Why do PC manufacturers not supply O/S CD's with there products

[Guest]

I recently purchased a Dell laptop,

I paid the extra for Windows XP Professional because I am a software
developer and I require it for apps such as .net.

Why on earth did I never get the offer of an O/S disk to come with the laptop?

and

Do I really need one? for re-installs, drivers and networking etc...

If some one could shed some light on this that would be appreciated

Regards,

 

[Ron Martell]

I recently purchased a Dell laptop,

I paid the extra for Windows XP Professional because I am a software
developer and I require it for apps such as .net.

Why on earth did I never get the offer of an O/S disk to come with the laptop?

It is cheaper for the manufacturer to provide a hidden "System
Recovery" partition on the hard drive, and that is all that Microsoft
requires them to do under the terms of their OEM licensing.

and

Do I really need one? for re-installs, drivers and networking etc..

Most if not all of the files you need for drivers and networking
should be put into the \i386 folder by the factory configuration
process so that should not be a worry.

However you may be somewhat inconvenienced (or worse) should it ever
become necessary to boot your computer to the Windows XP Recovery
Console or to do a "Repair Install" of your Windows XP.

Some OEMs do provide capabilities for one or both of these items, but
other do not.

Good luck

Ron Martell Duncan B.C. Canada
--
Microsoft MVP (1997 - 2006)
On-Line Help Computer Service
http://onlinehelp.bc.ca

"Anyone who thinks that they are too small to make a difference
has never been in bed with a mosquito."

 

[KB]

You want the O/S disks. Contact Dell and request them. You may even be
able to get them for free, but if it costs $20 to get them, get them.
You'll be happy you did...one day.

Good Luck!

 

[Guest]

Thanks Ron ur a star, I will get back to Dell and get an O/S disk.

 

[R. McCarty]

Just today, I was working on a Dell Inspiron 1100.
Nice product, 58 degree CPU temp due to lack of Thermal
paste on the heatsink and a Toshiba 53 degree MK3021GAS
drive. Truly a piece of junk.

Anyway - needed to install XP fresh and only had the i386
folder on the System Partition. Would have been nice to had a
Dell OEM XP Pro to work from. Had to build a bootable CD
and format the partition to FAT32 but I did cobble together a
setup/process to get the Dell re-installed & running. (But HOT!).
Why would Dell build a notebook with a Desktop Pentium IV
and then put the world's hottest 2.5" drive inside with it >?

Moral of the story - "Get a XP CD", the expense is well worth it.

 

[Tom [Pepper] Willett]

Oh, they offer it. You just have to really search when you're ordering the
PC. And, pay extra.

 

[Bruce Chambers]

I recently purchased a Dell laptop,

I paid the extra for Windows XP Professional because I am a software
developer and I require it for apps such as .net.

Why on earth did I never get the offer of an O/S disk to come with the laptop?

and

Do I really need one? for re-installs, drivers and networking etc...

If some one could shed some light on this that would be appreciated

Legally, the OEM will have met it's contractual obligation to
Microsoft by providing a means of returning the PC to its ex-factory
state, whether it's a Recovery CD or a Recovery Partition. They are not
legally obliged to provide a true installation CD as part of the sale.
Reputable, customer-service aware OEMs, like MPC, and Gateway, do
provide a full OEM installation CD, that does permit custom
installations and repairs. Many uncaring OEMs, especially those who
sell their computers through department stores and chain outlets, such
as Compaq, HP, eMachines, and Sony, however, in an effort to save
pennies and reduce their support costs by having to hire support people
that can only say "Boot from the Recovery CD to return your PC to its
original condition," provide only a CD bearing a disk image of the hard
drive as it left the factory. These Recovery/Restore CDs cannot perform
normal installations, nor can they be used to do any sort of customizations.

Essentially, it boils down to "You get what you pay for."

You might be able to get an unbranded, generic OEM CD to perform a
repair installation, using the Dell's OEM Product Key (affixed to the
side of the computer).


