!!!Dell no longer providing OS disks and Resource CD's for consumer Win 7 systems!!!

If there is no CoA, then contact Dell to have it shipped to you within a few days. If this time limit you give them has expired, contact Microsoft's piracy department
Protect Yourself from Piracy

Michael

 

Thanks Michael

 

yeah thanks, mine is under the battery

 

I made an ISO image and put it on a bootable flash drive. way more convenient and prefarable. Wasn't difficult to do either when following the instructions provided in that link.

 

Just to let you know, this also affects Business systems as well. just found out today.

 

yup!! fortunately mine was a OS only disk. I hate getting image disks... everytime you format, everything you removed is right back eating away your precious gigs..


And sorry for the delay in posting...was away

 

This really isn't a big deal.

You can download the Windows 7 ISOs all over the internet and then just use your CD key.

 

Well I guess I was wrong. While configuring a Latitude system it said computer will not ship with media and that it will cost $3 for the OS media. Although they are charging, at least it isn't too much.

 

i dont know about the crappy consumer ones but the business units i've been ordering come with em...

and you can still pay the extra 3$ to have the studios come with them

 

Disappointed. This is why I liked Dell over the years.

Oh well. One solution: Make sure you have a DVD burner and blank DVD media disc or two. Burn a legal copy of Win7 (check other forum threads for instructions), obtain your OEM registration key using key-grabbing software, and copy all your drivers onto an external.

EDIT: Forgot that there's a couple more steps. More instructions here. Pretty sure it works for Win7.

 

That's not exactly true. If you use a Microsoft OEM copy of an OS and the Dell OEM key, it won't activate online, but you can use the phone option to activate it. Granted, it has to be the same type (i.e. Win7 Pro disc and key)

This works for Windows 7 at least, not sure about XP or Vista.

Some t/s you can do to get it to match if that doesn't work:

1. Download the MGAdiag tool from: http://go.microsoft.com/fwlink/?linkid=52012 Run the tool and look at the output for review. You are looking for an entry like this one:

a. File Scan Data-->

b. File Mismatch: C:\Windows\system32\en-us\user32.dll.mui[6.1.7600.16385]

c. This will confirm if the license and media are mismatched.

2. Run the Microsoft Genuine Diagnostic software: Genuine Microsoft Software. This will ensure that the OS reports authenticity correctly.

 

You can download software here (only works in IE) https://smartsource.dell.com/Web/Welcome.aspx?ReturnUrl=/web/main.aspx

Not sure if you can download an OS, I don't have a service tag that works with the site.

 

Should be the same. MS simply disabled online activation for OEM keys (at least for the big brands like Dell, HP, Acer etc...)

Michael

 

is dell still shipping those discs with their laptops? or have they totally gone the hp way by now? just wondering...

 

£5 option for me when I ordered earlier this month

 

Awww that's sad news that Dell doesn't provide OS and Resource disks.

 

but you can download the latest drivers from the dell website and the OS from the link given in the sub-forum related to windows 7 and use your OEM key to install it.

 

I think this is a deal breaker for me, if they won't send out a resource recovery disk and OS disk I think I will take my business elsewhere. This is a bad business move on their part, why off MORE people who WOULD have bought from you had you just continued with a courtesy of sending out TWO dang discs? With software you PAID to have installed? Not cool at all.

Edited: I chatted with a rep on their site just now and she gave me a link to a place to request backup OS and resource discs. You can get one for your system only one per system. And you have to give them your service tag. But who doesn't have that right? It's right on the computer....I feel better about this now after being reassured I can do this one I have the computer. So I am still on the market for the i3 Inspiron 15R. Hooray!

 

If not that you can even make a torrent download of windows 7 HP OEM edition and use the key that is under your battery.
This way you save the 2 weeks shipping time of the 7 DVD.

 

Ah that makes sense too! Good call!

 

I have received the windows 7 DVD from dell. I just contacted their technical care and said that i need t dual boot with linux so i need a 7 DVD.... and they said i will receive it in 8-10 business days... but surprisingly i recvd it winthin 3 days

 

Yep, for a lot of people, simply asking for a disk was all it took. Glad to see it worked for you too!

 

The for these "lots of people" they must be very fortunate.

Dell is telling me that they won't be giving out any discs. And when I ask nicely about it they repeatedly go on to talk about "shall I send you a link on how to create recovery discs"... really pisses me off.

 

This Post will help you for downloading the genuine windows 7 oem edition,and reinstalling it. Pls read it once again (i knw you all had once) its very helpfull and good...

 

Fill out form within below link, have done this with last three system's from Dell and they typically OVERNIGHT the disks and drivers disk as well.

Dell - Support

 

Yeah, I just asked Dell and they shipped them to me

Though Alienware systems still come with some recovery media (win7 CD, mostly, driver CD for m15x/m17x).

I asked within the warranty time of my M1210 and D820, though.

