Used Laptop Has No Windows Vista Installation Disks?

[Paul678]

Ok, so my Toshiba Satellite A215-S5837 now has
a working screen, thanks for all your help with choosing
a replacement.

But I'm wondering now, what happens if I have to re-install
Windows Vista? The Product Key Proof of License sticker is
on the bottom of the laptop, but the original owner didn't have
the disks. Do even new laptops often get sold without the
installation disks? I ask, because re-formatting a HD is something
that sometimes must be done, as you all know.

If I prove that my License sticker is valid, can I get installation
disks from Microsoft? (FAT CHANCE!!!)

Thanks for any advice.....

[ratdude747]

Re: Used Laptop Has No Windows Vista Installation Disks?

torrent an uncracked, clean version.

btw, you can use either 64bit or 32bit, they use the same set of keys.

as for legality, uncracked/clean versions are legal since you already have the key and are usign the key on the unit it came with...

laptops 99% of the time come withthe discs when new, but people lose them...

a little tip- if you have the hdd space at home, i suggest making an .iso of important discs and if the key is attached to a cd sleeve saving a text file of the key with it... that way if you need to re-install and lost the disc and key, you are a cd/dvd burn away from beign back in the game.

[shovenose]

Re: Used Laptop Has No Windows Vista Installation Disks?

Most new laptops do not include any CDs - they either include a tool that lets you burn your own restore CDs (even though oftentimes these will detect the serial number of your hard drive and not work on a different drive, so if your HDD fails you're SOL), or they include a recovery partition on the drive, (or both)...
As you can see, if your hard drive fails you have to buy a new set of discs from the manufacturer.
Multiple years ago when my HP Pavilion dv4 had a hard drive failure one day after the warranty expired and the recovery DVD I had burned was invalid because the new drive had a different serial number, I called them and they sent me a restore DVD for it with express shipping at no charge. So you have a chance, but your biggest chance would be the manufacturer, not Microsoft.
Pros: drivers included
Cons: bloatware

[Paul678]

Re: Used Laptop Has No Windows Vista Installation Disks?

Do you mean look for a peer-to-peer file sharing site
where I can download an uncracked version of Vista? And
then burn a DVD from that?

Wow, I've haven't done that since Windows 98!

And another question: If in an emergency, can I install
Windows XP onto my laptop? I read somewhere that
some newer laptops were not "downgradable" to earlier
versions of Windows (older than Vista or 7).

But I should be able to upgrade to Windows 7, right?

[Toasty]

Re: Used Laptop Has No Windows Vista Installation Disks?

>>If I prove that my License sticker is valid, can I get installation disks from Microsoft?<<

No. From the OEM supplier only - Toshiba

>>laptops 99% of the time come with the discs when new, but people lose them...<<

Not true, anymore. Shovenose stated it correctly. YOU have to make your own set of discs when you receive the unit.

>>Do you mean look for a peer-to-peer file sharing site where I can download an uncracked version of Vista? And then burn a DVD from that?<<

Something like that. Just Google torrents. You have to get a Toshiba Vista or Windows 7 disc. Looks at BIOS SLIC table for activation codes. You can run a bootstrapper program to bypass SLIC, but that is always a chase with MS. With the Toshiba disc, you don't use any codes. It should install and be activated right off the bat.

Toast

**cough** p i r a t e **cough** b a y

Damn furballs!

PS: Make an image backup of the drive to DVD or another hard drive. That way if it crashes, you can just overwrite whatever new drive you install. Acronis True Image Home is a good product for this.

.

[ReverendJones]

Re: Used Laptop Has No Windows Vista Installation Disks?

From Toshiba:

Many Toshiba laptops come with the factory software recovery image stored in a special (hidden) area on the hard disk. From this special hidden image, you can restore your computer to its factory-fresh software condition by following these steps:

To restore the original factory software image on your computer follow these steps:

1) Make sure the computer is turned off ("Shut-down" from the Windows Start menu)
2) Remove any peripherals such an external mouse, keyboard, monitor, USB flash drive etc.
3) Make sure the AC Adapter is plugged in and working.
4) Press and hold down the 0 (zero) key on the keyboard while powering on the computer. Release it when the recovery warning screen appears.
5) If the recovery process offers a choice of Operating Systems, select the appropriate one for you.
6) A warning screen appears, stating that when the recovery is executed all data will be deleted and rewritten.
7) Click Yes to continue.
8) When the Toshiba Recovery Wizard opens select "Recovery of Factory Software" or the appropriate option for your needs.
9) Continue to follow the directions restarting as necessary.


It is also possible to order replacement recovery media from Toshiba: LINK

[lti]

Re: Used Laptop Has No Windows Vista Installation Disks?

The last two Toshiba laptops I saw did not have that. You had to create the recovery discs. On my dad's laptop, the recovery disc creator opened immediately after completing Windows setup. On mine, I had to hunt for the program because it wasn't where the manual said it would be.