--

Bruce Chambers

Help us help you:



They that can give up essential liberty to obtain a little temporary
safety deserve neither liberty nor safety. -Benjamin Franklin

 

[Carey Frisch [MVP]]

How Do I Create a CD Containing My Operating System with the Dell OS Recovery Utility?
http://support.dell.com/support/top...rt/dsn/en/document?c=us&l=en&s=gen&dn=1091713

--
Carey Frisch
Microsoft MVP
Windows - Shell/User
Microsoft Community Newsgroups
news://msnews.microsoft.com/

---------------------------------------------------------------------------­----------------

:

| I recently purchased a Dell laptop,
|
| I paid the extra for Windows XP Professional because I am a software
| developer and I require it for apps such as .net.
|
| Why on earth did I never get the offer of an O/S disk to come with the laptop?
|
| and
|
| Do I really need one? for re-installs, drivers and networking etc...
|
| If some one could shed some light on this that would be appreciated
|
| Regards,

 

[kurttrail]

It is cheaper for the manufacturer to provide a hidden "System
Recovery" partition on the hard drive, and that is all that Microsoft
requires them to do under the terms of their OEM licensing.

I don't believe that. Do you have some documentation that it is
cheaper?

Most if not all of the files you need for drivers and networking
should be put into the \i386 folder by the factory configuration
process so that should not be a worry.

However you may be somewhat inconvenienced (or worse) should it ever
become necessary to boot your computer to the Windows XP Recovery
Console or to do a "Repair Install" of your Windows XP.

Some OEMs do provide capabilities for one or both of these items, but
other do not.

Good luck

Ron Martell Duncan B.C. Canada

--
Peace!
Kurt Kirsch
Self-anointed Moderator
http://microscum.com
"It'll soon shake your Windows
And rattle your walls
For the times they are a-changin'."

 

[Davy]

Although you may not have the installation CD there may 'by chance' be
a copy of it on the hard drive which one could copy to CD...!

http://ask-leo.com/i_dont_have_an_installation_cd_for_windows_xp_what_if_i_need_one.html

Here's a snippet

To find out if the CD-ROM image is on your machine, search for a

folder named I386. There may be several, but the one we care about
will contain close to 7,000 files, two of which will be winnt.exe and
winnt32.exe. The I386 directory is typically one of the top-level
directories on the distribution CD-ROM, but most importantly, it is
the directory that contains the distributed copy of Windows XP.
Winnt.exe and winnt32.exe are the DOS and protected mode setup
programs, respectively. (You'd only need those if you were planning
to re-install Windows XP from scratch - I use them here as an easy
way to indentify that we have the right directory.)
It stinks.... anything goes wrong, especially with so many MS flaws
they should be made to supply them with the product.

If mi Granny could make patch-work quilts like Billy Gates makes his
patches.... she would be proud...!

Davy

 

[Admiral Q]

:I recently purchased a Dell laptop,
:
: I paid the extra for Windows XP Professional because I am a
software
: developer and I require it for apps such as .net.
:
: Why on earth did I never get the offer of an O/S disk to come with
the laptop?
:
: and
:
: Do I really need one? for re-installs, drivers and networking
etc...
:
: If some one could shed some light on this that would be
appreciated
:
: Regards,

I've purchased several laptops from Dell, you just need to click the
configuration window that by default, is closed, and select a
restoration CD for the OS you've selected - at the time of Laptop
order, they are $10 USD, but I believe after the fact, they are $20
to cover shipping/handling.

--


Star Fleet Admiral Q @ your service!

Google is your friend!
http://www.google.com

 

[Dick Miller]

:I recently purchased a Dell laptop,
:
: I paid the extra for Windows XP Professional because I am a
software
: developer and I require it for apps such as .net.
:
: Why on earth did I never get the offer of an O/S disk to come with
the laptop?
:
: and
:
: Do I really need one? for re-installs, drivers and networking
etc...
:
: If some one could shed some light on this that would be
appreciated
:
: Regards,

I've purchased several laptops from Dell, you just need to click the
configuration window that by default, is closed, and select a
restoration CD for the OS you've selected - at the time of Laptop
order, they are $10 USD, but I believe after the fact, they are $20
to cover shipping/handling.

I called Dell support and got to a person in India. Asked for the disks
and got them in 2 days. Cost: nothing.
BTW the disks (XP home and device drivers) were pre-packaged with an SKU
(part Number).
Dick Miller
Bella Vista,AR

 

[KB]

Exactly. Thanks for confirming my belief, I don't own a Dell but I was
quite certain what you describe is true. What's interesting is that when
you buy the system, you'll need to pay extra to get the discs, but getting
them later costs nothing. Go figure.