 

Hello!

Is that a *PLAIN VANILLA* Dell OEM Win 7 DVD OS, without any other Dell software installed on it -- no image -- an actual plain vanilla operating system? I just got off the phone with a Dell sales rep and he said they're all images now and there are no more plain vanilla Dell OS medias going out -- they're all images of what Dell put on the original hard drive. That would be horrifying.

Please advise. Thx.

--
Traffic

 

please see my post

text from within the link I provided. "Dell Customers can now request a set of backup discs containing the factory-installed operating system as well as the device drivers and utilities specific to your system.

They will ship you a windows O/S disc (whatever your system shipped with) AS WELL AS multiple discs' containing the drivers/utitilites that originally came on your system. I'm not sure how much explicit I can be, I have JUST done this with three seperate Dell orders within the last 1.5 months.

 

I just did a clean install of vista home premium using the windows anytime upgrade DVD. I just selected the OEM version of windows my system shipped with and activated it over the phone. The biggest pain was all the updates.. sp1, sp2, and about 200 others which took like 10 hours. Not sure MS offers those upgrade discs anymore but I bought mine for 5 bucks at compusa.

But it really does not matter.. just borrow, download iso etc.. MS could care less as long as you have a legitimate key they will always activate over the phone. I even had a HP tech tell me once it was illegal to do a clean install this way. But the truth is, they just want you to load all the bloat since they make money trashing your systems resources with all the bloatware.

Also, as far as I know, MS does not even use CD/DVD copy protection so it generally possble to copy windows. But this is illegal to do. But MS uses authentication in place of disc copy protection.. Its been that way for years.

Everyone needs not to worry about dell not shipping discs etc.. Its easy enough to find a seven disc/iso etc.. and just call in the product key on bottom of notebook and be done with it. Then go to Dell's support site and get all the drivers from your system ID number. Rather, you better get those drivers first before you format your drive or you may not be able to get online without the proper wireless/network card driver.

 

all you have to do is fill out a form (if you've just purchased a pc recently anyways) and they overnight the O/S cd and driver disks. i don't think it could be much easier

 

Are you saying they will send a clean version of windows? I know HP does not do this. They will send out their bloatware version of windows. I just bought a used Dell 630M on eBay and it came with a Clean XP PRO disc as well as a driver disc. This was a 2006 Inspiron model so that was impressive to see on a home line of computer. If they still do that then everyone should definitely fill that form out.

What I'm thinking is that disc might contain other added applications that Dell is trying to sell you. At the price point of their Inspiron systems, I can't see how they can provide a full clean copy of windows seven. However, if you have a business line Dell, that may have a clean copy being the price point is usually much higher and businesses generally don't tolerate the bloatware.

 

read!!

specifically this part " (whatever your system shipped with) AS WELL AS multiple discs' containing the drivers/utitilites that originally came on your system."


This can only be done once per system service tag #. They will send a O/S Disc only of whatever was originally installed in your system, then they will send a SEPERATE disc container the drivers and other bloatware that came with it.

I am not entirely sure if there is a time requirement or if it is just once per service tag #. I highly doubt they still would do a Win XP disc, however it is worth a try, just click on this link and give it a shot.


Dell - Support

 

Don't everyone get your knickers in a twist. Sometimes you have to pay for it, and sometimes you do not. There are valid reasons an OEM may not include OS installation media with a computer. Read this: Dell Support - Request for Backup Discs

The Latitude product line is a business-class machine. Providing a software license without installation media is a common practice on business machines, as many large companies image custom configurations for mass installation and wipe out a factory installation anyway. So, it's irrelevant in that scenario. Unauthorized redistribution of installation media and product keys is also a problem in the corporate world.

The XPS and Alienware lines (top tier) have historically come with all the OS, driver and apps installation discs and they are packaged in very nice binders. "You get what you pay for."

For the low-budget "value" product line, competition is based mostly on price, not advanced features and build quality. These are the "disposable" entry level machines. Clearly, not packaging an install disc and driver discs cuts down on production costs for a product line that relies strictly on volume to make a meaningful profit. "You get what you pay for" holds true here, too.

I know of a couple of Inspiron (budget line) customers that did not receive an installation disc with their original purchase, but they received it simply by asking.

Most recently, in cases where the OS installation discs are not provided by Dell, this is generally made clear when placing an order and customers are given the opportunity to pay a small fee to receive them. I just don't see where that is a deal-breaker.

If receiving the Windows OS install media is the only reason some people would choose to purchase a .Dell . product versus an .hp .then that is a pretty lame reason. Granted, there is little or no difference in most of the internal components among manufacturers, (even in the case of newer Apple products,) but they typically outperform .hp .and .Acer .(their largest competitors) in customer service, technical support, and warranty fulfillment and these are far more compelling reasons upon which to make a purchasing decision than having to pay a small fee for OEM OS installation and driver discs.