I don't need to reformat my computer, but this is just something I'm curious about. I got this HP computer a couple months back and it didn't come with any software. When I first turned it on, all the drivers were already updated and everything, which I thought was cool. Now that I think about it, though, I don't understand how I would be able to reinstall windows. It didn't come with any disc, so what would I do? Googling does nothing (just shows threads about idiots trying to figure out how to generally install Windows). Anyone else have a computer like this that didn't come with any sort of discs?

If this was a brand new computer, then it usually comes with a partition on the hard drive from which you can create a recovery disc. Normally there will be a program from the manufacturer that you can run to make the recovery disc - put in a blank CD, run the program and follow the instructions, and it'll burn the disc from the partition. Normally there will be instructions that come with the computer telling you to do this. Basically it's cost-cutting on the part of the manufacturer, because most people 'never' reinstall windows it's an extra cost the manufacturer's try to skip.

If you've received this computer second-hand from someone else, then it's possible that they (stupidly) got rid of the recovery partition and didn't make a disc first (or, you didn't get the disc they made). In that case you're screwed and you'll have to organise a new copy of windows; contacting the manufacturer would be worth a shot, but I'd expect to end up needing to pay money for a new OEM or retail copy.

He could just torrent a Windows 7 ISO and use the OEM key that's on his computer case.

I'm not sure that will work. The big manufacturer's have special distributions from Microsoft that they install onto the PCs that mean they don't need to be activated by the user when they turn them on (because this upsets Dell customers who ring up Dell confused and complain, etc). I'm not sure if the OEM key on the box will work with just any W7 torrent.

Well there is a recovery partition, but I don't understand what I would do with it. When I open the "recovery" program that in the partition, I get this window:



Not sure what program I would use to make a disc though. >>

Well I don't think any of us here can really hold your hand through this.

Work it out. Or if you can't, ring up HP, I'm sure they get lots of clueless people trying to do this.

Meh, it's not all that serious. I was just curious, and since googling didn't help, I came here.

Right, didn't actually see the first part where you said you didn't actually need to reformat your computer.

You should makes these discs *now*, because if your computer is FUBAR and you can't actually get into it to make the discs, then you're up shit creek.

Partition into Ubuntu/windows. When Windows decides to take a crapper on you, rage quit and switch to Ubuntu.

Nah you can get them from Microsoft for the price of shipping + discs. http://support.microsoft.com/kb/326246/en-us

Torrenting the files and making a bootable USB is my suggestion.

Then rage as you havve to type in your blank password to log in, unable to run most of your games without a vm or crappy wine support, and can't figure out how to customize the taskbar and mouse button configuration.

Yeah, I've started using Ubuntu at work and I'm really surprised at just how shitty it is for standard GUI stuff. Resizing windows requires you to click on 1 pixel to get the resize arrows, if you miss-click it changes windows or scrolls. There's no way to change mouse wheel scroll lines.