Buying from Dell outlet..

[gothalo]

Originally Posted by Stryker412

I got the Studio today. One large problem, they did not include a Vista OS CD nor did they put the Vista CD key on the laptop. Will Dell send me an OS disc if I ask for free?

Congratz on your Studio 15 Stryker! Is there a CD Key under the battery?

[Stryker412]

Ok, I just checked and you're right. It's underneath the battery. That's a real idiotic place for it. I have a copy of Vista Ultimate but I don't think it'll work using that key since the laptop has Home Premium. I e-mailed Dell to see if I can get a Vista disc from them.

[FatMangosLAWL]

Originally Posted by Stryker412

Ok, I just checked and you're right. It's underneath the battery. That's a real idiotic place for it. I have a copy of Vista Ultimate but I don't think it'll work using that key since the laptop has Home Premium. I e-mailed Dell to see if I can get a Vista disc from them.

They put it under the battery so wear and tear doesn't wear out the tag. I had an HP for only 5 months and the tag was already illegible by then. This way, it protects it - not too stupid to me.

[icecubez189]

it couldn't hurt to ask, why not try?

[evancg]

Originally Posted by Stryker412

Ok, I just checked and you're right. It's underneath the battery. That's a real idiotic place for it. I have a copy of Vista Ultimate but I don't think it'll work using that key since the laptop has Home Premium. I e-mailed Dell to see if I can get a Vista disc from them.

I may be wrong, but if it's an OEM Vista disc shouldn't it have all versions of Vista on it? The determining factor is the cd key. If you enter the Dells Home Premium cd key on an OEM Vista cd, it should install Vista Home...

Unless of course you have a Vista Ultimate from another manufacturers computer - I don't think those always include every version of Vista...

[millermagic]

My 1520 didn't come with any OS DVD. When my hard drive failed I told dell they didn't include the OS DVD and they sent me a set for free.

[Stryker412]

I was wrong, I had Vista Home Premium Retail but for some reason after it got to the install screen the DVD drive was not detected, so I couldn't continue.

[surfasb]

Retail OS CDs will contain all the versions.

I have heard of some of the Dell restore disks shipping with just one version. Very rare though.

I myself am buying a Latitude XT through Dell Outlet and have every confidence in Dell. I have an HP Tx2500 and at least Dell ships restore CDs. All HPs will need to burn their own CDs, which may or may not seem like an advantage to you. I personally see it as a disadvantage since its technically a restore to bloatware status rather than a true OS disk.