Yahoo Answers is shutting down on May 4th, 2021 (Eastern Time) and beginning April 20th, 2021 (Eastern Time) the Yahoo Answers website will be in read-only mode. There will be no changes to other Yahoo properties or services, or your Yahoo account. You can find more information about the Yahoo Answers shutdown and how to download your data on this help page.

Trending News

Promoted
Great
Lv 4
Great asked in Computers & InternetOther - Computers · 1 decade ago

Why is it so difficult to get a new computer with copies of the operating system and device drivers?

I recently purchased a new net-book computer for myself at a local computer retailer, for the first time in about 7 years, as I wanted a net-book instead of building my own system and couldn't find readily available sources of parts anywhere. Last time I bought a retail computer they tried to pass me on a restore disk instead of actually giving me copies of my software so they could have numerous addendum software added in so I explicitly asked the sales person if my drivers and OS disks would be included and he assured me they would be i asked if they would be on bootable optical media or on a usb flash drive as the net-book has no integral optical or removable media magnetic drives and he said "it would make sense for it to be on a usb drive" I get home open up the net-book and find out that there is no included software but directions for downloading the software from the internet and making my own disk at the web site so I promptly call the retailer, (with whom I have a generally good relationship from buying numerous parts there in the past to build my own systems) and am informed that if I really have a problem I need to come in to see their tech support department. When I arrive approximately 35 minutes from the time on my receipt I am informed that no net-book includes OS disks and only a few come with recovery disks. So I ask to trade in my new net-book for a similarly valued and slightly better outfitted laptop with an optical drive.

Only to open it on the spot and find that it only has a recovery disk as well. I am then told by their tech support department that almost no brands of laptops have drivers disks anymore just recovery disks. I then get the different makers of both computers on the phone to be informed that apparently they no longer include OS disks and drivers disks with their systems. Only recovery disks.

I need to know how to get an authorized OEM copy of windows 7 for my new net-book from the manufacturer, and how to get drivers disks from them as their recovery disk seems to only want to install a modified build of windows that includes features I don't want or need and a fair amount of bloat ware.

Update:

I am not looking for a recovery disk, I am looking for a clean copy of the OS like I have been able to get with every previous computer I have purchased finished, from my IBM PS1 to a Sony laptop I purchased in 2002, each time I purchase a computer from around 1998 on the manufacturer seems more and more hesitant to include the non manufacturer modified operating system disk, and individual drivers disk, All I want is a full copy of windows and the drivers so I can pick the features to install, and not have their included bloat ware.

Update 2:

OEM isn't including of the bloatware to the first responder it is the packaging of windows sold by software publishers to computer builders who sell their finished products. To the first responder.

Update 3:

I am not looking for a recovery disk I am looking for the ability to format the drive and install the OS clean, without a branded splash screen and various prepackaged software, that I would have to remove the registry keys for upon uninstall.

All i want is my drivers disks and the operating system disks that I am allowed by law to have a back-up copy of when I purchase them installed on a computer system.

Update 4:

I can get a recovery disk, that contains a hijacked image of the data I want, and if I really want to can probably strip and burn what I want and need long term from that and I don't technically "need" either at this time but I would really like to know why this data isn't made available to the end user in a fairly simple format upon request, especially since I know that in the early and mid 1990's there were a number of court cases that made a free back-up copy of preinstalled software a right of the

4 Answers

Relevance
  • Trish
    Lv 7
    1 decade ago
    Favorite Answer

    You don`t need discs for most computers these days, I never make the restore discs, as nearly all can be restored to factory settings just by pressing a combination of keys at startup.

    As you point out they do include bloatware, but it is easily removed and is the first task I do with a new computer.

    REPLY TO ADDED INFO.

    I think we all realise what it is you actually want, but I`m afraid if that is the only option for you, it will mean buying a copy of Windows 7, unless you go the illegal route and download and burn a copy.

    As for a driver disc, it`s very easy to make your own disc using Drivermax.

  • Anonymous
    1 decade ago

    With most computers you have to make your own recovery disks. Figure it out. If they sell a million computers, and don't have to pay for a million disks, and the cost of either burning them or buying pressed disks, that's a lot of money saved. (You can always download the drivers and burn them to a CD.)

  • Anonymous
    1 decade ago

    1) OEM software includes the "bloatware" you talk about. That's what makes it OEM. You can always uninstall it, but if you want a "clean" install, you need to buy retail discs.

    2) Not including recovery discs with the computer reduces their cost. You can always create discs yourself.

  • Computer Technician
    Lv 7
    1 decade ago

    I purchased one for my wife and had not problems. everything was pre-installed. I don't know what your problem is.

    Source(s): Computer Tech
Still have questions? Get your answers by asking now.