[poochee]

Originally Posted by Stoner

I think it depends on what the manufacturer offers as a restore disk on the initial start up.
My Acer used NTI which as I remember did make a drive image of that factory fresh install.

Checked recovery disk information it says: The recovery discs set is a complete image of the original PC hard disk drive contents and is matched to your PC model number. The discs set contains the operating system, drivers, and application software that were originally installed on the PC at the factory. I interpret this to mean I am OK!

[Gibble]

Originally Posted by Ciberblade

It's a statistical game....the length of coverage was not chosen at random....it was picked from an analysis of hardware expected life -- the same is true for cars...only, it's when the vehicle is paid off.

Typically, most users do not understand the impact that adding/removing multiple programs to a system have....thats not to mention spyware/malware. Restoring the system after several years of use would be the best bet. The clever user would create an image after the system's initial configuration, and backup data -- then when the times comes, they can simply restore from the image and backup -- and be right back to where they were...less all the crap.

You beat me too it!

It's simple math.
They build the computers, and test them. They know the average lifespans of the components, and the system as a whole. They then set the warranty length to a point where the computer is covered for a reasonable time, against defective parts, BUT where they don't eat the cost of simply wear and tear on old parts.

Power supplies and harddrives die. It's inevitable. Too many moving parts in a hard drive that have very very very little tolerance for error. And power supplies suffer through power fluctuations and a lot of change in power demand as a computer is being used.

[Ciberblade]

Originally Posted by Gibble

You beat me too it!

It's simple math.
They build the computers, and test them. They know the average lifespans of the components, and the system as a whole. They then set the warranty length to a point where the computer is covered for a reasonable time, against defective parts, BUT where they don't eat the cost of simply wear and tear on old parts.

Power supplies and harddrives die. It's inevitable. Too many moving parts in a hard drive that have very very very little tolerance for error. And power supplies suffer through power fluctuations and a lot of change in power demand as a computer is being used.

Hey there my friend! Been a while -- how you doing?