New Dell Inspiron but no WinXPPro CD

[Daren]

I have recently bought a Dell laptop and have found the support to be
an absolute nightmare. I am very happy with the laptop but the pain
involved dealing with the 'help' desk means I will never buy, or
recommend a Dell again. And yes, the pigeon English adds to the
debacle.

Maybe, it depends where in world you are, or what the time is, when you
call, but nobody wants to play Russian roulette when they're having
an IT drama.

 

[Nightowl]

I have recently bought a Dell laptop and have found the support to be
an absolute nightmare. I am very happy with the laptop but the pain
involved dealing with the 'help' desk means I will never buy, or
recommend a Dell again. And yes, the pigeon English adds to the
debacle.

Can anybody list manufacturers who *do* still provide proper operating
system CDs with their systems?

My last two machines came from Dell and I've been very happy with them,
but I won't buy Dell again if they too have stopped supplying CDs.

 

[Z]

Can anybody list manufacturers who *do* still provide proper operating
system CDs with their systems?

Dell. Either ask for the CD when you order the system or call them up
after you rcv the system and ask for it.

My last two machines came from Dell and I've been very happy with them,
but I won't buy Dell again if they too have stopped supplying CDs.

They supply them if you ask, either when you place the order or
after-the-fact, when you've already got the system.

 

[R. McCarty]

I'm not aware of any listing, but most all the OEM PCs I've
recently setup/configured did NOT ship with a OEM XP CD.

Maybe some of the smaller companies still do, but because
margins and competition are so tough, once one vendor stops
shipping them - most everyone do the same.

Perhaps Microsoft should just offer to sell disks themselves,
without a Product Key and bypass the OEMs. The only issue
might be embedded OEM Drivers, but those are usually on
the vendor web sites.

 

[Nightowl]

Dell. Either ask for the CD when you order the system or call them up
after you rcv the system and ask for it.



They supply them if you ask, either when you place the order or after-
the-fact, when you've already got the system.

Thanks, Z. I hope it is the same in the UK.

I'm hoping to make this current system last another year before I have
to buy again, but I'll be sure to ask Dell about the CDs before I place
an order.

 

[RA]

I've just purchased an Inspiron 700M from Dell. They did not include
a CD for the operating system. How do I go about obtaining a CD for
my WinXP pro SP2.
Thanks for any help.

When I ordered my new Dell last month online, included in the long list of
options was the option of purchasing the disks for $8.00. I am sure you can
call and order them easily.

 

[MedRxman]

Go to the site below for instructions in making your own recovery CD :
How Do I Create My Operating System CD using the Dell OS Recovery Utility?

Overview

The Dell OS Recovery Utility allows the creation of one operating system CD.
This means that you can make one Microsoft® Windows® Operating system CD for
backup purposes.

To create an operating system CD, perform the following steps:

Run the DellT OS Recovery Utility
Go here...Good luck:

http://support.dell.com/support/top...ent?dn=1091713&l=en&langid=1&c=us&cs=19&s=dhs

 

[User42]

MedRxman,
This option is no longer available for computers sold by DELL after July 15,
2005. You do not have this option anymore. Now they expect you to pay for
the original CD in addition to whatever operating system you order. They
are trying to PUSH this DELL SYSTEM RESTORE as a replacement. The problem
with this Dell System Restore is that it ERASES everything you have put into
your computer if you use this GARBAGE of DELL System Restore. I refuse to
do that. I understand they are going to send me the CD in the mail. Let me
tell you it's been difficult to contact DELL. The chat people don't know
much about anything. Getting thru by phone is IMPOSSIBLE. The best way I
found out is EMAIL. I told them I was getting ready to RETURN the notebook.
I have bought about 6 new computers in my lifetime and have never had a
problem like this. I do not understand why they do not include the CD with
the notebook shipment and solve many problems.

 

[R. McCarty]

To save cost(s), companies trim back services - especially with Tech
support. So we have "Outsourced-OffShored" front line service that
is little more than Knowledge Base Article/Database searches. This
newsgroup probably has a higher throughput/resolved rating that any
of the OEM 1st-line tech support. Dell did away with the CD because
their "Research" showed only 1-10 customers ever needed or used it.
Not exactly a smart or efficient decision, but Bean-Counters love it.

