linux/windows partitioning on newer laptops

[Tim Reid]

hey guys,
I'm thinking of getting a brand new Sony or Toshiba.  This is a major 
purchase for me, and beause of this I am trying to figure out several 
things.  The primary problem that I am obsesing about right now is this:
If I choose to wipe windows XP, or dual boot with linux, and I just 
totaly screw something up...  How easy is it to "restore" the original 
OS to factory specs?  I remember the last time that I bought a brand 
name PC (emachine, and then at the same time, a compaq)  that the 
supplied "restore" disk, and as such the OS, was limited and didn't have 
all the drivers (the compaq didn't have files for setting up the OS for 
networking, for example).

also, I have almost no personal experiance with win XP...  I've heard 
vague things about "activation" and such.  If I reinstall the original 
OS on a laptop, will I have to mess with such "activation"?

What are your guys' learned opinions?

Thanks,

Tim