Get a bootable Windows 8 USB or License for my Alienware 14 that did not come with Installation CD

Hi pokegramer,

Windows media is no longer shipped with the system. You can create a recovery media of your own using the Dell Backup and Recovery application.

You may refer to the link http://dell.to/16B4Ipk.

Please feel free to reply for any further assistance.

Hi Pokegramer,

Or you can get a kit (cable and norton ghost) and clone your disc to an SSD.

Use the orig HD as a backup and storage.

DVD might be usefool for repair though eg boot errors.

Thanks for the answes, but there is a further problem. I have created a rescue USB via Alienrespawn. Then I replaced the HDD with the new SSD (The original HDD was 750GB, the new SSD is 120 GB). I then start with the boot USB I just created with Alienrespawn, but it tells that At least a 659 Gb is necessary for the recovery, which is odd, since all files for the recovery were just 8 Gb.

In fact, this seems not to be uncommon. Users from various forums have reported this problem: Cannot recover with Alienrespawn in a new HDD with smaller size than the original one.

How can get solve this?

Thanks in advance :)

well a 120 gig with respawn leaves u with roughly 45-60 gigs left after it sets up its partitions and backup media ect.... I think my M18X was in the 45 mark after all  was said, nnot enough room for me...( currently on dual 512 Samsung 840 series)

I called dell and requested the windows media  for this reason but I only had system 2 days :O  got cd overnight lol

if you have access to a windows 8 dvd  you can install without the key since the key string is stored in bios and automatically activates as such

when going form a mechanical to a SSD its best to do a clean install anyway since windows installs/ ssetup the hard drive different on original setup for proper optimization and disables what isn't needed apparently.

Thanks, that may be the way to go. A clean install. The problem is that my Alienware 14 did not ship with Windows 8 CD. So the problem is where can I get one? Because since the license key is internal in the Bios, I cannot download from Microsoft site...

simply call and request one....  you paid for a system with a license and want the restore media, if dell wont il friggggen rip the dvd and post a link for   it, im on  100MB fibe so :O

honestly tho the alienrespawn is   useless unless u  constantly update it which is pointless aswell since you want factory image.. well factory image comes with OLDER alienfx, meaning if you upgraded it  at any time from original that on backup once you use said alienrespawn you fry the lifght control  by installing older  version, so its  basically DELL shooting themselves in the face by telling people such instead of including the windows media ....

Well, after calling DELL suport in my country (Spain), they gladly accepted to send me a Windows 8 DVD. Once I receive it I will use it to perform a clean install on the new SSD.

I'm pleased how DELL support works this well :)