If you buy a laptop you are pretty much guaranteed to have make a set of recovery discs as your first task (before cleaning off all the trialware and then trying to find a way to get rid of the hidden partition). Last time I did it the recovery discs weren't even a full windows install as such.

I always buy PCs that are pre-built from components and usually get an OEM disc of windows thrown in, but I gather if you buy a branded PC from a shop you are in the same boat as the laptops.