Some HP computers doesn't come with a Recovery CD. Instead, HP creates a partition and probably stores all the info about the PC there. Here is a quote from the HP site: "NOTE: HP Pavilions that ship with Windows XP do not always come with recovery CDs. Instead, they use a hidden space (partition) on the hard drive to store the recovery information. Using a hidden partition provides a convenient, more stable recovery process." Link here... I'm trying to help my uncle restore his PC. The kids have made the PC gone haywire. If the PC had came with an XP CD, I wouldn't be asking this. But because it didn't, I'm asking if any of you have had experiences with HP and their systems that are set up this way. Thanks in advance. Model: Pavilion 542x OS: XP Home