"Alias" <aka@mascaradoyanónimo.cat> wrote in message
news:g6c5b2$bnk$1@aioe.org...[color=blue]
> Munchichic wrote:[color=green]
>> Hi Everyone. I realize this may be a "touchy" subject but I need to ask.
>> After a massive computer failure I just bought a new Dell XPS 420 desktop
>> PC. My first Dell purchase. It came preloaded with Microsoft Vista Home
>> Premium. I asked Dell for an original Microsoft installation CD as a
>> backup. They refused. I have several friends and relatives who purchased
>> Dell computers and many of them requested the same disc from Dell and
>> received it without incident (some within the last 2 months). I think I
>> should be entitled to a copy of the installation CD and not one that is
>> from Dell preloaded with a bunch of Dell crap on it. Why can't I receive
>> an original Windows CD like everyone else has requested? Am I asking the
>> wrong person? What am I doing wrong? Any help is appreciated. I just
>> spent $1000 on this new computer and think that should entitle me to the
>> Windows OS disc (and I expect it will have the same product key that was
>> used to install on my new Dell). Thank you.[/color]
>
> My question is why you forked over the cash when they wouldn't give you
> what you wanted. Now that they have your money, you're not really in a
> good bargaining position. Next time, get a white box.
>
> Alias[/color]

They gave him exactly what he ordered and it will include a method of
recovery to as shipped.
There is no reason to expect or assume you would be provided with a generic
OEM Windows DVD - why would Dell want to ship these? since as the OEM they
are responsible for support of both the hardware and OS/software as shipped
to you. So as regards reinstallation they must be able to guarantee a known
state and that is the one of their image they provide on the recovery media.
If they gave you a generic OEM DVD they would be helping you mess up your
machine then have to deal with all the people who may call for support
expecting it as they used "the disk Dell supplied" - but that machine is in
an unknown state. This is why reinstallation by any means other then the
recovery media puts you outside of the warrantee and support for your Dell
device.

Now you and many others may be happy to provide you own support for your own
machine and want to install your own operating system - in that case you
need to supply your own license and media etc. The average man in the
street is not interest din OS installations etc and a recovery system that
gets them back to as shipped is fine for over 99% of the regular PC users.
If you want to be a special case then you expect that and do whatever you
want but there is no point in blaming Microsoft or Dell for supporting the
majority of the PC buying general public in preference to the actually tiny
percentage that want to build there own system etc,. Remember the vast
majority of home PC users these days want it to be like a toaster - they
just power it on and it works. The after three years they replace it with
another one. That is the market the OEMs are in - which is why as often
cited retail sales of Vista or any other OS including even upgrades is
actually remarkably small - the over whelming majority of users buy a device
add some peripherals then replace it after a few years.


--

Mike Brannigan