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Users have always had the responsibility of maintaining and backing up their own system - regardless of operating system. On Vista and later just type "backup" in the Start/Search field. Really not that difficult. If you want to imply that user should never be responsible for backing up and restoring their own data, then you have not lived in the world of computing since it's inception. I have zero sympathy for individuals who don't know how to patch/backup/restore their own systems.



If you don't choose to boot your copy of Windows, then I am not sure what we even have to debate.



I am not tailoring anything. Users are responsible for protecting their systems. Regardless of O/S. Simple. Learn to backup and restore or someday suffer the consequences.



The OEM's make the choice to ship physical media or not. That is not decided by Microsoft.

We do allow images of Windows operating systems to be downloaded. If you have the appropriate license agreement or happen to have an MSDN/Technet/Action Pack Subscription then you can download the .ISO images. Every day users cannot for 1 primary reason -

The vast majority of end-users obtain Windows pre-installed on a computer they buy. That is an OEM license. When the OEM's license Windows from Microsoft to pre-install to a PC they ship, they also have the right to customize with their own crapware, additional custom software of their choosing, and drivers to match their hardware. It is the OEM responsibilty to support the customized installation and, if they choose to do so, provide physical media. Microsoft WILL provide technical support if called, but we will NOT typically provide Windows discs because we do not maintain copies of the OEM custom installs.

Individuals that have purchased retail media should either backup the original media (perfectly legal to do so) or simply install it then store the original in a safe place. Simple.




Microsoft has zero say in how someone re-uses old hardware.

If you have a RETAIL copy of Windows, you can MOVE that from machine to machine however you see fit as long as you remove it from the previous machine.

OEM licenses are different because <drum roll> they are OEM licenses. Contact them for their guidelines.




Microsoft puts no roadblocks in front of anyone to legally use their stuff. Backup your systems, know how to patch them, and make backups of installation media. Every single operating system manufacturer will tell you the exact same thing. Every single one of them.

-Chris

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-Chris

Microsoft's Cultural attache?

Dell. as well as other Mfgs, have flooded the market with surplus media, ie: Restore disks and driver disks.

Prices range from $2.00 to $20.00 each.

Yes, that includes Windows 7 as well as the older stuff..

I have HP, Acer, Dell, Gateway, IBM, and eMachine restore disks within arms length.. XP up..

(Acer owns Gateway and eMachine)

Aerospace companies have flooded the market with workstations..



and laptops..

I completely forgot about one other scenario -

You can purchase Windows 7 online and download immediately. That also allows you to download it again for re-install if needed.

http://windows.microsoft.com/en-US/windows/shop/download-windows-7

-Chris

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-Chris

Nice one Chris.

I am looking forward to the help that your wisdom can give.

You are actually a light. More than you realise.

I tell it like it is. I have no issue with taking a tough stance on this matter. The computing industry has been telling people to backup their information since computers hit the main stream. Reasonable people understand this and protect their information.

-Chris

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-Chris

Chris. Please stop talking to us as a business.
We are a forum.
We comprise of individules.
I am autistic.
I can't spell but can repair computers.
I will help anyone I can.
I am not disrespectful.

I own both Dells and Lenovos, and didn't receive a disk. I received their bloatware disk, but if I want a backup copy of Windows I have to record one. I gave it up the last time I did this, after 5 tries. I may try it on my two Windows 7 laptops since Chris tells me that it has gotten better.


My understanding is that it is not allowed with the OEM version. Certainly downloadable images of disks are not -- it would make sense, but see my prior....

I would even *pay* for shipment of the media at need, but it can be difficult to find, order, and obtain them some years after you purchase a computer.

_________________
[color=#ffff55]Mickey J.[/color]
Alas for those who never sing, but die with all their music in them.
-- Oliver Wendell Holmes, Sr.

On the Dell website, adding the restore disc is possible.. $10.00 extra.

And if you purchase, use the business link, and the customer service will be better..

Prior to my retirement, I ordered 160 Dell desktops every ten weeks.. Every student received one..

So for a while, I had very good service from Dell..

Aha! Thank you for showing me that. I would pay it.


I should place my calls from my largest client's place...we just bought a SAN server.

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[color=#ffff55]Mickey J.[/color]
Alas for those who never sing, but die with all their music in them.
-- Oliver Wendell Holmes, Sr.

Just curious here. How does one install an operating system from an image file? I always used a disc that the PC automatically sees and asks if I want to do a new install. Where would the image file have to be for the computer to see it? Is it just on the hard drive somewhere and you just double click it and let it do it's stuff? Do you have to burn it to a CD? or DVD disc? Flash drive? and then change the boot order to WHAT?

I'm obviously not a techhie so simple english would work best for me if I decide to buy windows 7 on line for a download.

Thanks in advance for any help.