 

[Admiral Q]

: Exactly. Thanks for confirming my belief, I don't own a Dell but
I was
: quite certain what you describe is true. What's interesting is
that when
: you buy the system, you'll need to pay extra to get the discs, but
getting
: them later costs nothing. Go figure.
:
: : > Admiral Q wrote:
: >> : >> :I recently purchased a Dell laptop,
: >> :
: >> : I paid the extra for Windows XP Professional because I am a
software
: >> : developer and I require it for apps such as .net.
: >> :
: >> : Why on earth did I never get the offer of an O/S disk to come
with the
: >> laptop?
: >> :
: >> : and
: >> :
: >> : Do I really need one? for re-installs, drivers and networking
etc...
: >> :
: >> : If some one could shed some light on this that would be
appreciated
: >> :
: >> : Regards,
: >>
: >> I've purchased several laptops from Dell, you just need to
click the
: >> configuration window that by default, is closed, and select a
restoration
: >> CD for the OS you've selected - at the time of Laptop order,
they are $10
: >> USD, but I believe after the fact, they are $20 to cover
: >> shipping/handling.
: >>
: > I called Dell support and got to a person in India. Asked for
the disks
: > and got them in 2 days. Cost: nothing.
: > BTW the disks (XP home and device drivers) were pre-packaged
with an SKU
: > (part Number).
: > Dick Miller
: > Bella Vista,AR
:
:

Guess I got took then, unless it matters what edition you're
getting - the versions I got were Win MCE on Dell Inspirions??? Go
figure!!!

--


Star Fleet Admiral Q @ your service!

Google is your friend!
http://www.google.com

 

[KB]

Taken or not, it's $20 well spent. You did the right thing . Be sure to
put those discs in a safe place, protected from whatever life might may
offer and rest easy knowing you have them.

Good Luck!

 

[Guest]

I wonder if it depends where u are in the world, I'm Uk based.

It was a Dell Inspiron 640m, beautiful machine and other than the O/S CD
thing I have no other regrets.

 

[Leythos]

I don't believe that. Do you have some documentation that it is
cheaper?

It's something that just makes sense - if you had to include a CD you
would have to order them, track them store them, account for them,
etc... If you have an Image, which you already have for ever model, you
only have to account for COA stickers, no other inventory required.

 

[steam3801]

I recently purchased a Dell laptop,

I paid the extra for Windows XP Professional because I am a software
developer and I require it for apps such as .net.

Why on earth did I never get the offer of an O/S disk to come with the laptop?

You've answered your own question - "purchased a Dell"!

and

Do I really need one? for re-installs, drivers and networking etc...

Yes, but mainly for re-installs. Download the latest drivers from the
appropriate web site.

 

[Kerry Brown]

I recently purchased a Dell laptop,

I paid the extra for Windows XP Professional because I am a software
developer and I require it for apps such as .net.

Why on earth did I never get the offer of an O/S disk to come with
the laptop?

and

Do I really need one? for re-installs, drivers and networking etc...

If some one could shed some light on this that would be appreciated

Regards,

No one has mentioned what I believe is the main reason they don't include a
Windows CD. It saves them a lot of money on tech support. Their first line
of support is to get you run the factory recovery that is on a hidden
partition on the hard drive. You are off the phone in five minutes and most
software problems are fixed. Unfortunately all your data and any programs
you may have installed are gone but their support costs must be way down.

 

[kurttrail]

It's something that just makes sense -

If it makes sense to you, then that is reason enough to question it, and
to want some real proof.

if you had to include a CD you
would have to order them, track them store them, account for them,
etc...

You mean like the mouse or the keyboard? Seems that keeping track of a
simple CD would just be part of that same process.

If you have an Image, which you already have for ever model,
you only have to account for COA stickers, no other inventory
required.

LOL! Most computers, even ones with recovery images come with a CD or
two too.

--
Peace!
Kurt Kirsch
Self-anointed Moderator
http://microscum.com
"It'll soon shake your Windows
And rattle your walls
For the times they are a-changin'."