# How do you reinstall an OS if manufacturer doesn't include a recovery disk? **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [April 23, 2011, 6:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-you-reinstall-an-os-if-manufacturer-doesnt-include-a-recovery-disk/579479 "2011-04-23T18:10:40Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Quintas](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/q/48db29/32.png) [@Quintas](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Quintas)\ **Post date:** [April 23, 2011, 6:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-you-reinstall-an-os-if-manufacturer-doesnt-include-a-recovery-disk/579479/1 "2011-04-23T18:10:40Z")
I was looking at a new computer at Dell. it says “Operating systems DO NOT include a recovery disk” So, if I buy your computer I can never do a format/clean install? Am I missing something or is this how it works now? And if so, why??? If this is the case, they’ve lost a sale and I would imagine alot of sales. ---
**Author:** ![Joey\_P](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/919ad9/32.png) [@Joey\_P](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Joey_P)\ **Post date:** [April 23, 2011, 6:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-you-reinstall-an-os-if-manufacturer-doesnt-include-a-recovery-disk/579479/2 "2011-04-23T18:11:31Z")
They usually come with software pre-installed to burn your own recovery disks. ---
**Author:** ![KneadToKnow](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kneadtoknow/32/3999_2.png) [@KneadToKnow](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/KneadToKnow)\ **Post date:** [April 23, 2011, 6:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-you-reinstall-an-os-if-manufacturer-doesnt-include-a-recovery-disk/579479/3 "2011-04-23T18:16:37Z")
A lot of manufacturers now include a [recovery partition](http://www.tweaksforgeeks.com/tips/2009/01/how-do-you-access-dells-recovery-partition) on the hard drive. In the event of a failure of the primary partition, you can boot to the recovery partition and reinstall the image. In the event of a failure of the hard drive itself or the controller, you’re hosed. Moral: backup the entire hard drive (all partitions) the day you take it out of the box. ---
**Author:** ![Quintas](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/q/48db29/32.png) [@Quintas](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Quintas)\ **Post date:** [April 23, 2011, 6:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-you-reinstall-an-os-if-manufacturer-doesnt-include-a-recovery-disk/579479/4 "2011-04-23T18:20:06Z")
> [@Joey\_P](#): > > They usually come with software pre-installed to burn your own recovery disks. Does this allow me to reinstall _just_ the OS w/o all the additional crap that usually comes pre-installed? ---
**Author:** ![Dewey\_Finn](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dewey_finn/32/4222_2.png) [@Dewey\_Finn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dewey_Finn)\ **Post date:** [April 23, 2011, 6:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-you-reinstall-an-os-if-manufacturer-doesnt-include-a-recovery-disk/579479/5 "2011-04-23T18:21:33Z")
> [@Joey\_P](#): > > They usually come with software pre-installed to burn your own recovery disks. Second this. There’s usually a utility in Windows that will burn the recovery disks to CDs or DVDs that you provide yourself. And I highly recommend doing so. The recovery disks will usually bring the system back to the exact configuration it had when new. ---
**Author:** ![Quintas](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/q/48db29/32.png) [@Quintas](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Quintas)\ **Post date:** [April 23, 2011, 6:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-you-reinstall-an-os-if-manufacturer-doesnt-include-a-recovery-disk/579479/6 "2011-04-23T18:27:03Z")
> [@Dewey\_Finn](#): > > Second this. There’s usually a utility in Windows that will burn the recovery disks to CDs or DVDs that you provide yourself. And I highly recommend doing so. The recovery disks will usually bring the system back to the exact configuration it had when new. I dont want the exact configuration as new. ---
**Author:** ![running\_coach](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/running_coach/32/15836_2.png) [@running\_coach](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/running_coach)\ **Post date:** [April 23, 2011, 6:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-you-reinstall-an-os-if-manufacturer-doesnt-include-a-recovery-disk/579479/7 "2011-04-23T18:27:10Z")
> [@Dewey\_Finn](#): > > Second this. There’s usually a utility in Windows that will burn the recovery disks to CDs or DVDs that you provide yourself. And I highly recommend doing so. The recovery disks will usually bring the system back to the exact configuration it had when new. And that includes the crapware. ---
**Author:** ![Fear\_Itself](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/fear_itself/32/19637_2.png) [@Fear\_Itself](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fear_Itself)\ **Post date:** [April 23, 2011, 6:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-you-reinstall-an-os-if-manufacturer-doesnt-include-a-recovery-disk/579479/8 "2011-04-23T18:27:39Z")
> [@Quintas](#): > > Does this allow me to reinstall _just_ the OS w/o all the additional crap that usually comes pre-installed? No. It is usually a disk image of the factory installed OS and software. ---
**Author:** ![Joey\_P](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/919ad9/32.png) [@Joey\_P](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Joey_P)\ **Post date:** [April 23, 2011, 6:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-you-reinstall-an-os-if-manufacturer-doesnt-include-a-recovery-disk/579479/9 "2011-04-23T18:28:32Z")
> [@Quintas](#): > > Does this allow me to reinstall _just_ the OS w/o all the additional crap that usually comes pre-installed? Nope. ---
**Author:** ![Dewey\_Finn](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dewey_finn/32/4222_2.png) [@Dewey\_Finn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dewey_Finn)\ **Post date:** [April 23, 2011, 6:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-you-reinstall-an-os-if-manufacturer-doesnt-include-a-recovery-disk/579479/10 "2011-04-23T18:38:10Z")
> [@Quintas](#): > > I dont want the exact configuration as new. Every Dell system I’ve bought comes with the OS disk, a separate disk containing the appropriate drivers for the other hardware and any special disks needed for the DVD burner or the video card. So if you want, you can wipe the system, install the OS and the drivers. It shouldn’t take longer than a couple of hours. ---
