Does MS embed PC manufacturers logo in the install disc?

[DOB120745]

It's not that I particularly mind that the Falcon Northwest logo remains on my computer. What does bother me is that I'm doubtful that I did the total wipe I was going for when I re-installed Win7 (with format). My PC was getting buggy and I felt that the best fix was to scrub everything. When the logo appears, I'm left to wonder if Microsoft burned it in to the disc for that particular vendor, or if it's in the BIOS or somewhere else. There are plenty of videos showing you how to delete the info. But that still doesn't tell me if the wipe missed it (and no telling what else), or if it's installed in a separate storage device. I can't imagine what that would be. I'm limited to what I know about computers. I hope you can help me without too much jargon. Thanks

 

[Brink]

Hello Dob, and welcome to Seven Forums.

If this was a clean install with a retail copy of Windows, then yeah it'll be your BIOS splash screen showing the OEM Falcon Northwest manufacturer logo.

 

[Berton]

As for the OEM version many makers/vendors of a computer do indeed embed their logo but they also include coding that prevents using that disc on any other computer except that brand and sometimes only on certain models, e.g a Dell Inspiron disc can't be used on a Dell Dimension computer. Under the licensing from Microsoft the OEMs are allowed to 'customize' their installation.

 

[DOB120745]

Follow up question

Hello Dob, and welcome to Seven Forums.

If this was a clean install with a retail copy of Windows, then yeah it'll be your BIOS splash screen showing the OEM Falcon Northwest manufacturer logo.

Thank you for the welcome and the reply. You say "retail". All I know is that it came in the box with my PC. If the files are in my BIOS, will they be re-embedded each time I do a clean install? Thanks

 

[Brink]

That would be a factory recovery disc, and would also include the OEM customizations that Berton posted above.

"Retail" would be a Windows you purchase as a package box in a retail store (ex: Best Buy).

 

[Boozad]

If the files are in my BIOS, will they be re-embedded each time I do a clean install? Thanks

If the files are in the BIOS (which in this case they are) they aren't re-embedded, they just stay there. Formatting your hard drive doesn't affect your BIOS at all so the image will stay there. I only know of one way to change/delete that image and that requires you having one of a certain few ASUS motherboards which carry the 'MyLogo' feature or the 'EZUpdate' feature.

   Warning

Using this feature requires a BIOS flash. Do not continue if you're 100% certain you're comfortable with what you're doing.

 

[DOB120745]

Think I understand it all now.

The distinction between retail and what came in the box would've been clear to me if I had taken a closer look before starting this string. I just assumed that since it was in a genuine MS cd-box that it was same as a disc that you'd buy off the shelf at Best Buy. In reality, it's very generic looking and bears the words "Intended for distribution with a new PC."

I guess it's safe to assume that I did actually accomplish the full wipe despite the persistence of the logo. And that's really all I was concerned with. But now, just wondering what kind of methods they use to make all this happen. I can imagine that Dell and HP and FalconNW, etc., would send a logo kit to MS who would burn them into the vendor copies. Or maybe they send the same disc to all the vendors with instructions on how to burn their logos on to the disc. Inquiring minds want to know. Thanks guys.

 

[Boozad]

I guess it's safe to assume that I did actually accomplish the full wipe despite the persistence of the logo. And that's really all I was concerned with.

Yes you will have accomplished that. The boot logo has nothing to with Windows or your hard drive.

But now, just wondering what kind of methods they use to make all this happen. I can imagine that Dell and HP and FalconNW, etc., would send a logo kit to MS who would burn them into the vendor copies. Or maybe they send the same disc to all the vendors with instructions on how to burn their logos on to the disc. Inquiring minds want to know. Thanks guys.

PC manufacturers write their image file into the BIOS. It's nothing to do with the Windows disk.

 

[derekimo]

They (Dell, HP, FalconNW) can customize the installer using this,

Download The Windows® Automated Installation Kit (AIK) for Windows® 7 from Official Microsoft Download Center

If you want to try the install again, you could use one of these installers and your product key,

Windows 7 Direct Download Links, Official Disk Images from Digital River

 

[DOB120745]

Thanks to everyone. Just FYI, the video link at end of this post, shows path for changing vendor logos within Windows. But when I followed the path, I found Name: (Default) Type: REG_SZ Data: (value not set). So I guess that pretty well confirms the storage to be in the BIOS (as you said).

 

[derekimo]

Thanks to everyone. Just FYI, the video link at end of this post, shows path for changing vendor logos within Windows. But when I followed the path, I found Name: (Default) Type: REG_SZ Data: (value not set). So I guess that pretty well confirms the storage to be in the BIOS (as you said).

That is different than the boot logo,



I'm just a little curious about whether FalconNW actually modified their own BIOS, they don't offer a download for BIOS or even drivers that I can find.

Drivers and Downloads for Custom PCs | Falcon Northwest

 

[Brink]

For that, you could also do this.

http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/46692-system-support-information.html

 

[Berton]

What was explained to me some years ago was that Microsoft sends the OS to the OEMs and their programmers do their thing with it, printed the disc/s with their logo and stuff. The last several years have seen the OEMs leaving out the discs but sometimes making them an option. The OEM puts a small program on the computer that allows creating those discs after the setup, best to do so because if the HDD actually crashes the Factory Restore partition may also be lost. Sometimes one can get the discs for a fee if the computer isn't too old [who knows when that is]. When I have to set up a new computer I will take a few DVD-R or DVD+R discs with me to do it. Can't use the RW discs. Some OEMs set the program to make DVD+R/DL discs, takes one or two less that the other.

For OEM computers look at the My Computer/Computer, Properties, the Product Key will not be shown but the second group of characters on Product ID: will be OEM while the Retail version and maybe Enterprise or NFR versions will be 3 numbers.