Dell OS install media

Page 2 - Seeking answers? Join the AnandTech community: where nearly half-a-million members share solutions and discuss the latest tech.

OutHouse

Lifer
Jun 5, 2000
36,410
616
126
My 700m i got 3 weeks go did not come with any disk. i guess we have to reinstall by the image that is on the drive. What if i need the OS disk for something like maybe a reinstall because i dont like having one partition that is 80gb!!! :|
 

Kelemvor

Lifer
May 23, 2002
16,928
8
81
Originally posted by: Beattie
Originally posted by: boggsie
It is unacceptable that I would pay for something and then not receive it and they ignore me because it's their policy to steal.

To take (the property of another) without right or permission.

To commit theft.

Please describe what Dell did that falls into this category?

In the order pipeline, on the last page, there is a section labeled:
"Operating System Backup & Recovery

Under this section is an option labeled:

"Microsoft® Windows® XP <your version of XP" Edition backup CD [add $10 or $1/month2]"

You obviously failed to select this option.

Originally posted by: Beattie
I complained a bunch and they sent me an email stating that they are shipping out the OS cds.

Sweet.

:roll:

I dont want a "backup" cd. I want the cds for the OS that is installed on my computer. Why would I or anyone pay twice for something?

On my invoice it states:
Microsoft Windows XP Professional, Service Pack 2, English

Am I somehow in the wrong for wanting a copy of this software that I paid for?

You didn't pay for the CD. You paid for the software to be installed and for you to have a License Key for it. That has nothing to do with physically giving you a copy of the CD. That's why they have the option that you can request a copy of the CD but then you have to pay for it.

But you should have the license key on thes ticker so just get a copy of XP from "somewhere else" and use that...
 

OutHouse

Lifer
Jun 5, 2000
36,410
616
126
dude i disagree, if i buy software i dont what a virtual copy of it, I want and may need the hard copy of it. I paid for the program and i should have a hard copy of the program in my grubby hands. Its stupid practices like this to save a buck that pisses off customers and companies start their downward spriral.


Now for Dell Servers I have no complaint. I get the Open Manage Disk with all the drivers i need in each server. My company has volume licensing with MS so we have all the disk we need for the OS install.
 

Kelemvor

Lifer
May 23, 2002
16,928
8
81
Originally posted by: Citrix
dude i disagree, if i buy software i dont what a virtual copy of it, I want and may need the hard copy of it. I paid for the program and i should have a hard copy of the program in my grubby hands. Its stupid practices like this to save a buck that pisses off customers and companies start their downward spriral.


Now for Dell Servers I have no complaint. I get the Open Manage Disk with all the drivers i need in each server. My company has volume licensing with MS so we have all the disk we need for the OS install.

But that's just it. You aren't buying the software, you are buying the license so Dell can put it on the computer for you. It's OEM. You don't get the CDs it's just on their image they use. That's why if you want the actual CDs you can order them separately.

If you upgrade to a special video card or something, you don't get the original box the card came in and things like that, you just get the card and it works. Same thing with Windows. You get Windows, it's installed, it works. Physical CD is extra.
 

Viper GTS

Lifer
Oct 13, 1999
38,107
433
136
Originally posted by: Crucial
Can anyone who ordered this backup cd confirm that it is an actual install cd or is it just an image of the original HD thats reinstalled with Ghost or something?

It is a full blown bootable OS CD, identical to what shipped prior to their new policies.

BTW anyone who has used Open Licensing is used to this, it's really not a big deal.

Viper GTS
 

dabuddha

Lifer
Apr 10, 2000
19,579
17
81
Originally posted by: FrankyJunior
Originally posted by: Citrix
dude i disagree, if i buy software i dont what a virtual copy of it, I want and may need the hard copy of it. I paid for the program and i should have a hard copy of the program in my grubby hands. Its stupid practices like this to save a buck that pisses off customers and companies start their downward spriral.


Now for Dell Servers I have no complaint. I get the Open Manage Disk with all the drivers i need in each server. My company has volume licensing with MS so we have all the disk we need for the OS install.

