I need any ideas anyone might have. I bought my computer
from Dell, and like always they give you nothing but a
reinstallation disk. Well mine broke and now they want
269.00 bucks to give me the full operating system disk
that never bothered to give me in the first place. ( which
of course they blame on microsoft.)

I have Xp Pro but I also have another computer running ME
and I have other options like deploying a different
operating system on the computer. Microsoft of course
keeps referring me to Dell and I am getting a major run
around. I don't think I should have to repurchase my
operating system over a defective disk ( This was only the
second time it had been used in three years)

Any ideas before I chuck the windows and go with something
else? It's a matter principle. It was a custom ordered
computer I think I should have gotten the disks, every
other piece of software on the computer I got the full
disks including Office XP Pro. I haven't even been able to
upgrade my HDD over this issue which I became aware of
last year when I had to reformat the first time.I have a
160 GB HDD sitting here for a year now because I refuse to
repurchase a operating system over rules created by these
two companies. Without a full operating system you can't
change the hard drive. Dell is saying it's microsoft and
microsoft is referring me to Dell and in the end no one is
doing anything. They won't even allow me to purchase the
upgrade. They say it won't work. Never buying another Dell
but that doesn't help today.

Any ideas?

You get what you pay for. Dell's are relatively cheap because they use OEM
software, such as XP. "OEM" mean original equipment manufacturer. It also
means that Dell assumes the responsibility for handling user problems, which
is why Microsoft sells OEM version of software cheaper, and why your Dell
cost what it did instead of more. It is also why Microsoft does not want to
talk to you; they owe you nothing. Of course, I doubt that Dell explained
any of this to you before you bought the PC. Still, if you carefully read
the fine print of all the license agreements I am confident you will come to
the same conclusion.

As for what to do with/about Dell: If the PC is still under warrantee, and
if the hardware is defective, Dell should replace it (e.g., a crashed hard
drive). But, if the problem is software related, like a virus or a bad
install/uninstall, all Dell owes you is the ability to restore the PC to day
one, and the restoration CD they provided should do that. Of course, you
will lose all personal files and settings and non-Dell-installed programs.
But, again, if you read the fine print of the various license agreements,
that is all you bought from Dell. Of course, I suspect that did not
highlight any of this in their adds.

If what you really want to do is transfer the XP license to another PC,
forget it. OEM licenses are not transferrable. That is one reason why they
are cheaper. If you want to perform a major upgrade to the PC (e.g.,
motherboard), forget that too. The OEM license is valid for the original
equipment only. In some cases you can add hardware, like a PCI card, and of
course external USB device. But, major upgrades are not permitted, unless
they are performed by the OEM.

So, in closing, you got what you paid for, although you probably did not
realize what you were really buying. In the future, get a PC made at a
local shop, and specify that they use the full retail version of XP (about
$300 for Pro) and that they gie you the CD as part of the deal. Or, make
your own PC. Just be sure to avoid OEM software, unless you are good enough
to at as your own OEM, since since the major oftware vendors will not even
talk to you about their OEM softare.
"rainbow" <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote in message
news:7a0301c476f1$c82acaa0$(E-Mail Removed)...
> I need any ideas anyone might have. I bought my computer
> from Dell, and like always they give you nothing but a
> reinstallation disk. Well mine broke and now they want
> 269.00 bucks to give me the full operating system disk
> that never bothered to give me in the first place. ( which
> of course they blame on microsoft.)
>
> I have Xp Pro but I also have another computer running ME
> and I have other options like deploying a different
> operating system on the computer. Microsoft of course
> keeps referring me to Dell and I am getting a major run
> around. I don't think I should have to repurchase my
> operating system over a defective disk ( This was only the
> second time it had been used in three years)
>
> Any ideas before I chuck the windows and go with something
> else? It's a matter principle. It was a custom ordered
> computer I think I should have gotten the disks, every
> other piece of software on the computer I got the full
> disks including Office XP Pro. I haven't even been able to
> upgrade my HDD over this issue which I became aware of
> last year when I had to reformat the first time.I have a
> 160 GB HDD sitting here for a year now because I refuse to
> repurchase a operating system over rules created by these
> two companies. Without a full operating system you can't
> change the hard drive. Dell is saying it's microsoft and
> microsoft is referring me to Dell and in the end no one is
> doing anything. They won't even allow me to purchase the
> upgrade. They say it won't work. Never buying another Dell
> but that doesn't help today.
>
> Any ideas?
>
>

All Dell computers come with a full Windows installation CD. Dell also
includes full installation CDs for all the software that comes with your
computer.

