After you assembled your new computer, you searched all the boxes but didn't find the set of disks that include Windows or any other program installed on your computer at the factory. What gives?

Well computer manufacturers have been cutting back and one way is by not including the recovery disks. They are there. Here's how to get them before you REALLY need them:

Both HP and Dell include utilities to create your own recovery disks. The onus is on us to create these disks - before its too late.

For HP:
Windows XP - http://h10025.www1.hp.com/ewfrf/wc/document?docname=bph08097&cc=us&lc=en&dlc=en

Vista - http://h10025.www1.hp.com/ewfrf/wc/document?docname=c00882383&cc=us&lc=en&dlc=en

Windows 7 - http://h10025.www1.hp.com/ewfrf/wc/document?docname=c01867124&cc=us&lc=en&dlc=en

For Dell: Click Here (I assume all versions)

You will want to use DVDs instead of CDs to complete the process with less disks. Pay special attention to the type of DVDs as there are several types of DVDs.

Burn your recovery disks before you really need them!

Have a suggestion to make creating your backup disks?  Let us know.  Click on 'Add comment' at the top of this tip.