It is true that companies do not have to give you an exact copy of windows and they can distribute it in any given form they see fit, installations like these can be created in applications like sysprep which is given away with bulk packs of XP installation CD's. Many companies use these, especially the likes of HP, Compaq and Dell. If i ever receive a disk like this with any machine then the first thing i do with the install is format it and create a new one using an original Microsoft version... If you have a friend/colleague with an original type installation CD then see if you can make a copy (before anyone says anything about piracy, you pay for the license and not the installation CD) and install from that using the key generally stuck onto your box. As the installation files of your OS have been effectively reprogrammed as the manufacturer see's fit then it could be excessively difficult for you to remove all of the gubbins that they want you to have.