Yes, you burn the ISO file to disc.. DVD or CD depending on size/type..

Windows O/S Images are most commonly stored as a single .ISO file. The .ISO file can easily be burned to DVD using commercial DVD burning software and a few freeware alternatives.

You can also use WinRAR to mount the .ISO file and extract the O/S files and make a bootable USB flash drive to install from. Take 30 mins or less in most cases.

http://maketecheasier.com/boot-and-install-windows-7-from-usb-flash-drive/2009/01/23

I have a single USB Memory stick that has Windows Server 2008 R2 x64, Windows 7 x64, Windows 8 Developer Preview x64 and Office 2010 x86.

-Chris

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-Chris

Thank You very much but that link went way over my head. I think I'll have to figure iut how to burn a bootable disc

when I bought my fujitsu laptop it was a new install of vista and on the start up of it , it asked if I wanted to make some discs so i did ,it was simple and easy to do but time consuming and it would have been nice to have a disc in the box but as Chris pointed out this is to do with fujitsu

I heard loads of horror stories about vista but it always worked ok for me.


I backup files as i learned the hard way losing all my window documents when a hard drive failed a few years back.

_________________
"Your Never Fully dressed without a smile."

To Visit my website Rob Star Entertainments Click the link in my profile

"Strangers are just friend we haven't met yet"

easier my a$$. I just got a copy of windows 7 premium and have tried to make a backup copy of my system.

to date the backup has failed 7 times, and I have gone thru 36dvd discs that I can't use.

I'll have to wait until I buy another external hard drive and see if that works any better.

-james

First, CD/DVD Media has been a dead format for almost 10 years now. The problem is that there are still a bunch of people that haven't figured it out yet.

Second, If you are having issues burning CD/DVD backups using the built-in imaging, then one or more of the following is the culprit -

1) You are using cheap, no name discs
2) You are using a cheap, no name burner
3) You need to update the driver/firmware for the burner.

That said, I would never suggest anyone waste their time babysitting a CD/DVD based backup image. It just doesn't make sense when you can buy a 1 terabyte external USB drive for <$100. The time and effort saved alone justifies the additional cost of going with hard drive based backups.

-Chris

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-Chris

Providing a base copy of the operating system -- on tape or CD -- has been standard since systems have been being produced. Only Microsoft has broken that mold.
I bought it -- despite the fact I would rather have the $50.00. Forced by Microsoft, in essence, unless I choose to build my own computer. I may want to use it later, and I resent the fact that I cannot.

Again, I said it was legal. Microsoft went through a lengthy and expensive legal process that mediated that. But it doesn't mean I have to like the strongarm tactics. And it means I have zero sympathy for screams and whines about piracy.
Again, until Microsoft pulled it, it was standard to receive a base copy of *any* operating system on media.
You have to purchase it, and I would if it was offered at a reasonable cost in stores where I buy the computer. It is not.

Again, Microsoft makes it difficult on many levels to do this. If it were just a case of including a DVD, any manufacturer would do it. It costs a dime, maybe $1.00 at most including labeling and recording costs. But the real cost is much higher due to intentional Microsoft policies designed to discourage distribution of the OS.


Yes they have, and yes they do. See the ten-year government suit against them. They coerce manufacturers into shipping Windows with every system.
There you go, blaming the victim again. It's easy to see why many people don't like Microsoft, if that's the standard attitude. Again, prior to Microsoft it was standard to provide a base copy of an OS. Backing up data? Of course. Backing up the base *product* before you ever booted it? Absurd.

I don't have these problems, because I use something else. Anti-virus work? I never have to do it. Patching? Sure, but it's easy and done when *I* want to do it. I don't like Microsoft operating systems, never have. I like some of their other software quite a bit, but the Windows OS is horrible and I have thought so from the start.

Again, they have the right to do it. But they also have to live with the fact that people don't like them because of their policies. I have zero sympathy for complaints about piracy when it is sometimes the only way to get a system working. I don't have to deal with it, because I don't use Windows. But I understand the frustration of others.

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[color=#ffff55]Mickey J.[/color]
Alas for those who never sing, but die with all their music in them.
-- Oliver Wendell Holmes, Sr.

as for backing up with discs I actually had a problem as i was using DVD-R discs and for some reason the fujitsu didn't like that i changed to DVD+R and it worked fine.

_________________
"Your Never Fully dressed without a smile."

To Visit my website Rob Star Entertainments Click the link in my profile

"Strangers are just friend we haven't met yet"

I have always left the installs to the boyfriend so I don't know--is there something in the Microsoft manual or loading info that warns users to make a back-up, how to do it, etc.?

To me, this is like alot of things we use in day to day life that we are all not necessarily experts about or hobbiest fanatics. Many of us drive cars every day but don't know exactly how they work or how to repair one. But at least you get a manual telling you to have the oil changed, etc.