I recently helped my parents purchase an HP computer. It came with Vista and like King Jim's, the OS install files were on a utility partition.
I don't know if there's a way to get them off the utility partition, but when I first booted the PC it prompted me to create recovery discs. I didn't do so at the time, but if I recall correctly the utility placed a shortcut to itself on the Start menu somewhere. You should be able to use that utility to create an OS install disc, or at the very least a disc which restores the PC to factory conditions.
Incidentally, my mom only made it 2 weeks with the new computer and Vista before asking me to "downgrade" her to XP.:) Now THAT was an ordeal.
I don't know if there's a way to get them off the utility partition, but when I first booted the PC it prompted me to create recovery discs. I didn't do so at the time, but if I recall correctly the utility placed a shortcut to itself on the Start menu somewhere. You should be able to use that utility to create an OS install disc, or at the very least a disc which restores the PC to factory conditions.
Incidentally, my mom only made it 2 weeks with the new computer and Vista before asking me to "downgrade" her to XP.:) Now THAT was an ordeal.