How to Create a DVD for MicroSoft Software Installed by Dell on PC

Dell PC's come with the ability to create recovery disks from which you can reinstall Windows.  Other than that, you need to order the replacement disks from Dell (which you can do as an option when the system is ordered).  Dell is responsible for supplying a way to reinstall the OS (Recovery Partition for recovering on the same disk and Recovery Disks for recovering on a different disk), not Microsoft, so there is not an official site or source at Microsoft to get the installation disk for your Dell PC.  Recovery Partition and Recovery Disks as the sole "default" sources of reinstalling the OS is NOT just a Dell thing - it is done (and has been done) by every major OEM for years.  Everything Windows 7 has to offer is now installed in the initial install ... gone are the days of "insert your CD to install this feature".  You still have to turn it on, but all the files and functionality are built-in to Windows.  Also keep in mind that if you cannot get or do not have a Dell-branded installation disk, you CAN use a Retail version of the installation files to install AND activate, although this method often requires a 2-minute call to Microsoft to activate over the phone.

To add to that--Win 7 has a program to backup the whole drive including the Recovery Partition and make a System Image that you can use to reinstall everything on your hard drive. Backup and Restore gives you the tools to store backups and updated system images on an external drive. Make a new system image whenever you make major changes to your computer. Look up Recovery in Windows Help for more info.

For Microsoft Office 2010, in the Dell Microsoft Office 2010 FAQs it tells you to download the appropriate trial version from Microsoft in the case that you need to reinstall it. e.g. Home and Student (U.K.) Free Trial. Essentially you sign up for the trial and when you install the trial you use your product key supplied on a card with your system. If you don't have the card use Belarc Advisor to obtain it. I would download the trial and save it on a USB stick/External harddrive in the case you should need it to do a clean install. Just ignore the trial product key.

For Windows 7, you may download these .iso files and use your Dell product key with the correct one (e.g. the one that matches your version of Windows 7). Phone activation is required however. These .isos are sold by digital river and are quite official, they don't have anything else added. They will work with the Dell Product Key providing you use phone activation. I and many other users on the forum have done things this way. Use in conjunction with Windows 7 .iso to USB/DVD tool to create a bootable USB or bootable DVD. Again I would save the .iso file on an External Harddrive. It is a large file to download and you should do so on a fast connection. Once you have the .iso file you can easily make the DVD or bootable USB when required.