Reviews:
 ·voip.ms
| reply to R2
Re: [WIN7] Win7 Installation CD.... The one thing I'm always concerned about when Dell (Or any OEM) says "burn your own" is the fact that consumer grade CD/DVD's are usually of poorer quality than the mass produced commercial CD's and the commercial CD's "should" have gotten at least a rudimentary check to ensure that they were mastered properly.
Unless the consumer knows to ask the PC that that they are using to do that, a fatal error in teh burned media may be lurking to bite the unwary consumer who things everything is fine.
This puts both the accuracy and longevity of these burned discs into question for me (and in my line of work, questions are bad)
NefCAnuck |
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 MSengPremium,Ex-Mod 2001-08
join:2000-07-13
Ork
kudos:6 | reply to Doctor Olds
From the link provided:
"Note these .iso files may be used with a Dell/non-Dell OEM product Key but phone activation is required (see note at end). This key is typically found on the COA attached to the base of the system."
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A)bort, R)etry, I)nfluence with large hammer. |
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 Doctor OldsI Need A Remedy For What's Ailing Me.Premium,VIP
join:2001-04-19
1970 442 W30
kudos:18 | said by MSeng:From the link provided:
"Note these .iso files may be used with a Dell/non-Dell OEM product Key but phone activation is required (see note at end). This key is typically found on the COA attached to the base of the system."
Missed that. Thanks!
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What’s the point of owning a supercar if you can’t scare yourself stupid from time to time? |
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Mele20Premium
join:2001-06-05
Hilo, HI
kudos:4 | reply to Doctor Olds
said by Doctor Olds:Will those work with a Dell PC or will the Retail ISO's require a Retail Key? Doesn't the OP need a OEM Dell DVD instead? What does the key have to do with it? There is Dell's key and your key. You can use either one (at least that is how it is with XP). But historically, Dell has always altered the OS enough that you had to use a Dell Reinstallation CD. It didn't have to be yours....it could be your neighbor's, a local computer shop's Dell CD...but it had to be Dell. I was unable to make a BartPE CD to boot Windows XP because my XP Pro reinstallation disk was from Dell and Dell had altered a registry hive that made it impossible to take advantage of BartPE. That problem was eventually solved by Dell users (with no help from Dell) in a marathon thread in a hardware forum not associated with Dell, but it took a couple of years.
I don't know if Dell still alters the Windows registry with Win 7 machines because I haven't asked. Plus, Dell is so large that asking may get me a different answer from each Dell person asked. After all Dell promised with the last machine and some of that was not true...I don't trust what Dell says before a sale. I just buy the longest warranty I can and then Dell can deal with any problems. I do know from the Dell forums that Dell employees still have almost zero understanding of RAM in their machines and they still continue to sell folks the wrong RAM because Dell machines are still as finicky about the RAM as they have historically been. That's very disappointing after all the years and complaints to Dell about RAM problems in the machines and Dell making it worse by continually selling RAM (for replacement or expansion) that is not going to work.
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When governments fear people, there is liberty. When the people fear the government, there is tyranny. Thomas Jefferson |
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Mele20Premium
join:2001-06-05
Hilo, HI
kudos:4 | reply to R2
»support.dell.com/support/topics/···pcd_form
There is the order form for the reinstallation disk. It doesn't mention a charge either although I have seen a $15 charge mentioned for certain Dell machines IF a disk is offered during configuration of the computer you are buying.
Evidently, this is a reinstallation CD not a restore/recovery to factory installation one so I have to eat my earlier words. If this disk is used and you didn't first backup something like Microsoft Office Starter program that has Word with ads you won't have it if you use this reinstallation disk.
What I don't like about this is that the disk doesn't come with the new computer. You have to order it separately after you get the new computer. So, if you intend to reinstall Windows with it before installing your programs, etc. you have to wait until it arrives. But at least it is a pure reinstallation disk and we all know this is the best way to get the best performance out of a new computer. Plus, no bits of McAfee will still be lurking in the registry to upset whatever your chosen AV is when you install it.
Also, you do NOT need the COA key on the side of the computer. Dell's own key is used.
Here's a link to the guide from Dell forums Wiki for a clean reinstallation of Windows 7 on a Dell PC.
»en.community.dell.com/support-fo···ems.aspx
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When governments fear people, there is liberty. When the people fear the government, there is tyranny. Thomas Jefferson |
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| reply to R2
Dell's OS Key if you bought a new unit should be on the COA sticker AND it is embedded into the Bios of the machine....some have reported in seeing a different key compared to the one on the sticker.