[Toasty]

Re: Used Laptop Has No Windows Vista Installation Disks?

Factory recovery partition is fine as long as the hard drive itself does not fail.

Unfortunately, both Vista Toshiba's I've dealt with had failed (Hitachi) drives. Most data was recovered but it was a rough process. They seemed okay until they got warmed up then they would get flaky.

Both ended up with WD Scorpio Black drives with Toshiba Win 7 Ultimate.

Toast

[ratdude747]

Re: Used Laptop Has No Windows Vista Installation Disks?

gee, i didn't know pre-included dvd's were a thing of the past... i figured since the last thing i bought new (a eee pc 1000HEb) came with a dvd and had no drive, that it was still a given.

you learn every day.

[shovenose]

Re: Used Laptop Has No Windows Vista Installation Disks?

gee, i didn't know pre-included dvd's were a thing of the past... i figured since the last thing i bought new (a eee pc 1000HEb) came with a dvd and had no drive, that it was still a given.

you learn every day.

Back when I bought my EEE PC 900HD it had an installation CD.
I am 100% HP and Lenovo don't include them, not sure about the other brands...

[PCBONEZ]

Re: Used Laptop Has No Windows Vista Installation Disks?

I just fixed a 2 year old Lenovo and the owner had the factory made restore disks that came with it.
Was a desktop though...
.
This one in fact...
https://www.badcaps.net/forum/showthread.php?t=17866

[Paul678]

Re: Used Laptop Has No Windows Vista Installation Disks?

Reverend Jones, pressing Zero while turning the computer on did
not work for my unit. I was also not able to find the Toshiba
Recovery Media Creator on my machine, to burn my own DVDs
(my machine may be too old).

Also, Toshiba wanted $30 for recovery disks, and I'm not certain
that included shipping and handling or not!

And on the torrent searches, I was not able to find a
Vista application specific to Toshiba, although there
were many cracked versions available.

Perhaps I'll create some cracked Vista DVDs, for an emergency,
even though it's totally legal for me to install Vista on my machine??

Strange world.....

[PCBONEZ]

Re: Used Laptop Has No Windows Vista Installation Disks?

Why don't you look for Toshiba XP, 'cause Vista sux.
It's even legal...
http://www.computerworld.com/s/artic...owngrade_to_XP
.
$30 for restore disks is pretty reasonable.
Generally used ones cost that much on eBay.
.

[Paul678]

Re: Used Laptop Has No Windows Vista Installation Disks?

Yeah, I've heard bad things about Vista, but I'm
too new to know about them yet.

Perhaps I'll wait and stick with my XP disks.

Again, I've read somewhere that some machines
don't let you downgrade from 7 to XP, but
I'm not sure if that was BS or not.

At any rate, downgrading from Vista to XP doesn't
look like a problem....

[PCBONEZ]

Re: Used Laptop Has No Windows Vista Installation Disks?

There is a Toshiba XP at the

**cough** p i r a t e **cough** b a y

Damn furballs!.

If you're lucky it will self activate on your Toshiba.
.

[PCBONEZ]

Re: Used Laptop Has No Windows Vista Installation Disks?

Again, I've read somewhere that some machines
don't let you downgrade from 7 to XP, but
I'm not sure if that was BS or not.

My guess is either BS or actually about driver issues.
.

[Toasty]

Re: Used Laptop Has No Windows Vista Installation Disks?

I'd step up to either Win 7 Home Premium or Ultimate and those torrents are out there.

Why go backwards to a nearly 11 year old OS?

Yes, I'm one of those who kept 98SE machines running through 2005. So I'm not one to jump into a new OS from one that's become "cozy". But from what I've seen and done on Win 7, it's very comfortable after a few weeks. Things just work in 7 where in XP it was not always the case and required fiddling at times.

Again, my 2¢

.

[Toasty]

Re: Used Laptop Has No Windows Vista Installation Disks?

...If you're lucky it will self activate on your Toshiba...

I don't think XP uses the BIOS SLIC. I believe that started with Vista.

.

[Paul678]

Re: Used Laptop Has No Windows Vista Installation Disks?

Well, there apparently ARE people who don't like 7 either, and
who have gone back to XP:

http://www.computerworld.com/s/artic...owngrade_to_XP


But I suppose I should give the latest and "greatest" a try.

Can you give me more details about why you think 7 is
better than XP? More stable? More efficient CPU usage?
Generally faster overall? Easier to navigate and find things?

Thanks much.....

[brethin]

Re: Used Laptop Has No Windows Vista Installation Disks?

I don't think XP uses the BIOS SLIC. I believe that started with Vista.

.

XP use BIOS SLP
Vista uses BIOS SLIC 2.0
Windows 7 uses BIOS SLIC 2.1