Demanding OS install disc

badbob · 17 Oct 2007 at 14:45

As a customer, is it our right to demand a Windows install CD? A friend is interested in a laptop but I'd want to do a fresh install.

apatia77 · 17 Oct 2007 at 14:48

it is but some manufacturers dont give a ****, all they want is you to call their premium rate numbers and give you a lot of ****,

i wouldnt buy anything if i didnt get a proper OS disk, not some image with 20 app i dont want or i cant uninstall,

dell will give you a disk if you request one, dunno what brand laptop you wanna buy,

stoofa · 17 Oct 2007 at 17:19

You can demand what you like - however a manufacturer is under no obligation to supply you with any form of media at all.
In fact a lot of our Sony Vaio laptop's for example didn't even ship with a recovery disk - the first thing you were prompted to do once you got into Windows was make your own recovery DVD from the program that was running.
You aren't entitled to an OS disk - mainly because a lot of manufacturers do deals with 3rd parties to include trial versions of their software.
So they can't just give you an OS disk instead they will give you a factory restore disk that will return the machine back to how it was supplied - with the trial software pre-installed.

I've got no idea where you've got the idea that any manufacturer has to supply you with an OS install disk.

badbob · 17 Oct 2007 at 17:23

I've got no idea where you've got the idea that any manufacturer has to supply you with an OS install disk.

You're paying for the OS license, so should supply you the disc. Our previous PC's have included original discs and manual, so why now the change?

no warez talk please!

swinnie · 17 Oct 2007 at 17:27

I managed to get reinstall media for my Dads Dell Machine. He got it when the driver disks and reinstall disk (IMAGE Recovery CD).

I logged onto Dell Support, got into a live chat and said that my dads PC has lost some files and requests a new installation.

4 Days later some discs came through the door.

Avalon · 18 Oct 2007 at 14:34

Worst case scenario MS will supply you with a new set of media for OEM software but it's a one time deal (ie if you ask for a set then you get a set, try the same thing again and they will decline all together). I landed a copy of SBS R2 free because they couldn't supply me with the normal SBS media for the licence I had. Cost about £15 and took a few weeks to sort as they cocked up and use crap contact logging software (they use KANA for gods sake!). I've got a feeling for a known OEM like dell etc they would insist on referring you to them, mine was just a bog standard OEM where the reseller had shut down since supplying the server hardware and software.

Tute · 18 Oct 2007 at 14:40

Surely if you have a licence you have the right to the original install disc - the licence is for Windows not the extra bloatware they bundle with the install?

Muffin` · 18 Oct 2007 at 14:48

Exactly - your paying for the license. Your not paying any extra or hidden fee's to get it working, so is above board. Microsoft will often supply you with a disk free of charge, just make sure its the right one.

platypus · 18 Oct 2007 at 14:48

badbob said:
You're paying for the OS license, so should supply you the disc. Our previous PC's have included original discs and manual, so why now the change?

Because if you buy a computer with windows pre-installed, you are purchasing an oem licence, not a hard copy of the operating system.

At no point in the life of purchasing windows are you actually entitled to a physical copy, whether you buy the original retail package, or an oem install.

Burnsy2023 · 18 Oct 2007 at 14:53

badbob said:
As a customer, is it our right to demand a Windows install CD? A friend is interested in a laptop but I'd want to do a fresh install.

You don't have to demand, you can ask though. Most OEMs will give you a copy of the OS if you ask politely, although they have no requirement to.

Burnsy