(Dell) Possible to get OEM XP copy?

[MalcolmCarmen]

I got my cheap-and-evil Inspiron B130 from Dell as a christmas present last year, and I don't recall it coming with a restore or OEM CD, but it likely could have (yes, not too brilliant to not have kept track of such a thing).

Now, I'm looking to possibly reinstall windows, and I'd also like to have a CD around for use if something goes bad with installing Ubuntu alongside windows.

Do you think Dell might still provide a disc? I've still got the magical windows sticker with my product key, and I assume I just need the correct disc.

Oh, yar, my laptop is already out of warranty :/

I assume I'm not particularly entitled to get a correct copy of XP Home for use with my CD key, even though I *do* have the sticker of magic :/

 

[John]

Since it is out of warranty Dell will not send you anything. If it was in warranty they will typically send the OS cd at no cost if you request it in a polite manner. Live and learn. 😛

You can use an OEM copy of XP Home and it will work with the product key affixed to your chassis. Borrowing one from a friend is the easiest solution.

 

[sonoma1993]

what with these computer companies now, not supplying a cd for reinstalls?

Id say give Dell a call, and see what they say.

 

[RebateMonger]

Call or PM Dell and ask them what they can do for you. As John notes, it's usually a lot easier (and cheaper) to get a Restore CD while the PC is under warranty. Historically, Dell has been much better about this than other manufacturers.

 

[Nocturnal]

Originally posted by: sonoma1993
what with these computer companies now, not supplying a cd for reinstalls?

Id say give Dell a call, and see what they say.

This has been happening for quite some time now. It wasn't recently that they decided to stop sending the recovery discs with new computers.

The thing that bugs me the most is that often times the hard drive dies, and the recovery partition is on the hard drive. 9/10 customers DO NOT make a copy of the recovery discs since they don't seem to understand the importance of it.

 

[RebateMonger]

Originally posted by: Nocturnal
9/10 customers DO NOT make a copy of the recovery discs since they don't seem to understand the importance of it.

This is a MAJOR problem for those who have to repair these things. Microsoft says that re-installing an OS with any CD other than the PC OWNER'S OEM restore CD is in violation of its EULA and makes the PC repair person, technically, a accomplice in "piracy".

 

[TG2]

Dell charges $10 for the OS CD, so who ever bought it for you as a present, may not have forked the extra $10 out.

If you need a CD, lemme know

 

[John]

Originally posted by: RebateMonger
This is a MAJOR problem for those who have to repair these things. Microsoft says that re-installing an OS with any CD other than the PC OWNER'S OEM restore CD is in violation of its EULA and makes the PC repair person, technically, a accomplice in "piracy".

That is a semi-new policy that took them 5 years to implement, and I've never understand the logic behind it. Since a majority of OEM's like Dell, Gateway, Acer, HP/Compaq, etc. don't include the original OS disc, and only give you an option to create a recovery cd and/or only include a recovery partition, it makes you wonder what the people in Redmond are thinking.

Originally posted by: TG2
Dell charges $10 for the OS CD, so who ever bought it for you as a present, may not have forked the extra $10 out.

If you need a CD, lemme know

IIRC Dell started charging the $10 less than a year ago. Before that it wasn't even an option. Some systems received the OS disc and others did not.

 

[RebateMonger]

Originally posted by: John
IIRC Dell started charging the $10 less than a year ago. Before that it wasn't even an option. Some systems received the OS disc and others did not.

My recollection is:

Dell gave out 'bare' XP Install CDs when XP first came out.

Then, about two years ago, Dell started with the "Restore Partition" thing and quit including CDs. But they included out a piece of paper, with a picture of a blue CD, that said, "If you want a 'real' CD, we'll send you one".

Now, Dell mostly charges $10 extra for the CD if you include it with your original order.

Dell may have been under pressure from Microsoft to stop handing out full CDs, since you can use a Dell XP OEM CD on ANY Dell computer, with no need to Activate. I know that Dell/Microsoft has tried to shut down eBay auctions for their XP Install CDs.

I bought a Dell XP Professional CD on eBay in 2004 and, after paying for the auction, received a notice from eBay. eBay said that the auction had been cancelled, that it violated eBay policies, and I shouldn't pay for the item. Unfortunately, I'd already received the CD. 😉

 

[John]

Yes, my post was a little vague. You're pretty accurate on the timeline as well. I remember getting a true unbranded hologram XP cd back in the day, then they switched to the Dell labeled XP with embedded VLK, and so on.......