If you use a dell mobo, use a dell reinstallation cd / dvd. But, this shouldn't stop you from using any other cd to reinstall windows as long as you have the keys. |
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| reply to Mele20
It states the order form is for backup disks, not reinstall disk. It also has there "If you are considering an operating system reinstall, please click here for an alternative." However, that alternative is to use the restore disk and is not a reinstall disk either. It appears the only way to get the reinstall disk is to download and burn the iso. |
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Mele20Premium
join:2001-06-05
Hilo, HI
kudos:4 | No, the other link I provided at the bottom of my post on how to reinstall Windows 7 states:
"Dell are currently shipping out most of their systems without reinstallation DVDs. There are links in the U.S. to request such media and you may call Dell technical support to get it in other
countries. This is recommended by Dell and by most users on the board.
The Dell Reinstallation DVDs do not require a product key to be input and otherwise are more or less identical to the retail media."
The Reinstallation DVDs will be mailed. Dell just wants to make it difficult to get them and that is why the suggestion for how to restore to factory conditions rather than reinstall the OS. See, if Dell can convince you to NOT order the reinstallation disks then McAfee pays them more money because both the other options Dell gives you reinstalls McAfee.
Plus, you will get the latest Resource disk for your system. Of course, Dell is being a cheapskate here too as that should be with the new computer. It is ludicrous that Dell actually believes users will fall for their excuse that users asked to stop providing reinstallation disks with the computer because the users said they were too stupid to be able to keep those disks in a safe place so the users supposedly begged Dell to give them the crap backup junk that is now on new Dell computers. Of course, when you use the reinstallation disk all that garbage will also be gone. Thank goodness.
If you read the link on how to reinstall Windows 7 on a Dell PC you will see that Dell will send the Reinstallation DVD if you request that. Once you have it then you should DELETE the Dell restore partition and extend the main partition. If you leave the Dell partition you won't be able to use it anyway. This is all in that guide. Obviously, you would not be able to delete the Dell partition unless you have an actual Dell reinstallation DVD. As that guide states you can ALSO make an ISO but if you do that you are fool because then you will be forced to use the COA on the side of the computer instead of Dell's key. This is another reason Dell is making it hard to get a reinstallation DVD because Microsoft has been twisting their arm since XP to get them to stop letting users use the Dell key for reinstallation. It should be obvious why Microsoft doesn't want that and obvious why it is to your advantage to use Dell's key not yours for reinstallation.
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When governments fear people, there is liberty. When the people fear the government, there is tyranny. Thomas Jefferson |
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| I just got a very recent laptop with defective hard drive. The customer forked over a Dell OEM Windows 7 x64 SP1 reinstallation disc. (really like 5% of the customers I know kept those disc on hand - the rest either misplace it, lost it or forgot where) |
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| reply to Mele20
Above the request form after clicking "links in the US to request such media" it says "To proceed with requesting these backup discs, please fill out the request form below and click Submit to continue." This seems to me to mean backup discs and not system disc. I filled out the request form anyway and gave "System disk is needed to do fresh install of Windows" as the reason for request. Now I have only to wait to see if Dell will ship the system DVD. |
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Mele20Premium
join:2001-06-05
Hilo, HI
kudos:4 | Please let us know here in this thread what Dell sends. |
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Doctor OldsI Need A Remedy For What's Ailing Me.Premium,VIP
join:2001-04-19
1970 442 W30
kudos:18 | reply to medbuyer
said by medbuyer:Dell's OS Key if you bought a new unit should be on the COA sticker AND it is embedded into the Bios of the machine....some have reported in seeing a different key compared to the one on the sticker.
That is not how it works. The key in the machine is Dell's key for mass install to hundreds of drives using a single image file and the key stored in the PC's Registry is never the key that is printed on the COA Sticker. They instead use a OEM SLP key and set the OEM Bios Flag so no key has to be entered when re-installing the OS using a Dell branded CD/DVD.
System Locked Pre-installation
»en.wikipedia.org/wiki/System_Loc···allation
quote:
System Locked Pre-installation, often abbreviated as SLP, is a procedure used by major OEM computer manufacturers in order to pre-activate Microsoft Windows before mass distribution. There are three different versions of SLP: SLP (which is now commonly referred to as SLP 1.0), SLP 2.0, and SLP 2.1. These versions roughly coincide with Windows NT versions (see table below). Operating systems that use SLP 1.0 check for a particular text string in a computer's BIOS upon booting. If the text string does not match the information stored in the particular installation's OEM BIOS files, the user is prompted to activate his or her copy as normal. SLP 2.0 and SLP 2.1 works in a similar manner. This effectively "locks" the operating system to the qualified motherboard. In addition, if an end user feels the need to perform a "clean install" of Windows and if the manufacturer supplies the user with an installation disc (not a "System Recovery" disc that is a hard drive image), the user will not be prompted to activate the copy, given that the installation is performed on the same motherboard. Furthermore, because the check only involves the BIOS and not hardware, a user is allowed to change virtually all hardware components within the machine except motherboard, a procedure that would normally trigger re-activation in retail Windows copies.
