On Thu, 24 Jul 2008 22:30:00 -0700, Munchichic
<Munchichic@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote:
[color=blue]
> 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]


Several points:

1. Like you, I think that all computers that come with a pre-installed
operating system should come with an installed CD or DVD for that
operating system.

2. But neither you nor I get to make the rules for Dell or for anyone
else. They have the right to offer a computer for sale under the terms
they did. In this case, it was *you* who failed to find out in advance
exactly what you were getting for your $1000. If you didn't like what
you were getting, you should have taken your business elsewhere. The
rule of "caveat emptor" applies.

3. Like other OEM vendors, over the years Dell has changed their
policy on this. I have a Dell laptop that I bought about four or five
years ago. I have an OEM installation CD for the Windows XP version
that is installed on it.

4. As far as I know, Dell no longer offers Installation CDs or DVDs
with their computers. When you say "many of them requested the same
disc from Dell and received it without incident (some within the last
2 months)," I strongly suspect that you are wrong and they (at least
those of them who got a CD recently) did not get what you think they
got.

5. Dell computers (and those from many other OEM manufacturers) now
come with a recovery partition in lieu of any installation or recovery
CD or DVD. They come with instructions to burn the contents of that
partition to a CD or DVD. To me that's not a wonderful alternative,
but it's far better than nothing, and I urge you to follow those
instructions immediately.

When you buy a computer from one of the big-name OEM manufacturers
like Dell, you usually get a very good price. But what you don't get
is the ability to choose exactly what you get--the brand and model of
each of the components in the computer, what software is installed or
not installed, what CDs and DVDs you get, etc.--choices you would have
if you dealt with a local custom builder instead. It's your choice:
you can pay less and get whatever they offer, or you can pay more and
get whatever you want. Don't blame Dell if you made the wrong choice.

My personal choice, by the way (for desktops, anyway) is to pay a
little more, have my computers built by a local builder, and get
whatever *I* want.

--
Ken Blake, Microsoft MVP - Windows Desktop Experience
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