Differences between a Windows XP OEM and recovery CD?

[trashmaster76]

I recently tried to install Windows XP in a VM off of a laptop recovery CD and it went just fine.
Now I want to ask what difference there is to OEM installation media and if such a recovery disc would qualify for upload to the FTP.

[scatman]

1) i don't think we accept recovery media

2) recovery media usually includes bloatware and drivers for a specific system

[WILSON2bGg]

Recovery media is not accepted because it is too machine specific.

[MrBurgerKing]

With that said, many forum members (myself included) would still really appreciate anyone sharing recovery disks on third party websites like archive.org

[mrpijey]

Recovery media is not accepted because it is too machine specific.

No, recovery media isn't accepted because it's not original enough. We have many releases that are very much machine specific, but they are all manufacturer originals. Recovery discs that hold no real value are just custom modded OEM/VL MS originals with a custom logo on them... We can't carry every custom made OS discs only because HP, Compaq etc were too lazy to send along a proper retail disc and an additional disc with drivers (as it were in the beginning). The stuff BA had is now on archive.org and we won't accept any new ones unless they are very original or are of special interest.