Sunday, January 18, 2004

HP OS Recovery System Still Causes Grief It's been almost two years since I wrote about HP's no-CD recovery system for Windows XP, and I still frequently hear from Pavilion owners who have just discovered the unpleasant truth. And now they suffer from the additional problem that their PCs are generally no longer under warranty, meaning that HP apparently feels justified in refusing to provide recovery CDs at all. One reader who had just discovered the disadvtanges of HP's disk-based recovery system recently wrote: I just got off the phone with HP regarding getting a recovery CD. I had to run the Partition-Based System Recovery Program via the computer, and when it went to re-boot the monitor was not displaying the Windows logo any longer. I ended up calling HP, and, I was informed because my warranty had run out that I was not able to get a recovery CD. And they could pass me along to support regarding the blank monitor and see if someone there could bypass the system to see if they could help, but this would cost $30.00 and, if they were unable to help me, it would not be refunded. What did I do? What any mature adult would do when she has bought games for the kids for Christmas and is unable to use the computer: I shouted (mild explitive) and proceeded to hang up the phone. Made me feel better? No, not really, because I still have a piece of metal sitting here with no recovery disks. Is this a way for HP to make money on the average citizen, just because you are not under warranty and I can't get recovery disks? Looks like I have a new planter and sad children for Christmas. Thank you, HP, I will never buy another product from you again. 11:53:02 AM    comment []