But that's just it. You aren't buying the software, you are buying the license so Dell can put it on the computer for you. It's OEM. You don't get the CDs it's just on their image they use. That's why if you want the actual CDs you can order them separately.

If you upgrade to a special video card or something, you don't get the original box the card came in and things like that, you just get the card and it works. Same thing with Windows. You get Windows, it's installed, it works. Physical CD is extra.

Even if you buy a OEM video card, they still ship you a drivers cd.
 

Phoenix86

Lifer
May 21, 2003
14,644
10
81
Originally posted by: Citrix
dude i disagree, if i buy software i dont what a virtual copy of it, I want and may need the hard copy of it. I paid for the program and i should have a hard copy of the program in my grubby hands. Its stupid practices like this to save a buck that pisses off customers and companies start their downward spriral.


Now for Dell Servers I have no complaint. I get the Open Manage Disk with all the drivers i need in each server. My company has volume licensing with MS so we have all the disk we need for the OS install.

Then buy retail. Why are you trying to save a buck by buying OEM?
 

Phoenix86

Lifer
May 21, 2003
14,644
10
81
Originally posted by: dabuddha
Even if you buy a OEM video card, they still ship you a drivers cd.

This is a horrible-aweful-inaccurate comparison.

OEM hardware != OEM software. They have very little to do with each other, especially where the end user is concerned.
 

dabuddha

Lifer
Apr 10, 2000
19,579
17
81
Originally posted by: Phoenix86
Originally posted by: dabuddha
Even if you buy a OEM video card, they still ship you a drivers cd.

This is a horrible-aweful-inaccurate comparison.

OEM hardware != OEM software. They have very little to do with each other, especially where the end user is concerned.

Very true but if you quoted my whole post, you'll see that I wasn't the one who came up with this analogy :)
 

Phoenix86

Lifer
May 21, 2003
14,644
10
81
Originally posted by: dabuddha
Originally posted by: Phoenix86
Originally posted by: dabuddha
Even if you buy a OEM video card, they still ship you a drivers cd.

This is a horrible-aweful-inaccurate comparison.

OEM hardware != OEM software. They have very little to do with each other, especially where the end user is concerned.

Very true but if you quoted my whole post, you'll see that I wasn't the one who came up with this analogy :)

But you're buying into the comparison by trying to validate it. ;) It's better to say the comparison is invalid from the get go. I also think it's one of the main reasons people don't understand OEM license restrictions (aside from the fact it's convoluted by MS). People buy OEM hardware all day and it doesn't have any restrictions like "you can only install this hardware on one montherboard" where XP OEM does have that restriction.

Most enthuasist would be better off buying retail licenses, not OEM. Heh, most people worry about home/pro when they should be looking at OEM/retail/VLA.
 

bucwylde23

Diamond Member
Apr 21, 2005
4,180
0
71
Ok, I now am 100% sure of what is going on.

Just got my 600m yesterday. No CD's whatsoever except for AOL and Wordperfect. I ordered no extra software either.

It turns out that the PC restore partition does NOT allow you to burn an OS cd anymore. You can restore your computer to it's original state from the partition, but that will include all of the Dell things that hopefully you are trying to get rid of by reformatting.

This is an extremely stupid process, but here is what you do:

You do NOT pay $10 for the backup CD's.
Once you get your computer, call Dell, and request the CD's. They will send them to you. They are mailing them to me Next Day, free of any charge whatsoever.

I called and asked for the Operating system CD because none was included in the packaging, and there is no way to create one myself. I also asked for the Sonic DVD burning software. Apparently, you need to know specifically what you need, or they wont' tell you about it. They play dumb at first about any software other than the OS.

I had to remind him that in the past DVD software came packaged with the system on CD as well as pre-installed, and that I should have some way to get the software now as well. He said "oh ok yeah you're right" and began processing it.
If I need any more CD's I'll have to make a list and call back and request specific programs, but for now I have enough.

Either way, the important thing is that I want the DVD burning software. I have a retail copy of XP pro to throw on there, I just want the OEM CD's in case I ever sell it.





