Dell OS install media

[Beattie]

What is Dell doing? I just ordered and received a laptop from dell (inspiron 6000) and even though I paid for the upgrade to windows xp pro I didnt receive any OS CDs. not even the typical black and white dell branded recovery cd. I was expecting and indeed led to believe that I would be getting an actual OEM copy of windows xp with this machine.

I even sent emails and called to complain and their answer is basically "we dont do that anymore" 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.

Anyone else have this problem? How did you resolve it? Did you manage to get any media out of them?

 

[bucwylde23]

you have to check the option to pay $10 to get backup CD's.

If you didn't pay the extra $10 and check the box then you won't get them.

 

[Beattie]

Originally posted by: chrisg22
you have to check the option to pay $10 to get backup CD's.

If you didn't pay the extra $10 and check the box then you won't get them.

I just went through an order again and verified that there is no option for "backup CDs"

 

[dartworth]

You can burn a backup OS cd with the dell utility on your laptop...do this before you reformat it.


More info

 

[Beattie]

Originally posted by: dartworth
You can burn a backup OS cd with the dell utility on your laptop...do this before you reformat it.


More info

The menu item they say to go to in that URL doesnt exist on my computer.

 

[shilala]

I have one.

 

[dartworth]

Thye utility will show up in your list of programs in the start menu after you reboot the lappy a few times...


I don't know why...just the way it is

 

[Viperoni]

HP/Compaq haven't included recovery disks for a year or two. PITA if you ask me.

 

[bucwylde23]

Originally posted by: Beattie

Originally posted by: chrisg22
you have to check the option to pay $10 to get backup CD's.

If you didn't pay the extra $10 and check the box then you won't get them.

I just went through an order again and verified that there is no option for "backup CDs"

Just bought a 600m last Saturday and it was there. Either way they store everything on a partition now.

Just checked at Dell Home again (I bought mine through the EPP program). The option to buy the backup CD's for $10 is still there. It was on the 3rd selection screen, not in the same location where you choose Home or Pro.
When I bought mine the option to buy the backup CD;s was right below the OS choices.

 

[bucwylde23]

Originally posted by: Viperoni
HP/Compaq haven't included recovery disks for a year or two. PITA if you ask me.

They still ship tons of recovery/app cd's with the laptops/desktops that my company buys. We have boxes full of their cd's.
Though I'm sure the regular consumer computers may not include the same things.

 

[Viper GTS]

The option for Backup CD's should be there, but it's not well marked. I ordered a Dimension a couple days ago, I think the backup CD option was on the last page before adding it to the cart.

In any event, all Dell OS CD's are the same. Any Dell XP Pro CD should work fine with your system.

Viper GTS

 

[Beattie]

I complained a bunch and they sent me an email stating that they are shipping out the OS cds.

Sweet.

 

[tami]

yeah, once you complain, they'll listen.

 

[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:

 

[Kelemvor]

I've always seen the option to pay for a CD. THought it was like $5 or so. But don't know what model I was looking at at the time.

 

[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?

 

[bucwylde23]

I think that Dell needs to make it a little bit more clear for users that the CD's aren't shipped. As in not on the 3rd page, and right beside the Pro/home choice.
When I bought my laptop, I bought it through the EPP discount and the backup cd option was on the first page, right below the OS choice. So I had no problem seeing it.

I also think, however, that Dell CUSTOMERS need to actually read the site when ordering. I don't think Dell should send "free" backup cd's to people just because they can't read.
You can burn a copy of the OS from the recovery program, and what do blank CD's cost? a penny?

I am not sure if this is the case, but if Dell is giving XP Pro at least $10 cheaper because of not including the CD's, then that is even better. Does anyone know if that is the case?

I think it's good that Dell is trying to cut back by not sending out tons of CD's, it's pretty wasteful.

 

[Beattie]

Originally posted by: chrisg22
I think that Dell needs to make it a little bit more clear for users that the CD's aren't shipped. As in not on the 3rd page, and right beside the Pro/home choice.
When I bought my laptop, I bought it through the EPP discount and the backup cd option was on the first page, right below the OS choice. So I had no problem seeing it.

I also think, however, that Dell CUSTOMERS need to actually read the site when ordering. I don't think Dell should send "free" backup cd's to people just because they can't read.
You can burn a copy of the OS from the recovery program, and what do blank CD's cost? a penny?

I am not sure if this is the case, but if Dell is giving XP Pro at least $10 cheaper because of not including the CD's, then that is even better. Does anyone know if that is the case?

I think it's good that Dell is trying to cut back by not sending out tons of CD's, it's pretty wasteful.

This is not true. As I have stated before there is no option on my computer to burn this back up CD. If there was I would do it and probably still complain that it's not a real CD but at least it would be something.

Also your argument about the cost of CDs holds no water as they could also easily spend the penny and ship it along with everything else. Far easier then forcing everyone to use some non existant backup cd burning utility.

It's really quite simple. If you pay for something you should get it. When I pay for a copy of windows XP, I want a copy of windows XP. I also paid for a copy of Office 2003 and guess what, I got a CD with office 2003 on it. How is this so different?

I dont consider the installation of the OS a "copy" of it as I am not able to use it as I please. If something were to happen to the installation, or if I wanted to reinstall it for any reason I would not be able to. That is not ownership.

 

[tami]

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:

for the record, i do a lot of purchasing for my company, from laptops to workstations and everything in between, and sometimes some PC/laptop configurations do not have that $10 option at all. if anything, dell forgot to put it on all of their configuration pages. i do not think the OP is at fault.

i know EXACTLY what you're talking about, boggsie, don't get me wrong. i just also know that the option is not there all the time.

i purchased my 700m right before they instituted this new $10 backup CD fee, and there was no such option when i configured my system. i had to email them and they told me they stopped sending out the media, but that they'd send it to me since i made a special request. shortly thereafter, dell began charging for the media.

 

[bucwylde23]

The location of the option depends on which dell site you order from, business/home, but I am positive it's there on all of them. It just might be on the 2nd or 3rd page rather than the 1st. Atleast it has been for the last 4 weeks that I have been on the site

Either way, it's on the site that they charge now for the cd's. If people don't like it they don't have to buy the Dell's. I don't mind at all.

When I get my laptop today I'll verify that the backup software is on there and test it out.

 

[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?

 

[bucwylde23]

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?

My guess is that its the same old cd that they have been sending forever, just a OEM OS CD. On the dell site the backup is of the "OS" not all of the applications on the original HD. (at least it's not specified that way)

 

[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

 

[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.

 

[RadiclDreamer]

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.

So do volume licensing media. Which is pretty much what any warez copy is