When to start bugging Dell about XP?

I ordered a Dell Latitude D610 and it's "In Transit" right now according to their web site. When should I call them up and start bugging them to send my Windows XP and MS Office CDs? Also, is 888-560-8324 the right number to call them at for this?

 

I would call the day you get your laptop but I think you will get your MS Office CDs with your laptop. I'm not sure which number it is (I always use their chat system), but I would talk to Tech Support. Customer Support seems to give you the run around about the CDs, but Tech Support will eventually give you the CDs. You might have to tell them why you are requesting them.

SG

 

What's the best reason to give? I was planning to tell them that I bought them and that they're mine.

 

Sounds good to me. You might not have any problems, but some users have had problems trying to get them before. If you are planning on replacing your HDD, then Dell will send them to you without any problems.

 

you can call them now and request the CDs, you don't need your laptop to do it

 

I suggest waiting after you got the laptop then email them instead of calling, easier and less time consuming. Good reason is that you plan to reformat the hard drive so you can install some business related programs.

 

They don't give you the disks when you order from them? Wow..just wow.

Well, then I would like to get my XP disc as well, but I just ordered my i9300 yesterday. Is it too early? I would like to get it as soon as possible to format the garbage they preinstall.

 

how long dus it take 4 them 2 ship it 2 u..and do u have 2 pay 4 the discs??.. and if u wanted 2 get it from the laptop...where is it 2 burn it on the cd?...the location of the XP disc info in my HD??

 

You can try to get the disks now. I suggested to wait because Dell wants you to use the other options. They have a burning utility on the laptop that will allow you to burn one copy of XP, so they want you to use that for clean installs. They also have a separate partition that is supposed to restore your pc back to the original factory settings (meaning it will have the junk). Because of all that, they generally will tell you to wait until you get your system before requesting the disks. Even after some users got their systems and called Dell up, Dell would not send the CDs unless they had a valid reason ( XP fails to load, hdd failure, replacing HDD, recovery utility uninstalled by accident, etc..)

I believe that you should get the CDs since you have paid for them, so I would call and try to get them at some point. Chat/Email seems to have better and quicker results than than telephone. Its not impossible to get the CDs, but it might take a couple of phone calls.

[edit] You don't have to pay for the CDs and you'll usually get them in 2 business days. If you get them from Tech Support, you'll receive a return slip with them, but just ignore it unless you receive an invoice in the mail. If you want to use the burning utility, it is under the start menu, under programs in one of the Dell folders. I think it is called Dell Recovery CD or something similar.

SG

 

Will the burnt disc have all the junk on it or no?

 

The burned disk is a clean install, so it will only have the programs that are standard with XP. You should receive some blue disks with your laptop that will have some of the extra programs on it like Sonic and Cyberlink, but I'm not sure if the dell software is on them or not. I know some of the Dell software is on their website, but they also have it on CD that you can request.

Tiny little side note: If you do use the burn disk, you might want to burn your drivers on to a CD also to save some frustration (Dell folder on C: Drive). If you call Dell and get the CDs from them, they will send you the driver cd.

 

kk..thanks..and the onli disc i got was the AOL disc..lol

 

Is this burnable XP disc exactly the same as the retail version? And by exact I mean not "enhanced" with their garbage.

Also, why the hassle in giving up the discs? Are we getting some kind of reduced price for our OS?

Wow... I'm going to have to call them the day I get my laptop and argue and lie just to get something that is mine? Ridiculous.

 

can you do a burn copy of other software like the adobe program i bought to create pdfs because im reformating with my copy of xp pro that doesnt have all of their crap preloaded on it. thanks

 

The burnable CD will not have any of the junk stuff on it. Hopefully you won't have any hassle. There have been several users that were able to get them on the first call without any questions asked. At the same, I've seen several complaints. I really think it just depends on who you talk to as to whether you'll get any hassle or not. It seems like most of the hassle is because Dell is trying to save money. Its the reason they stopped sending CDs in the first place.


You should receive CDs that contain any software that you bought in the box with your laptop. If you ordered a CD/dvd rom or burner, then you'll also get the burning and decoder software on separate CDs.

Hope this helps,
SG

 

I know gateway does somethig similar where they charge you $9 for the CD

 

When I got mine, I looked on my shipping invoice and it stated something like "Restore CD". There was no Windows CD or even a Dell Restore CD. So I call them and stated that I had paid for a valid version of Windows and it even states that I should have gotten it on my invoice, but I do not have it. They had tried to offer the burn it from my laptop option, but I instisted that the Shipping Invoice said it was supposed to be shipped.

They gave a valiant effort but they gave in and sent me my disk

 

I got the disks and never called them at all. I emailed them. All I really wanted to get them to do was show me how to burn the thing myself after that sonic stuff is junked. Poof a box full of disks. I had no poblem at all and didn't really ask for the disks at all it was their idea.