"Ken Blake, MVP" <kblake@this.is.an.invalid.domain> wrote in message
news:rroj84po3r7vvf4ovll32m6nrd14ma44tn@4ax.com...[color=blue]
> On Thu, 24 Jul 2008 22:30:00 -0700, Munchichic
> <Munchichic@discussions.microsoft.com> 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]
>
>
> 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.[/color]

They've started doing it again. A coworker just purchased a laptop that
came with a full Windows install disk.
[color=blue]
> 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
> Please Reply to the Newsgroup[/color]