You can download the os from Microsoft and make a bootable USB  the windows key is stored in the bios and will activate automatically . As for drivers and such. Go to dell support and enter service tag and download ...  I just st did it with my wife's Inspiron after upgrading to a ssd works great.

Thanks a lot. I will give it a shot. But the AW tech guy did tell me this might not work and my bios might not recognize it unless it's a 'AW13 specific' Windows. Can anyone confirm and explain why it might be the case?

the lackoftech you talked to is lying...

worked fine on my old m18X R2 many times with windows 8  .. worked fine with the wifes inspiron  twice.. one with windows 8 and now with windows 10... still same key in bios..  and about a week ago i reinstalled for i dont know how many times on my Alienware X51 R3 with windows 10, troubleshooting ,  from microsoft so..  if the lackoftech on phone wants to call me a liar.. let him.. but push comes to shove he prolly only knows what he  is told..

i hav even done it with windows 7, 8 and 10 from every company , ive yet to have one fail in  activation..

also if you enter your service tag  on dell it also might have a recovery media you can download, i noticed my X51 did, but i still used microsoft download..

Wow, thanks again man. I'll do it and post the outcomes later.