[PCWorld]

Post your comments for How Do I Reinstall Windows Without a Recovery Partition? here

[QUADICON]

You can always call or go online and order the recovery disks. The only thing you pay for is the media and shipping. They can't charge you for a new license, because you already paid.

Also, even though you can likely use a retail copy, the product id on the PC will not work with Windows XP or better in most cases.

You must have an OEM copy of the OS. You can find them online if you know where to look. It won't be an illegal download because you have the OEM product key, you just need a disk.

I have gone on piratebay and found original OEM images for any version of Windows and used them. Once it asks for the key, then you type in the one on the bottom.

I believe Windows 7 and Windows Vista will allow you to use a retail copy of the disk, but don't count on it. I know XP won't based on my experience.

[databaseben]

Formatting the entire drive including the recovery partition is not an accidental possibility.

What probably occurred is that the computer user executed a "FIXMBR" which over-wrote the factory's disk boot record and erased the code that would activate the "restore partition"

To this end, if the restore partition still exists on the disk but cannot be activated normally again,

then there are methods to manually activate the recovery partition and execute a factory restore.

for information on how to do this, go to dell.com forums and look for my threads on this issue.

[BulldogXX]

Once I learned how to make a disc image I had no use for recovery partitions.

[jeepmanjr]

Is that a pic of Ahmed? LOL!

[balayage1vbn]

Switch to Ubuntu

[SybBadger2jiu]

if you go to the Official Microsoft Answers site you can find the links to legally download windows, yes you do need a valid CD key, but that will be on a sticker somewhere on your computer.

[LincolnSpector]

jeepmanjr, on 09 December 2011 - 07:04 AM, said:

Is that a pic of Ahmed? LOL!

I hope not, although I imagine that's how anyone feels in that situation (which is why I picked that picture). I'll probably use it again in the future, as it fits so many situations.

Lincoln

[brocksamson]

I have noticed on some laptops that get too hot the product key sticker becomes UN-readable. Good idea to take a picture of it and the serial number just in case of this issue or if it gets stolen, you will have have proof if police find it (good luck on that tho!)

[HolidayJim]

How about preventative steps? Using a program like Acronis, Norton Ghost or Easus ToDo (free), you can restore an entire hard drive in minutes and all programs and settings are back. Storing the backups on an external hard drive once per week will save your nerves. Besides if the hard drive fails you lose the Recovery partition anyway, so make your backups. My recovery from an Acronis backup takes 10 minutes start to finish. Get a cup of coffee, come back and it's done.

[jake87571]

yes ..you can find and download the iso files for every version of 7 windows that they have put out...i now have a 4 g. usb drive to allow me to install my 7 when i may need it again...very simple

[DavidFarrington]

I did wipeout my recovery partition. I called Dell and they sent me a disc at no charge. The disc arrived by Fedx next day air. I live in Hawaii and that is very good service.

[WesPrang]

SybBadger2jiu, on 09 December 2011 - 06:22 PM, said:

if you go to the Official Microsoft Answers site you can find the links to legally download windows, yes you do need a valid CD key, but that will be on a sticker somewhere on your computer.

Looked there. All I could find is that it's illegal and they won't help anyone do it.