To this day some shady e-tailers are still peddling Dell OEM XP's for a discounted price. I used to see the threads pop up in Hot Deals all the time. I have been reporting most of them MS but I doubt it does any good. :disgust:

 

[RebateMonger]

I keep praying that Microsoft will start offering online downloads of their software to everyone. With Activation and WGA, it SEEMS like MS should have pretty good control of licensing. Meaning they could put the software online and solve the CD distribution issue permanently.

 

[John]

One drawback of having MS operating system .iso downloads is that it may lead to more COA only sales which has been a nightmare for anyone in the business. The bottom line is that these major OEM's are trying to cut corners and increase their profit margin. We all know that they get heavy discounts from MS and save a few dollars by not including an OEM branded copy of the OS. Charging $10 for the disc is stupid IMHO when they can easily build that fee into the overall cost of the system. The sad thing is all OEM's are starting to do this and the only cd's that seem to ship with systems nowadays is from AOL.

 

[KuJoe]

I just got my new HP laptop in the mail last night and I opted for the free upgrade to Windows XP MCE, I paid the extra $19 for the recovery CD and took back the 11GB recovery partition, but now I'm between a rock and a hard place because I want to do a fresh install without all the extra crap HP installs (1 extra being an 800MB folder of flash games with free 30 minute trials). I have the COA sticker and am trying to find the OEM CD somewhere but with no luck, Microsoft is even less help telling me to call HP who offers to sell me another recovery CD. I'm tempted to just go back to XP Pro and leave my PC with the damned validation reminders.

 

[John]

KuJoe, since you want to do a clean install the old fashioned way the recovery cd's are worthless (unless you want to restore it to the way HP shipped it). MS can't help you because you are dealing with an OEM copy of their OS which was heavily discounted to HP so that you go to HP for technical support. You can use an "unbranded" OEM copy of XP MCE 2005 and it will work with the product key affixed to your chassis. I'll leave it up to you on how you want to acquire one, however my OP describes one possible method of obtaining a copy although in the eyes of MS this is considered illegal. You're welcome to use your copy of XP Pro on it if it's a retail (or other version that allows transfers) copy; otherwise you are violating the EULA and engaging in piracy.

Sucks doesn't it? Now you see the reasoning behind my rants. 😛

 

[KuJoe]

Damn, oh well, what can you do? I had no problem dropping some money down to get a CD but I guess the other methods will have to surfice.

 

[RebateMonger]

One other issue with MCE 2005:
If you don't do a FULL restore of the original OEM system (including all the applications), you may not get a free copy of the MPEG 2 decoder. You won't be able to play DVDs.

Microsoft doesn't include an MPEG 2 decoder with the "bare" MCE 2005 Install CD. And the free ones don't work well with MCE 2005. You may have to buy one. NVidia's ($20) seems to be a known-good decoder that is MCE 2005-compatible.

 

[KuJoe]

Originally posted by: RebateMonger
One other issue with MCE 2005:
If you don't do a FULL restore of the original OEM system (including all the applications), you may not get a free copy of the MPEG 2 decoder. You won't be able to play DVDs.

Microsoft doesn't include an MPEG 2 decoder with the "bare" MCE 2005 Install CD. And the free ones don't work well with MCE 2005. You may have to buy one. NVidia's ($20) seems to be a known-good decoder that is MCE 2005-compatible.

Wow, I didn't know that. Thanks for the info. Maybe I'll just go back to XP Pro and use VLC Player and PowerDVD.

 

[Shawn]

Originally posted by: RebateMonger
One other issue with MCE 2005:
If you don't do a FULL restore of the original OEM system (including all the applications), you may not get a free copy of the MPEG 2 decoder. You won't be able to play DVDs.

Microsoft doesn't include an MPEG 2 decoder with the "bare" MCE 2005 Install CD. And the free ones don't work well with MCE 2005. You may have to buy one. NVidia's ($20) seems to be a known-good decoder that is MCE 2005-compatible.

I use PowerDVD 5 for the mpeg 2 decoder and it works fine.