 

[User42]

I remember seeing this but did not order because I thought I'd be buying an
additional BACK-UP CD. I did not know that DELL is getting away with
installing operating systems and holding back the CD and forcing you to pay
extra for it. Like I hav said I have bought about 6 computers in my
lifetime and have ALWAYS received the CD for the operating system for
obvious reasons. You are paying for this operating system and you should
get the CD that comes with it for in the event that you might needed later.

 

[MedRxman]

tell you it's been difficult to contact DELL. The chat people don't know

much about anything. Getting thru by phone is IMPOSSIBLE. The best way I

While reading your reply I connccted to Dell chat support and the chat
person is sending me a Windows XP Pro CD.

go figure

 

[Plato]

I remember seeing this but did not order because I thought I'd be buying an
additional BACK-UP CD. I did not know that DELL is getting away with
installing operating systems and holding back the CD and forcing you to pay
extra for it. Like I hav said I have bought about 6 computers in my

This allows Dell to sell to people who price shop, as NOT supplying the
cd they can sell the laptop for less.

lifetime and have ALWAYS received the CD for the operating system for
obvious reasons. You are paying for this operating system and you should
get the CD that comes with it for in the event that you might needed later.

If you want the CD then you have to pay full price for the OS.

 

[User42]

You are correct. They have shipped the CD to me. The cost is apprx. $10.
I think all of this could have been avoided if they were a little more clear
and tell you upfront that they do not include the CD with the initial order
unless you pay for it outright.

 

[Greg Ro]

I can't believe dell does this.
Reports very on the replacement os from $10 to Full price.

Greg Ro

 

[Plato]

I can't believe dell does this.
Reports very on the replacement os from $10 to Full price.

Perhaps it's cheaper if you play hardball...

"Hi Dell, I just got my laptop and no XP CD. Perhaps your shipping dept.
forgot to put it in the box."

"No, we dont include XP OS CDs with our computers. The restore
information is on the hard drive"

"Oh really? That's silly, so how am I suppossed to reinstall XP if the
hard drive fails or just gets trashed by a virus?"

"Then you can buy a CD from us."

"Hmmm, how about we make a deal, I run $10,000 per month through my
credit card and they will be glad to remove the Dell charge with just a
short phone call from me. I'll put the laptop in a box and send it back.
Will that be OK?"

 

[Richard in AZ]

Then will you do the same thing to HP, Compaq, emachine and Sony?
In the $ eat $ world, they are all trying to save pennies and no one is
providing OS disks.

 

[Plato]

Then will you do the same thing to HP, Compaq, emachine and Sony?
In the $ eat $ world, they are all trying to save pennies and no one is
providing OS disks.

Honestly I dont think its all about saving money. I think much of it is
due to the market those manufacturers are in, ie the "shop by price
only" market because they compete in TV commercials and home newspaper
ads. One can easily find hundreds of pc makers that include the disk,
but those pcs will cost more.

 

[Guest]

why should you have to pay extra for the software that is include in the
price of the PC. It sounds like they are charging you twice for what you
should have gotten in the first place.

On the second thought of Dell's support... My last company was a Dell shop
(with some IBM stinkpads and hp Presario) and I had to call their support
many times for my job. Many time I got on with some one who was hard to
understand, but was willing to help, until they saw that we had Gold Service,
and would immediately try to transfer me, even though I would tell them that
this was for our servers and not our PC/laptops. This took several
complaints to the GOLD rep to have this stopped after waiting another 30
minutes for him/her to tell me that they had to transfer me back to the same
group who .... Get the picture. Over all I state that Dell's support is
better than most. Try IBM or HP.

 

[Guest]

I wonder on the legality of them not providing the cds with the purchase,
becuse they charge you for the software.

 

[Bob I]

CD's, Floppies, Thumbdrive or harddrive partition is acceptible. They
charge you for the License. The "software" is "not the CD"