 

mindgam3

Member
May 30, 2005
166
0
0
Originally posted by: MrChad
Originally posted by: RadiclDreamer
Step 1. Go to IRC and download a copy of XP Pro
Step 2. Use your cd key
Step 3. Install

Its the key that matters, not the media. So just get a copy anywhere you can

Yes, but Dell OEM CDs have a built-in key that gets rid of the need for activation. ;)

The key isnt built into the cd really its a SLP system that where the key is actually built into the motherboard.. try using that dell os cd in a non dell computer and you will see its not built into the cd.
 

acemcmac

Lifer
Mar 31, 2003
13,712
1
0
That's not what's retarded about Dell. What's retarded about Dell is that they use a special sub-set of XP CD keys that won't work with TRUE Oem Installs of XP.
 

mindgam3

Member
May 30, 2005
166
0
0
Originally posted by: acemcmac
That's not what's retarded about Dell. What's retarded about Dell is that they use a special sub-set of XP CD keys that won't work with TRUE Oem Installs of XP.

Its not dells fault its microsofts ill post proof if needed...
 

bucwylde23

Diamond Member
Apr 21, 2005
4,180
0
71
Originally posted by: mindgam3
Originally posted by: acemcmac
That's not what's retarded about Dell. What's retarded about Dell is that they use a special sub-set of XP CD keys that won't work with TRUE Oem Installs of XP.

Its not dells fault its microsofts ill post proof if needed...

would you mind posting it? I'm just curious :) and bored at work

 

mindgam3

Member
May 30, 2005
166
0
0
Originally posted by: chrisg22
Originally posted by: mindgam3
Originally posted by: acemcmac
That's not what's retarded about Dell. What's retarded about Dell is that they use a special sub-set of XP CD keys that won't work with TRUE Oem Installs of XP.

Its not dells fault its microsofts ill post proof if needed...

would you mind posting it? I'm just curious :) and bored at work

Original Equipment Manufacturers (OEMs), like Dell, have the ability to pre-activate Windows XP software installed on new systems through a process known as System Locked Pre-installation (SLP). This prevents end users from having to activate the software during the setup process by typing in the product key found on the Certificate of Authenticity (COA) key.

If a customer uses the Dell OEM version of Windows XP media to build and deploy an image, the end user who boots the imaged system is prompted to enter a product key during mini-setup. The user types in the product key off of the COA label on the system, reaches the desktop and is prompted to activate their product. An attempt to activate the product key via the web will fail with a prompt to call the Microsoft Activation Call Center.

This failure is due to a change in Microsoft's Product Activation process implemented to combat worldwide licensing fraud. Microsoft has disabled online activation for COA Keys that are attached to PCs that have been pre-activated by OEMs. Customers who use Windows XP factory installed by Dell or have reinstalled Windows from the Dell OEM recovery media will not be prompted to activate the software. Dell customers that choose to build an image using an OEM copy of the software however, will need to follow specific instructions for building their images.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Refer to Microsoft Technet for instructions on how to preserve SLP Product Preactivation in Windows XP images.
 

dabuddha

Lifer
Apr 10, 2000
19,579
17
81
Originally posted by: Phoenix86
Originally posted by: dabuddha
Originally posted by: Phoenix86
Originally posted by: dabuddha
Even if you buy a OEM video card, they still ship you a drivers cd.

This is a horrible-aweful-inaccurate comparison.

OEM hardware != OEM software. They have very little to do with each other, especially where the end user is concerned.

Very true but if you quoted my whole post, you'll see that I wasn't the one who came up with this analogy :)

But you're buying into the comparison by trying to validate it. ;) It's better to say the comparison is invalid from the get go. I also think it's one of the main reasons people don't understand OEM license restrictions (aside from the fact it's convoluted by MS). People buy OEM hardware all day and it doesn't have any restrictions like "you can only install this hardware on one montherboard" where XP OEM does have that restriction.

Most enthuasist would be better off buying retail licenses, not OEM. Heh, most people worry about home/pro when they should be looking at OEM/retail/VLA.

Actually my goal was to point out that even though it's an invalid analogy, it still fails logically.