How to re-install Vista with no OEM DvD

[dbsantos77]

Hi all, here's my problem.

A couple of months ago I bought an HP Pavilion DV5-1235dx Laptop from HP. It runs Vista Home Premium 64-Bit. Problem is that they did not include an Vista re-install DVD. I've called their "tech" support, long story short, that did not do any good at all.

I was wondering if there is any possible way to make my own OEM vista DVD so I can re-install? Again, it's Vista Home Premium 64-Bit. I really do not want to order one from HP.

There is also a recovery app in my installation that will make recovery DVD's (3) which is too many, as the vista installation is less then 4 GB.

Any help is appreciated, thanks!

 

[truthkid]

If you have a friend who also has a OEM version of vista in whatever flavor you got, you can use their boot disk and just make sure you change the product key after it finishes installing. Just did it for one of the guys I work with and since we couldn't get him online we called the windows activation number to get a confirmation number. You wouldn't have to call if you have internet (and I assume you do as I would be insane just talking to myself)

 

[mansrm81]

It takes so many DVD's to make the recovery because of all the crapware that is installed from the factory.

 

[dbsantos77]

I'll see if I can get my hands on a copy. Gateway actually sent me a DVD for my desktop, can't see why HP can't do the same... Thanks for the help!

EDIT - mansrm81: I know! That's the main reason I wanted the sole OS, with nothing else. It was pretty funny actually, the indian guy on tech support said that my Recovery application might not be compatible with writing the DVD's..huh? Lol he was trying to get me to pay for support, hung up on him. That's why I have vistax64

 

[mansrm81]

You can order it from HP's website and only have to pay shipping and handling I think.

 

[truthkid]

The only issue I could possibly forsee is if its some vendor bloatware enhanced version of Vista. Fortunately my notebook is a Sager, and they just pack a copy of 32/64 home premium so it's ended up bailing out a few people now.

 

[Night Hawk]

That's there preinstalled option for seeing a set of disks made up. Disk #1=OS, Disk #2= separate device drivers, updates disk, Disk #3= prepackaged softwares

The compressed files you would see on each disk alone would simply be too large for cd-rs. This is one reason for the use of separate dvds split into 3 parts. The OS disk alone would run about 3+gb for the 64bit Vista.

A good number of the newer machines by HP and other manufacturers also see a key combination option at post for a full system restore back to factory. You'll want to go over the user manual as well as the online FaQs section at HP for this.

 

[dbsantos77]

Thanks everyone for the help!

Yes I know that I can order one from HP's site, but that same indian said that they would charge from $15, to $20, to $25, to get it to me. I will check their website.

Night Hawk - Thanks for laying that out for me, never knew that's how they set it up!

EDIT - Okay I looked on their website and they have the DVD with SP1 for 15 bucks through US Mail (No UPS), I'll hold off for now since I'm not in a rush, but It can be ordered, I'll also try the built-in recovery method. Thanks to everyone for their help! Problem Solved!