If you lose any of these CDs, Dell is under no obligation to replace them.
However, if you call them and are particularly polite, they have been known
to bend this rule.

Ted Zieglar
formerly "Rocket J. Squirrel"

"rainbow" <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote in message
news:7a0301c476f1$c82acaa0$(E-Mail Removed)...
> I need any ideas anyone might have. I bought my computer
> from Dell, and like always they give you nothing but a
> reinstallation disk. Well mine broke and now they want
> 269.00 bucks to give me the full operating system disk
> that never bothered to give me in the first place. ( which
> of course they blame on microsoft.)
>
> I have Xp Pro but I also have another computer running ME
> and I have other options like deploying a different
> operating system on the computer. Microsoft of course
> keeps referring me to Dell and I am getting a major run
> around. I don't think I should have to repurchase my
> operating system over a defective disk ( This was only the
> second time it had been used in three years)
>
> Any ideas before I chuck the windows and go with something
> else? It's a matter principle. It was a custom ordered
> computer I think I should have gotten the disks, every
> other piece of software on the computer I got the full
> disks including Office XP Pro. I haven't even been able to
> upgrade my HDD over this issue which I became aware of
> last year when I had to reformat the first time.I have a
> 160 GB HDD sitting here for a year now because I refuse to
> repurchase a operating system over rules created by these
> two companies. Without a full operating system you can't
> change the hard drive. Dell is saying it's microsoft and
> microsoft is referring me to Dell and in the end no one is
> doing anything. They won't even allow me to purchase the
> upgrade. They say it won't work. Never buying another Dell
> but that doesn't help today.
>
> Any ideas?
>
>

I know that is what annoys me... They charged me 299.00
bucks for the operating system the full cost of the retail
version. I still have the itemized shipping slip

I just spent another hour the phone with them speaking to
the supervisor of the level two tech support. This is what
he said:

He said Microsoft does not allow them to issue full
installation disks ( again microsoft's fault) Which is why
it was not the hologram CDs. Anyway I pointed out I paid
for the full version I own the license I want the disks.
He won't even reissue the reinstallation disks. After
three years I don't have a warranty on my software. What a
joke. It never occured to me to run stress tests on their
disks, I used the thing once before the other day.

I'm not paying for a new operating system, because these
companies want to squeeze every penny they can get out of
me. I'll throw linux on it for now and go shopping at
their competitor, I may as well get a whole new system,I
had upgraded everything but the HDD in it anyway. I have a
feeling most of the parts were reissued to they had to
replace the monitor and CD drive the first two months.
I'll move it all over to my other computer and throw the
Dell where it belongs in the trash. Live and learn should
have just built the whole thing myself.

Thanks for the input.

I noticed some stores on Amazon selling their Dell disks
for 70 bucks but at this point I'm just washing my hands
of the company.






