[dec853]

I'm buying a laptop from the bestbuy and the manager says that windows vista comes pre installed and there is no installation CD. Just the COA. Does this sound right? How can i ever format my hard drive and re install the OS without the Install CD and just the COA?

Thanks,
Declan

[kiwiguy]

Not many pre-installs have a Windows CD these days, the Windows reinstall files are usually on the hard drive in a hidden partition.

On two recent Vista PC's here (preinstalled) there was a utility to allow you to make a backup of the hidden partition install files.