**Author:** ![robcaro](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/df705f/32.png) [@robcaro](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/robcaro)\ **Post date:** [April 23, 2011, 6:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-you-reinstall-an-os-if-manufacturer-doesnt-include-a-recovery-disk/579479/11 "2011-04-23T18:41:34Z")
I always just buy a new set of the OS so that I never have that problem. ---
**Author:** ![Nadir](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/nadir/32/7302_2.png) [@Nadir](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Nadir)\ **Post date:** [April 23, 2011, 6:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-you-reinstall-an-os-if-manufacturer-doesnt-include-a-recovery-disk/579479/12 "2011-04-23T18:56:16Z")
I always just use Linux and avoid the Windoze hassles altogether. 😃 ---
**Author:** ![DarrenS](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/977dab/32.png) [@DarrenS](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DarrenS)\ **Post date:** [April 23, 2011, 6:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-you-reinstall-an-os-if-manufacturer-doesnt-include-a-recovery-disk/579479/13 "2011-04-23T18:58:23Z")
Dell seems to have moved almost entirely to recovery partitions instead of OS disks, unfortunately. I found [this](https://support.dell.com/support/topics/global.aspx/support/dellcare/en/backupcd_form) rather obscure section of the Dell website, where you can request physical recovery disks. I did this, and within a few days received the disks for my new laptop. Even better, there are two disks: one with the pure OS, _sans_ any crapware, and the other with the crapware, so you can not install it if you choose. ---
**Author:** ![lazybratsche](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/ba8739/32.png) [@lazybratsche](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lazybratsche)\ **Post date:** [April 23, 2011, 7:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-you-reinstall-an-os-if-manufacturer-doesnt-include-a-recovery-disk/579479/14 "2011-04-23T19:04:13Z")
New computers come with a valid windows license key. They’re usually printed on a sticker on the bottom a laptop or at least somewhere in the documentation. You can borrow the right install disk from a friend or employer (or any other way you might think to acquire such a thing…) and install using your own key. Ta-da, fresh completely legitimate windows install, sans crapware. ---
**Author:** ![Fear\_Itself](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/fear_itself/32/19637_2.png) [@Fear\_Itself](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fear_Itself)\ **Post date:** [April 23, 2011, 7:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-you-reinstall-an-os-if-manufacturer-doesnt-include-a-recovery-disk/579479/15 "2011-04-23T19:24:04Z")
Except product keys from retail Windows won’t work on OEM Windows, and vice versa… ---
**Author:** ![lazybratsche](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/ba8739/32.png) [@lazybratsche](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lazybratsche)\ **Post date:** [April 23, 2011, 7:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-you-reinstall-an-os-if-manufacturer-doesnt-include-a-recovery-disk/579479/16 "2011-04-23T19:35:10Z")
The retail/OEM distinction went away a while ago. I vaguely recall it was still valid for XP, never had to deal with Vista, and I know now that it doesn’t matter with 7. The only difference now is Microsoft’s sales and pricing strategy. You can absolutely [use a retail Windows 7 disk to reinstall with your OEM license key](http://answers.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/forum/windows_7-windows_install/windows-7-oem-key-with-a-non-oem-disc/7788dfa2-94a7-4db3-8bcd-b0e109bd7b95). ---
**Author:** ![KneadToKnow](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kneadtoknow/32/3999_2.png) [@KneadToKnow](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/KneadToKnow)\ **Post date:** [April 23, 2011, 8:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-you-reinstall-an-os-if-manufacturer-doesnt-include-a-recovery-disk/579479/17 "2011-04-23T20:35:17Z")
> [@Quintas](#): > > I dont want the exact configuration as new. Then keep your backups up-to-date. ---
**Author:** ![nivlac](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/3bc359/32.png) [@nivlac](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/nivlac)\ **Post date:** [April 23, 2011, 8:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-you-reinstall-an-os-if-manufacturer-doesnt-include-a-recovery-disk/579479/18 "2011-04-23T20:48:16Z")
> [@KneadToKnow](#): > > Then keep your backups up-to-date. Exactly. Once you get your system the way you want it (without the unwanted pre-installed crapware) create a backup image and put this away in a safe place. Restore from that backup when you want to start clean again. ---
**Author:** ![eno801](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/c2a13f/32.png) [@eno801](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/eno801)\ **Post date:** [April 23, 2011, 10:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-you-reinstall-an-os-if-manufacturer-doesnt-include-a-recovery-disk/579479/19 "2011-04-23T22:59:05Z")
if you got a dell. call them or email and tell them your hard drive is hosed and you cannot access the recovery partition to restore your system or make restore discs. they will ship out the operating system disc and driver disc. ---
**Author:** ![mittu](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/ecd19e/32.png) [@mittu](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mittu)\ **Post date:** [April 24, 2011, 5:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-you-reinstall-an-os-if-manufacturer-doesnt-include-a-recovery-disk/579479/20 "2011-04-24T05:48:32Z")
> [@Quintas](#): > > Does this allow me to reinstall _just_ the OS w/o all the additional crap that usually comes pre-installed? It is rare but you can sometimes do this. My HP laptop has the option to install Windows and drivers only rather than the full ‘day 1 condition’. I wish all manufacturers would do this, it is a shame to see a new, powerful PC running like a dog because of all the bloatware. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-you-reinstall-an-os-if-manufacturer-doesnt-include-a-recovery-disk/579479.md?page=2)