Dell Desktop Restore Disk Options

[EmptyTimCup]

Originally Posted by dn0121

Except that his product key may or may not work with the disks he gets.

You do not need to input the PID Key with a dell restore

[EmptyTimCup]

Originally Posted by clevalley

And if it came with Windows XP any Dell Branded OEM Windows XP CD you can use this to boot from to reload the O/S without entering your key.

Also works with Server install CDs ... I have Technet Licensed Versions of Win 2k3 Server but I hate the whole activation scheme, so I use Dell Server OS recovery cds to build my training network

also I beleive Lord Stanley's response pertains mainly to laptops ... I have yet to see that on a desktop

[dn0121]

Originally Posted by EmptyTimCup

You do not need to input the PID Key with a dell restore

Correct, I missed the dell specific part. I thought he was just saying a CAB disk.

[LordStanley]

Originally Posted by EmptyTimCup

Also works with Server install CDs ... I have Technet Licensed Versions of Win 2k3 Server but I hate the whole activation scheme, so I use Dell Server OS recovery cds to build my training network

also I beleive Lord Stanley's response pertains mainly to laptops ... I have yet to see that on a desktop

depends on the model.

This is staight from Dell

"Available on many Dell™ Dimension™ and Inspiron™ computers, Dell™ PC Restore by Symantec™ is a hidden partition on your hard drive that contains an exact copy of your computer's original factory software. With PC Restore, you can restore your computer to the original state it was shipped in to you from Dell and in a fraction of the time a manual reinstallation would require. "

[latiger12]

Originally Posted by dn0121

Except that his product key may or may not work with the disks he gets.

The product key should be on the case somewhere (or in the windows book). I was trying to re-install windows on my parents machine. Dell no longer sends the OS disk. You have to call them...weasels.

[dn0121]

Originally Posted by latiger12

The product key should be on the case somewhere (or in the windows book). I was trying to re-install windows on my parents machine. Dell no longer sends the OS disk. You have to call them...weasels.

Right, what I was thinking though that he was just going to obtain a Windows XP disk (not Dell specific.) He could have gotten a disk that wouldn't work with his code.

[clevalley (Premo)]

Originally Posted by latiger12

The product key should be on the case somewhere (or in the windows book). I was trying to re-install windows on my parents machine. Dell no longer sends the OS disk. You have to call them...weasels.

Unless you check the box when you configure it and pay the extra $10 when you configure the system.

I know what you mean though, you would think it would be standard to include the media but not anymore...

[EmptyTimCup]

Originally Posted by clevalley

Unless you check the box when you configure it and pay the extra $10 when you configure the system.

I know what you mean though, you would think it would be standard to include the media but not anymore...

oh no they can charge 10 - 20 bucks more for a 25 cent cd ....


but your really screwed when the hard drive dies .... and you have no nifty restore cd / dvd

[GWguy]

Originally Posted by EmptyTimCup

oh no they can charge 10 - 20 bucks more for a 25 cent cd ....


but your really screwed when the hard drive dies .... and you have no nifty restore cd / dvd

Not entirely true. HPs (at least mine) came with a utility for a one-time creation of boot/recovery cds/dvds from the recovery partition. If you had the foresight to run the utility you'd have a set of recovery disks if the hard drive failed. I did, and it saved my butt once.

[EmptyTimCup]

Originally Posted by GWguy

Not entirely true. HPs (at least mine) came with a utility for a one-time creation of boot/recovery cds/dvds from the recovery partition.

ahh nice ... thanks for the update