Understood. But why restore the OS alone when you can restore an image that brings the unit back to the way you have it set up? With all your preferences, data, applications and personal tweaks...not to mention all the Service Packs and Security Updates that Winders has likely installed.
That is important to me. Maybe not so for others. I happen to think it is worth the effort.
If that's OK with you, contact Microsoft, buy the OS CD-ROM (likely a DVD these days) and then get a USB connected CD/DVD drive, make sure the notebook boots from USB and then you're good to go. You'll only be able to re-install the OS from scratch that way though.
True -