Do Dell notebooks come with original Windows Vista cd's?

[OneOfTheseDays]

Do they come with OEM Windows Vista install CD's so we can do a fresh reformat without all the Dell crap or do they just give you recovery disks?

 

[DW in UT]

Dell policy changes frequently. Best to ask Dell directly, but even then it is not certain that you can trust what you hear.

In my case, I got a desktop with XP home about 2 years ago, but it did not come with a software disc. They said at that time that it was not needed as there was a "secret" partition which would give a full re-install (restore) if/when needed. But that would not have helped if the hard drive died. So to be safe, I called Dell customer support almost a year later and they sent a free dvd of the same OS, which I used for a clean install when I put in a new & larger drive. That re-install did NOT include the extra unwanted trialware that had come pre-installed when the computer first arrived. (YMMV) The replacement disc had its own serial number, different than the original pre-installed OS serial number, and the new one had to be activated at MS. (But I kept the old drive in storage in case the new drive fails.)

The forums at Dell might give you more specific help. Seems that some people are quoted $10 fee for getting the disc, while others say they get it free. Look carefully at the options when you order (by phone or online) and you may see the chance to get the OS disc delivered as part of the shipment for an extra $10.

Whatever option you take, be aware that SOME reports say that the OS discs supplied by Dell are coded so that they will only install on Dells, but that you can install a standard retail copy of an OS on a Dell if you wish to go that route.