Re-install Windows how? A Windows disc didn't come with it - only a recovery disk.

I'm fairly well up on home PCs as I've set them up from scratch (built, installed OS, etc.) but I have to admit I don't have much experience of laptop set-ups. That's why I was expecting the OS to take up x amount of space on the HD and have no problem with that. It's the extra 12Gb over and above that denied me without any warning of this being the case that annoys me. If I've bought an 80Gb HD, fine, GIVE me 80Gb (less the space Windows takes up), not 12Gb less.

I haven't been provided with an OS disc - certainly not a Microsoft disc - unless the one called 'Recovery Disc' can reinstall from scratch - it didn't ask for a licence number when I used it to try and delete the partition before. And this is NOT about what I need to do after purchase (I shouldn't need to have to look for solutions IMO), but about what I should have been told before purchase to enable to me to make an informed decision.

(Sorry about inserting numbers but it makes replying easier) 1. The OS is in the 64Gb of hard drive I can access, reducing the actual available space to about 55Gb. I expected the OS to take up that space and I've no problem with that - I certainly didn't expect another 12-13Gb of hard drive to be denied to me on top of that without any warning whatsoever. 2. That would involved purchasing another OS disc and key over and above the price I've already paid. Had I known before I bought the laptop that I would have to do this to get the full use of my hard drive, then fair enough I could have budgeted for that. What I object to is finding this out AFTER I got the laptop home, turned it on, and then tried to work out why the HD wasn't showing up as 80Gb in File Manager, but as 64Gb. 3. I've had conflicting opinions from Comet staff about this. The Deputy Manager rang Fujitsu, and then told me the hidden partition was a back-up in case someone lost their Recovery Disc, and that the partition could be deleted by instigating the recovery procedure. It can't - I could delete the pre-set partitions (something else that I didn't want and was not informed about before purchase that ****ed me off) but I still could not access the hidden part of the HD during this either. Another of their staff, when I went back after trying the above, said that the OS won't run without the partitioned stuff. So you pays your money and takes your choice as to who believe. Personally, I don't trust any of them.

Yesterday I bought this Comet - Computing - Laptops - FUJITSU SIEMENS - 15" wide brightscreen laptop from Comet, on the basis that it has an 80Gb hard drive. Only to find, when I got it home, that I can only access 64Gb of the drive. 12Gb has been partitioned (something to do with being 'reserved for recovery') and made inaccessible to me, without any pre-warning that this was the case. Comet refuse to refund me as "that's how they come" and "it's got an 80Gb drive in it", no answer to the question of why, if the manufacturers and they as the retailers know this is the case, they don't feel the need to inform the customer..? Had I known that I would only be able to access this smaller proportion of the hard drive, I would not have bought the damn thing. I deliberately ignored 60Gb laptops when looking for one to buy because I knew it wouldn't be big ehough for what i want to use the laptop for. I believe (and Consumer Direct think I may have a case, but they were a bit non-committal over the phone) that this contravenes SOGA in that I do not have full use to the goods as described AND I was not given the full facts to base an informed purchase decision as if had known what the situation was beforehand I WOULD NOT have bought the laptop, I would have bought one without an OS and installed one myself. I've put my case in writing to Comet today, asking for a response within seven working days. I'd be grateful for any views anybody out there might have on this and about what chance you think I have..?