>-----Original Message-----
>You get what you pay for. Dell's are relatively cheap
because they use OEM
>software, such as XP. "OEM" mean original equipment
manufacturer. It also
>means that Dell assumes the responsibility for handling
user problems, which
>is why Microsoft sells OEM version of software cheaper,
and why your Dell
>cost what it did instead of more. It is also why
Microsoft does not want to
>talk to you; they owe you nothing. Of course, I doubt
that Dell explained
>any of this to you before you bought the PC. Still, if
you carefully read
>the fine print of all the license agreements I am
confident you will come to
>the same conclusion.
>
>As for what to do with/about Dell: If the PC is still
under warrantee, and
>if the hardware is defective, Dell should replace it
(e.g., a crashed hard
>drive). But, if the problem is software related, like a
virus or a bad
>install/uninstall, all Dell owes you is the ability to
restore the PC to day
>one, and the restoration CD they provided should do
that. Of course, you
>will lose all personal files and settings and non-Dell-
installed programs.
>But, again, if you read the fine print of the various
license agreements,
>that is all you bought from Dell. Of course, I suspect
that did not
>highlight any of this in their adds.
>
>If what you really want to do is transfer the XP license
to another PC,
>forget it. OEM licenses are not transferrable. That is
one reason why they
>are cheaper. If you want to perform a major upgrade to
the PC (e.g.,
>motherboard), forget that too. The OEM license is valid
for the original
>equipment only. In some cases you can add hardware, like
a PCI card, and of
>course external USB device. But, major upgrades are not
permitted, unless
>they are performed by the OEM.
>
>So, in closing, you got what you paid for, although you
probably did not
>realize what you were really buying. In the future, get
a PC made at a
>local shop, and specify that they use the full retail
version of XP (about
>$300 for Pro) and that they gie you the CD as part of the
deal. Or, make
>your own PC. Just be sure to avoid OEM software, unless
you are good enough
>to at as your own OEM, since since the major oftware
vendors will not even
>talk to you about their OEM softare.
>"rainbow" <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote in
message
>news:7a0301c476f1$c82acaa0$(E-Mail Removed)...
>> I need any ideas anyone might have. I bought my computer
>> from Dell, and like always they give you nothing but a
>> reinstallation disk. Well mine broke and now they want
>> 269.00 bucks to give me the full operating system disk
>> that never bothered to give me in the first place. (
which
>> of course they blame on microsoft.)
>>
>> I have Xp Pro but I also have another computer running
ME
>> and I have other options like deploying a different
>> operating system on the computer. Microsoft of course
>> keeps referring me to Dell and I am getting a major run
>> around. I don't think I should have to repurchase my
>> operating system over a defective disk ( This was only
the
>> second time it had been used in three years)
>>
>> Any ideas before I chuck the windows and go with
something
>> else? It's a matter principle. It was a custom ordered
>> computer I think I should have gotten the disks, every
>> other piece of software on the computer I got the full
>> disks including Office XP Pro. I haven't even been able
to
>> upgrade my HDD over this issue which I became aware of
>> last year when I had to reformat the first time.I have a
>> 160 GB HDD sitting here for a year now because I refuse
to
>> repurchase a operating system over rules created by
these
>> two companies. Without a full operating system you can't
>> change the hard drive. Dell is saying it's microsoft and
>> microsoft is referring me to Dell and in the end no one
is
>> doing anything. They won't even allow me to purchase the
>> upgrade. They say it won't work. Never buying another
Dell
>> but that doesn't help today.
>>
>> Any ideas?
>>
>>
>
>
>.
>

You could try Ebay:
http://search.ebay.com/dell_Operatin...ertyZ2QQsotrZ2

Microsoft sells OEM far cheaper to resellers and thus the reseller
takes on all the responsibility of support.
Think of OEM as being created, distributed and supported by the seller
(Dell in this case) with Microsoft having no part of it.

The Dell reps are misleading at best.
Dell chose the licensing plan, Dell could give you another CD but they
may no longer be available for your modes so it may be easier to blame
Microsoft and get you off the phone.
There is no point in you calling Microsoft because Microsoft can not
help with a non Microsoft product.
Dell may be unable to help because stocks for older components are not
always available.

Are you sure it is OEM?
The price you paid ($269 US?) is comparable to Windows XP Pro retail
full version.
OEM Windows XP Pro is normally $200 or less.
Microsoft could still replace a retail CD:
http://support.microsoft.com/?kbid=326246

--
Jupiter Jones [MVP]
http://www3.telus.net/dandemar/


"rainbow" <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote in message
news:7a0301c476f1$c82acaa0$(E-Mail Removed)...
> I need any ideas anyone might have. I bought my computer
> from Dell, and like always they give you nothing but a
> reinstallation disk. Well mine broke and now they want
> 269.00 bucks to give me the full operating system disk
> that never bothered to give me in the first place. ( which
> of course they blame on microsoft.)
>
> I have Xp Pro but I also have another computer running ME
> and I have other options like deploying a different
> operating system on the computer. Microsoft of course
> keeps referring me to Dell and I am getting a major run
> around. I don't think I should have to repurchase my
> operating system over a defective disk ( This was only the
> second time it had been used in three years)
>
> Any ideas before I chuck the windows and go with something
> else? It's a matter principle. It was a custom ordered
> computer I think I should have gotten the disks, every
> other piece of software on the computer I got the full
> disks including Office XP Pro. I haven't even been able to
> upgrade my HDD over this issue which I became aware of
> last year when I had to reformat the first time.I have a
> 160 GB HDD sitting here for a year now because I refuse to
> repurchase a operating system over rules created by these
> two companies. Without a full operating system you can't
> change the hard drive. Dell is saying it's microsoft and
> microsoft is referring me to Dell and in the end no one is
> doing anything. They won't even allow me to purchase the
> upgrade. They say it won't work. Never buying another Dell
> but that doesn't help today.
>
> Any ideas?
>
>