Dell Operating system CD

cjmg

I've recently purchased a dell Dimension 5150, windows XP 2005 ed. No problems so far.
The OS CD or recovery CD aren't included ( I know dell don't ship these as standard). I' m concerned however, that if there is a major problem and I have to reinstall windows I won't have the CD.

Is it a simple matter of contacting dell?
Will they Ship the CD's to me?

I've been looking for contact details, however, technical support at dell doesn't seem to be the easiest thing to find. All the phone No.'s & e-mail contacts I've come across are for sales.
Is there any way of backing up the OS? (I know they removed a utility for that from their newer systems).

Wondering if anyone else, who has the same problem, has managed to resolve it. Would be grateful to know how.

dbnavan

Its on a partition of ur harddisk only accessible by pressing one of the function keys during boot up, cant remember which one though, if i find it i will edit post.

**edit** ctrl+f11 during bootup http://www.goodells.net/dellrestore/index.htm

cjmg

Thanks...

petes

Ctrl + F11 during boot.

/edit Got there before me db.

Hmm_Messiah

1. can some one tell me how to creat a Recovery CD ? just unpacked my new 5150 today, and of course no cds?

2. also can i delete all the trial stuff they load, without any problems?

3. when i turned on said pressing any key meant agreement of EULA re backup of software etc : is this them making me say ok to no sw on cd?? I got not EULA with it, nothign in box only setup diagram, and not in any email confirmming order , t&c's?


4. want to mke sure the dvd player doesnt lock on a region? is tis still a problem? have dvdgenie and dvd idle on lappie, wil they do the trick, have some memory of been told might need to update the firmware ?



sorry for all the questions, just its all shiny and i dont wanna mess up

smeggle

they generally pop it in C:\i386 and C:\ Drivers - least the last few new ones I've seen recently had them there.

Laguna

Hmm_Messiah wrote:

4. want to mke sure the dvd player doesnt lock on a region? is tis still a problem? have dvdgenie and dvd idle on lappie, wil they do the trick, have some memory of been told might need to update the firmware ?

Simple, get a program called AnyDVD from www.slysoft.com, it makes your DVD player region free.

majiktripp

Theres an option under Start->Program files->Dell->Create OS Recovery CD.
Click and insert blank CD.

dbnavan

I started messing around with my DVD few months back to make it region free, ended up doing somethin to firmware and screwed it up completely, wouldnt go near it again to be honest. Ended up telling dell it stopped working for no reason they just sent out a new one.

Hmm_Messiah

thanks for the replies .

me loves boards .

cjmg

majiktripp wrote:

Theres an option under Start->Program files->Dell->Create OS Recovery CD.
Click and insert blank CD.

Dell have removed this facility from newer systems. Not sure why.

"5. Dell OS Recovery CD Creation and Manual Operating System Reinstall

NOTE: The Dell OS Recovery Utility is available on Dimension computers that were shipped between December 15, 2004 and July 15, 2005 and on Inspiron computers between January 10, 2005 and July 15, 2005."

Hmm_Messiah

so how do I do it then ? (create a recovery cd)

Also re
3. when i turned on said pressing any key meant agreement of EULA re backup of software etc : is this them insisting I say ok to no software on cd?? I got not EULA with it, nothing in box only setup diagram, and not in any email confirming order , t&c's?

IS that what this message on screenis about ?

netwhizkid

I actually had a good experience with Dell today for a change. My DVD drive packed up after only 14months. I rang them and we went through the whole rigmarole of System Restore and Registry Editor etc. Anyway eventually they gave up and agreed to replace the Drive. Anyway infairness to them (I have slagged them off before) they are sending an engineer to the house Wednesday and he will replace it. Having a 4yr Next Business Day warranty is bloody great let me tell you. I was not sure if I'd have to post it to them, I was dreading paying around €40 to €50 in postage as the thing weighs about 20 pounds or more. I have been p*ssed with dell in the past as they let me high and dry on a software issue, but anyway Dell doesnt make software only cutting edge PCs. Dell is now back in my good books again! Bill Gates and Microsoft are warming to me too again as my system is proving more stable now than in it's entire history. (the skydsl upgrade patch had helped enormously too) I guess that is down to spending a lot of time reading the computer forum and learning some handy tips & tricks! I would still like an apple as they are in a hot case but like cars I guess it is what is under the bonnet that counts.

Now I wonder is there anywhere I can get my beloved Cherio's Childrens CD that my drive decided to scratch! I spotted the drive going wonky and being very noisey and decided to sacrifice that for the Dell Diagnostics!