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What’s the point of owning a supercar if you can’t scare yourself stupid from time to time? |
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| said by Doctor Olds:That is not how it works. The key in the machine is Dell's key for mass install to hundreds of drives using a single image file and the key stored in the PC's Registry is never the key that is printed on the COA Sticker. They instead use a OEM SLP key and set the OEM Bios Flag so no key has to be entered when re-installing the OS using a Dell branded CD/DVD.
how do you explain this then, when we extracted the windows keys on some older dell units in the office, it correctly matched the keys written on the coa.
i have seen this also on some of my friends older dell units.
so, what you're saying is that the coa really is useless and just for show to create the image of authenticity? |
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Doctor OldsI Need A Remedy For What's Ailing Me.Premium,VIP
join:2001-04-19
1970 442 W30
kudos:18 | said by medbuyer:how do you explain this then, when we extracted the windows keys on some older dell units in the office, it correctly matched the keys written on the coa.
Easy as pie those PC had a re-install event and the end user/tech used the COA when reinstalling/or imaging the PC. However most large offices should be all the same key as they normally have a VLK instead of an SLP Key as Business buy bulk licensing for as many seats they need to cover. It can depend on how their system integrator handles their sales. The COS is there to meet licensing requirements set forth by Microsoft plus it is there so that you (person in the seat or office tech) can reinstall the OS at a later date if you make a Slipstream CD or use other media.
said by medbuyer:i have seen this also on some of my friends older dell units. That just means they reinstalled the OS prior to you seeing their PC key results. Some people change out hardware, have hardware fail and sometime infect their PCs so that a reinstall is the only fix they have left. Were you there every-time they reinstalled?
said by medbuyer:so, what you're saying is that the coa really is useless and just for show to create the image of authenticity? Not at all and already explained. Perhaps you should read up on the Microsoft site about types of licensing? You seem to have multiple misconceptions and very few facts.
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What’s the point of owning a supercar if you can’t scare yourself stupid from time to time? |
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| I just stated what I've seen, it may be wrong or right, that's why I am asking since you sound so knowledgeable....
I'm not going to argue / discuss with you anymore since clearly I am not the pro like you are.
I've seen what I've seen and that's it. |
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 shwingA Sphincter Says What ?
join:2002-11-14 | reply to Doctor Olds
Great Thread !!! |
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Doctor OldsI Need A Remedy For What's Ailing Me.Premium,VIP
join:2001-04-19
1970 442 W30
kudos:18 | reply to medbuyer
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Mele20Premium
join:2001-06-05
Hilo, HI
kudos:4 | reply to medbuyer
said by medbuyer:said by Doctor Olds:That is not how it works. The key in the machine is Dell's key for mass install to hundreds of drives using a single image file and the key stored in the PC's Registry is never the key that is printed on the COA Sticker. They instead use a OEM SLP key and set the OEM Bios Flag so no key has to be entered when re-installing the OS using a Dell branded CD/DVD.
how do you explain this then, when we extracted the windows keys on some older dell units in the office, it correctly matched the keys written on the coa. i have seen this also on some of my friends older dell units. so, what you're saying is that the coa really is useless and just for show to create the image of authenticity? You have to understand Dell and its history with Microsoft to understand the specific situation surrounding Dell machines, the Dell key and the COA with your key. The situation with Dell is different from the other OEMs.
The IT article Doctor Olds  linked to is very good in explaining the situation for Enterprise users. However, it does NOT explain the situation for small business, home office business, or home user situation where the machine is purchased from Dell or any possible differences between purchasing from Dell Small Business division or Dell Home/Home Office division. Plus, that article discusses Servers mostly...not PC's and virtual machines running on individual PC's in a home situation.
Suffice it to say that any home user should get in writing from Dell that Dell will send the Reinstallation DVD if they request it and that if there is a charge for it that the charge is a reasonable one. Don't purchase from Dell unless you get that in writing first from Dell.
But since you are asking about a business situation...not home user that information in the linked article is all you need.
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When governments fear people, there is liberty. When the people fear the government, there is tyranny. Thomas Jefferson |
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 R2R NotPremium,MVM
join:2000-09-18
Long Beach, CA
kudos:1 | reply to medbuyer
asjamias - WOW. Thanks.
(eh, I have a lot more to read, but I never thought of eBay. Duh.... |
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R2R NotPremium,MVM
join:2000-09-18
Long Beach, CA
kudos:1 | reply to medbuyer
asjamias, Doc Olds, Mele, etc:
My experience with many Dells over the years is the same as Doc Olds. The Number written on my COA is NEVER the number stored in the computer. "Magic Jelly Bean" and all those other "Key Finder" programs are never able to extract the COA number from my registry.
I was told, like stated, that Dell never really uses the Disks they gave you to install the OS, so that number was never known to or seen you computer. They use some master OEM disk.
Correct? |
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