Dell notebook, recovery CD

[UncleWai]

Damn I listened to my friends advices and decided to delete all the partitions and install a my own windows. Now I have a little buyer's remorse and thinking about buying a more mobile notebook. However, I realize I don't have any recovery disc to reinstall the factory default.

Is there any way I can install back the windows xp home media edition?

 

[dexvx]

Click the $10 option to include the backup restore CD. That CD is really the Windows install CD with no bloatware on it.

 

[ShellGuy]

I think he already did what he was saying. So he would have to call dell and purchase one from them.


Will G.

 

[pukemon]

If you didn't buy the $10 CD from Dell, and you blew away all your partitions, and you didn't do a Norton Ghost or other disc image of your hard drive, you are pretty much out of luck - unless you have a spare Windows disc that will work with the version you bought your machine with. (ie whatever is on the sticker "Windows XP Home")

You can get all the drivers from Dell's website though.

 

[MadScientist]

Save your $10. bucks. Follow this guy's instructions over at Notebookforums. Link
I got the following 5 disks from Dell FREE 5 days after emailing them.
1. Operating Sytem DVD - MS Win XP Media Center Edition 2005 with Update Rollup 2
2. Dell Tools System Software - Antivirus, Support, Multimedia, and Internet software
3. Dell Inspiron and XPS Drivers and Utilities
4. Cyberlink PowerDVD 5.5 software
5. Sonic DigitalMedia v.7 LE and MyDVD 6.11 LE software

 

[UncleWai]

Thanks everyone especially MadScientist, I followed the link and sent an email to Dell at 4pm PST, already got a reply from Dell CS at 10pm that they are going to ship me all the CDs. My impression of Dell has just raised a few notches, :thumbsup::thumbsup: for Dell.

 

[Shadowmage]

You're not a moron. You did the right thing that ANY self-respecting computer nerd will do

 

[John]

FWIW I could not make the recovery cd's so I sent an email to Dell support. A week went by without a reply, so I forwarded the email back to US_mobile@dell.com

Problem Description:

Hi, I was trying to make a recovery CD in case I need to restore my 700m.

I went to http://support.dell.com/pcrt and then to http://support.dell.com/support/top...ment?dn=1091713 for the directions. The utility is not located under start > all programs > dell accessories or anywhere on my hard drive. I have NO way to make the backup discs. Would you please ship me the Windows XP Home SP2 cdrom, drivers cdrom, and additional software (PowerDVD, etc.) on cdrom so that I am able to restore my system in the event of a hard drive failure?

Many thanks,
John W

----

The next day I get a reply:

Dear Mr. W,

A request has been submitted to ship the necessary CDs to you.


----

A couple of days later I had a DHL missed delivery tag on my door and the shipper was Dell. They delievered the following day. Well I opened the box and low and behold it's the Windows XP Home cd/booklet only. No drivers (yes I can download them from the website but that's not th point) or additional software was shipped as I requested. I guess I'll email them back and see what happens.

----

Update:

Dear Mr. W,

Thank you for contacting Dell's Consumer Hardware Warranty Support. It was a pleasure working with you in our attempt to resolve the issue you are having with your system.

I am glad to inform you that in order to send you the drivers and utilities, and applications backup CD, I have set up a parts only service. The XP CD will again be sent with the backup kit as it is a part of the kit. Following are the details related to the shipment.

Case # xxxxxxxxxx
Dispatch # xxxxxxxxxx

---

1st shipment - Had XP Home only
WD765 Kit,Software,Overpack,WXPHSP2B Compact Diskette EA 10.95

2nd shipment - Drivers & Apps only
G3714 kit,Compact Diskette,Driver E/CD,Inspiron EA 4.95
N7174 Compact Diskette,Software DELL-APPS,BKUP8,Inspiron EA 10.95

3rd (in transit now) - PowerDVD
N8757 Kit,Documentaton On Floppy Disk,Software,PDVD,5.3.1012 EA 10.95

I should have specifically asked for the Sonic DVD Burning software just to have a complete set of 'original' discs, but I assumed that by asking them to send me ALL of the software and providing a picture depicting each cd was sufficient. I am still baffled that it has taken 3 attempts to get it right. I also made every effort to provide the necessary details and respond in a very polite manner.

 

[cheesehead]

Dumb-tastic question:
Can the WinXP liscense included with a laptop be used on, say, a desktop PC? A Dell laptop I bought from someone has a completely blown hard drive, so I don't think I'm violating any laws.

 

[John]

Originally posted by: Cheesehead
Dumb-tastic question:
Can the WinXP liscense included with a laptop be used on, say, a desktop PC? A Dell laptop I bought from someone has a completely blown hard drive, so I don't think I'm violating any laws.

Yes, but you will be in violation of the EULA. The OEM product key stays with the system that it initially shipped. Therefore it is not transferrable.

 

[BladeVenom]

EULA's are BS. I've never heard of them being upheld in a court. They shouldn't even be legally allowed.

Give it a try. I don't know about XP, but before Dell sucked as bad as they do now it would work, at least it did when I had Windows ME.

 

[John]

Originally posted by: BladeVenom
EULA's are BS. I've never heard of them being upheld in a court. They shouldn't even be legally allowed.

Give it a try. I don't know about XP, but before Dell sucked as bad as they do now it would work, at least it did when I had Windows ME.

Your entire post is BS.

 

[BladeVenom]

"The forceability of an EULA depends on several factors, one of them being the court that the case is heard in. Most courts that have addressed the validity of the shrinkwrap license have found them to be invalid, characterizing them as contracts of adhesion, unconscionable, and/or unacceptable pursuant to the U.C.C." -wikipedia