP, I believe for $10.00 more. I didn't buy it the disks because I already have various copies of XP.

Anyway, about three months later I accidentally deleted the recovery partition while trying to get rid of a few viruses. (My daughter had disabled the antivirus program while using a peer-to-peer client to download music)

I called Dell and explained the situation and they agreed to send me the disk with the software and drivers for free. Sure enough, two days later (their factory is located about an hour drive from my house) I received four CDs, including Win XP.

Concerning what Mojavekroc mentioned about Vista, I wondered if the recovery partition will include al versions of Vista. That’s possible. It will be to the advantage of MS and the PC manufacture. If the user decides to upgrade, they could contact the manufacture to obtain the key.

[mojavekroc]

Yes Felix,

We did discuss that yesterday at the MS event. MS is hoping that the PC manufacturers will put all of the disk on the partition but MS can only suggest that to them.

[felix8406]

It makes a lot of sense and will be an advantage to both Microsoft and the manufacture. If the user decides to upgrade, a simple email and a credit card will take care of the whole process.

[Snuffy]

The AIO DVD will also be of GREAT assistance for Computer Techs, who have to reinstall.. All the Customer needs then - would be Supply the correct "KEY". Portable DVD players with all adapters just incase they FORMAT that secret partition..(My son in Wa state - his Favorite practice)