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Do any computer towers come with a separate OS disk?

Does anyone know if it’s still possible to buy a computer tower that comes with Windows 7 Operating System as a separate disk?

When I visited one well known shop today, I was told by the salesman that no towers come with a Windows 7 Operating System disk or any sort of recovery disk now.

He told me that if I wanted to reinstall all I needed to do was to press the F8 key and it would reinstall everything, without the need of a separate disk(s).

He also told me that I couldn’t buy a Windows 7 Operating System disk.

Someone else told me that I could make a recovery disk for Windows 7, but would the recovery disk work on a new hard drive.

I’d really appreciate some help.

Thanks
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Comments

  • Hammyman
    Hammyman Posts: 9,913 Forumite
    Virtually all new computers allow you to make a recovery disc. It will work on a new hard drive.
  • -TangleFoot-
    -TangleFoot- Posts: 4,673 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture Combo Breaker
    IceQueen wrote: »
    He also told me that I couldn’t buy a Windows 7 Operating System disk.
    Other than this obvious gaffe your 'salesman' is essentially correct; it's cheaper for them to distribute computers without that sort of thing. If you ask the manufacturer nicely they may supply one, but you'll probably have to pay for it in any case.
  • macman
    macman Posts: 53,129 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 10,000 Posts Name Dropper
    Was you 'well known shop' a branch of PCW by any chance? Don't be coy, please name and shame!
    If it was, I strongly suggest that you take your business to a proper PC shop.
    No free lunch, and no free laptop ;)
  • Derivative
    Derivative Posts: 1,698 Forumite
    It is fairly rare to recieve a proper operating system disc nowadays.
    A recovery disc should be available though - might have to ask the manufacturer.

    Bloody annoying, as the recovery disc always installs loads of tosh you have to uninstall later.
    Said Aristippus, “If you would learn to be subservient to the king you would not have to live on lentils.”
    Said Diogenes, “Learn to live on lentils and you will not have to be subservient to the king.”[FONT=Verdana, Arial, Helvetica][/FONT]
  • macman
    macman Posts: 53,129 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 10,000 Posts Name Dropper
    As Hammy says, it will prompt you to burn a recovery disc on initial boot up. Unfortunately a lot of people are so keen to play with their shiny new computer that they skip this important stage.
    A recovery partition is fine, but will be of no help whatsoever in recovering your data, nor will it be of any use if you suffer hard drive failure.
    No free lunch, and no free laptop ;)
  • MisterBrico
    MisterBrico Posts: 136 Forumite
    I got a dell studio cps from pc world and it came with all the os disks and dells own installers etc
  • DCFC79
    DCFC79 Posts: 40,641 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 10,000 Posts Name Dropper
    You may be able to buy computers that come without an operating system (i think dell possibly do 1) and you buy your own OS, novatect do barebones pcs
  • prowla
    prowla Posts: 14,194 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 10,000 Posts Name Dropper
    Why would you buy a computer that didn't include an original media set?
  • Mondez
    Mondez Posts: 146 Forumite
    http://forums.mydigitallife.info/threads/14709-Windows-7-Digital-River-direct-links-English-Spanish-German-French-X86-amp-X64 provides links to a legitimate MS download for windows 7 and instructions on how to build an actual disk from it. The links are apparently only for students, but since you already have a license to run Windows 7 I don't see any problems. Please note I haven't tried building a disk myself this way, I just came across it on my travels.
  • prowla wrote: »
    Why would you buy a computer that didn't include an original media set?

    The easiest solution of course is to buy and build yourself, then you can buy an OEM of the OS of your choice.
    Signaller, author, father, carer.
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