No software discs

[fatblokish]

My eldest suffers from a learning difficulty and has recently received a disability support allowance which has been used to purchase a laptop and specialist software. Th laptop arrived today but I realised too late that it did not come with software discs, as this was all pre-installed.

Before I give the supplier a call, does the panel think we have a reasonable case to demand these discs?

ta

 

[fossyant]

You need to get a largish memory stick, say 64gb (not too expensive) and set up a recovery position. The machines do usually have a recovery partition with the necessary stuff in there, but it's worthwhile running the recovery settings in Windows to back up to a USB stick (DVD's are too small these days).

This is the norm these days.

 

[Markymark]

Usually the discs are a chargeable extra.

 

[fossyant]

PS, depending upon your lads learning issues, don't set the laptop up with passwords - i.e. don't set a microsoft account. Our friends' daughter has locked them out of two laptops by accident, needing a system wipe. She had changed passwords, then forgot.

 

[fossyant]

All isn't lost if things go belly up, but so long as you have the serial numbers of the software kept safe, you can re-install if it goes belly up.

My lads gaming machine went belly up after a driver upgrade. We had to fresh install Windows 10 via the recovery within windows, but had to re-install all the old software, mainly games which are digital downloads from Steam and U-Play - just time consuming.

We didn't even have a Windows 10 CD. It all went OK.

 

[Crackle]

Normally there's a create restore discs option and if you want the original discs they are about 40-60 quid. make sure you create the restore discs.

 

[fossyant]

Get a memory stick though. DVD's take 4GB, (*GB for expensive dual layer) and a memory stick is quicker and much cheaper.

You create the restore disks to the memory stick.

 

[ianrauk]

as what has been said, no need for discs these days. Creat a restore disc and the product key to activate the software is usually on a sticker on the bottom of the laptop.

 

[fatblokish]

If I am interpreting your thoughts correctly, will the restore discs restore not only the data but the software also should this become deleted or corrupted?

And should the laptop break itself (possible) or "lose itself" (more than possible), will the restore discs work on a replacement laptop? Whilst I'm looking into specific laptop insurance, I'm not sure if this covers software and I'd hate to have to fork out for some new, rather expensive programmes that she has now has.

Thanks for the info...

 

[fossyant]

The restore should return it to the point of the restore. Some software may get lost. You need the serial numbers safe.

It won't restore to another laptop, so if that gets broken, then you start again, although if you have the serial numbers you can download the software again.

Any specific software you are worried about ?

 

[glasgowcyclist]

PS, depending upon your lads learning issues, don't set the laptop up with passwords - i.e. don't set a microsoft account. Our friends' daughter has locked them out of two laptops by accident, needing a system wipe. She had changed passwords, then forgot.

Password crackers are available and can blank a Windows password in seconds.

GC

 

[fatblokish]

The software was pre-installed by the supplier so I guess I need to get in touch with them for the serial numbers.

The pricey software is Dragon NaturallySpeaking 13 Premium (£120 ish), MS Project (£150),
Inspiration v9 (£60 ish), Claroread (£190) and Sonocent (no idea!)

Maybe it's worth buying the original discs

 

[Andrew_P]

Some freeware called Belarc http://www.belarc.com/free_download.html It will tell you all the software installed and the license keys, inc Windows. If anything goes wrong you can download the software and reinstall using your license keys. Done this a few times never found it hard to find the software from the supplier to download.