Installing Windows from a Recovery CD

Most vendors no longer provide a full installation CD of Windows for computers with preinstalled Windows installations. Instead, a recovery CD (or sometimes a hidden hard disk partition) containing a special image of the Windows installation is provided. Systems that store the image on a hidden disk partition might offer the opportunity to create a restore image on a recordable CD (CD-R).

A recovery CD is also known as a system restoration CD . In any case, these special versions of Windows aren't standalone copies of Windows, meaning you can't use them to install Windows on another PC (unless the PC is identical to the one for which the CD was made).

Typically, you have limited choices when you want to restore a damaged installation with a recovery CD or recovery files on a disk partition. Typical options include

• Reformatting your hard disk and restoring it to just-shipped condition ( causing the loss of all data and programs installed after the system was first used)

• Reinstalling Windows only

• Reinstalling support files or additional software

Recovery CDs can't be used to perform a clean install of Windows on an empty hard disk. They can fail if third-party hardware has been installed in the computer; it might be necessary to remove third-party hardware before running the recovery CD. Frankly, these limitations make me hate recovery CDs, but sometimes it's all you have.

caution

You might need a CD key or your system's serial number to run the recovery CD program. Keep this information handy.

After you run the recovery CD to restore your system to its original condition, you might need to activate it again if you're running Windows XP.