Please excuse the following geeky rant.

I'm working on a Compaq Presario 5310US for someone and I've decided that Compaq is s-t-u-p-i-d. This computer has some serious virus problems, and no real personal data to speak of, so the obvious choice is to do a clean install of Windows XP and all of the software that came with the computer. The problem is, Compaq uses a restore process that was developed by a class of 2nd graders (that's a little harsh, 2nd graders could do much better than this). Compaq computers come with a "Recovery CD." You might think that this cd includes the operating system, drivers and software so you can just pop it in, reboot the computer and do a clean install. You might be dead wrong. This worthless cd just allows you to boot into their "QuickRestore" program, which then gets the data it needs to reistall everything from a partition on the hard drive. Does anyone see a problem with this? Does anyone at Compaq have half a dozen working brain cells? Most of the problems that would make you want to do a clean install would involve damage to the data on the hard drive. So the same virus or error that breaks Windows is probably going to damage the D: partition, making you unable to reinstall Windows. So I called Compaq to try and get the operating system on a CD, thinking naively that since my client owns the operating system, they could get it cd form. Nope. They will, however, sell me the data that got lost from the D: partition on CD(!) Oh, so they have the CDs, but they just don't bother putting them in the computer box before you buy it, opting instead for this half-brained scheme of putting the recovery data on the hard drive. They might save $0.50 per computer by leaving the CDs out, but is it worth it? So I got the run around, talked to six different people and was finally put on the special hold line they have for indignat geeks. After listening to the same crappy music for 20 minutes I hung up. I still have the option to buy the CDs for $15, but I don't think it's right. Most other computer companies include real recovery cds with the computer when you buy it. I won't ever advise someone to buy Compaq or HP computers. If you can't resist that cheap computer at Wal-Mart, at least do this: As soon as you get home and see that you only get the one worthless Recovery CD, call tech support and have them send you the rest of the CDs. It won't cost anything while it's under warranty, but then you'll have them when you need them. And you'll need them.

End of rant.