Should I require an Operating system CD?
Computer technology changes almost daily. To keep up with the technology is a full time job. To advice someone on what type of computer to get, is an impossible task. Everyone's needs are different. Everyone's preferences is different. Therefore, these pages are for your information to make an educated decision. There is so much information that it may confuse you more than help you. However it is important to review all the information. Also as technology changes, some of the information provided here may not apply.
For more information that I don't have included here, see the following
Hardware questions Information on computer parts.
You should request the CD for the operating system.
Many computer companies are selling the computers without the operating system CD. They state that the customer does not need the CD since they have a restore partition on the hard drive. That is fine if you are wanting to restore your operating system on the same drive later on. However, if your hard drive dies, or you decide to upgrade your hard drive, you will loose the restore partition and you won't be able to restore your operating system. You will have to contact the computer company you bought the computer from to get another CD. If you already have the CD, you can start the rebuild but if you do not then it can take a week or two to get the disk. NOTE: Microsoft will not replace the CD. They will refer you to the company you bought the computer from because the product key is tied into that brand.