Need Dimension 4100 System Resource CD

Dell does not ship a restore CD.  They ship a Windows CD which would allow you to reinstall Windows and a resource CD which contains the drivers necessary for most of the attached devices.  If you lost the Windows CD, you will have to purchase one retail.  If you lost the resources CD, you can download all of the same drivers from the Dell download site.

Steve

BillyHotchkiss,

If the CD for reinstalling the operating system is the item which is lost, Dell will replace it only during the first 30 days of ownership (which, for a 4100, has clearly passed). After that time, your only option is to replace the CD by purchasing a new one. Resource CDs, which contain system drivers, will also be replace during the first 30 days, but if that time has expired, all the drivers which were on that CD are available as downloads from Dell. They can be accessed through the Downloads tab above the forum.

You know, the system is still under warranty until NEXT May.  You'd think you would be able to order the cd through Dell Parts...

BillHotchkiss

The OEM Operating System C/D is not covered under your system hardware warranty, and as far as I know neither Dell nor any other manufacturer sell OEM Operating System C/D’s.
Something to do with those pesky licensing agreements with Microsoft.
See this for some shopping : http://www.nextag.com/serv/main/buyer/outpdir.jsp?doSearch=y&search=oem%20windows

John

BillyHotchkiss

Dell does not ship a system recovery C/D. They ship a full version of the operating system with modifications made to tie it to the Dell BIOS so it can only be used on Dell machines as per their agreement with Microsoft.

More shopping: http://www.directdeals.com/default.aspx

John

Compaq sells their system recovery CDs.  It's not like they didn't MAKE enough of them. 

BillyHotchkiss

Perhaps they ‘should’ be able to ship a replacement C/D, but they can’t or won’t, hence the shopping list (helpful or not), as I believe your solution is going to be to purchase another copy of an operating system.
I am not affiliated in any way with Dell. I am a user just like most of the people on these forums

John

Which is reason that they SHOULD be able to ship a replacement.  My only option, it seems, is to put in a service call, which theoretically would send a tech to our office, who will then try to reinstall the system to its original state.  We'll see how that works out.

Hey, are you Dell, llbandit?  Thanks for all the shopping links... Not terribly helpful, but thanks.

 

if you find someone with the same system that has the restore cd, they might burn you a copy. i do not have 4100.

Message Edited by A1 on 09-17-2003 07:15 PM

Message Edited by A1 on 09-17-2003 07:15 PM

Message Edited by A1 on 09-17-2003 07:16 PM

Message Edited by A1 on 09-17-2003 07:17 PM

Message Edited by A1 on 09-17-2003 07:18 PM

A1,

This would work, except ---- there is no such thing as a restore CD for this model!!

Steve

We HAD  a restore CD for this machine. 

For the love of Pete, give it a rest.  This has been going on for 8 hours.  You originally asked about a Resource CD, which is what the drivers and non-OS Dell-specific stuff comes on.  Denny Denham answered that, more than adequately.  It seems you're actually talking about an operating system CD, which has had several different names other than "Resource CD." Dell doesn't provide copies of operating system CDs, regardless of what you call them.  Compaq might, but this isn't Compaq.  You want a new operating system CD for a Dell PC after 30 days, you buy it, plain and simple.  Dell didn't lose your CD, and neither did we.  Get over it.

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@BillyHotchkiss wrote:

That's EXACTLY what I'm trying to do. 

 Their own people can't seem to agree on whether it exists, did exist, is available, is not available, or what department has it. 

---

That's because you don't know what you need.  "And it simply reinstalls the OS, drivers, and software that came with the PC."

 You're talking about (at least) 2 different CDs.  The Resource CD (or Drivers and Utilities CD, depending on when you buy the system) is the one with your drivers and Dell utilities on it.  The operating system is on a completely separate CD, also known as the Reinstallation CD, among other things.  Now, which one did you lose?  Either way, you can't buy the Drivers and Utilities or Resource CD from Dell.  Period.  They've been known to replace them, within 30 days of original system receipt, but after 30 days, you're S.O.L.  Like Denny said, you can download all the drivers you need, using the Downloads tab above, in conjunction with your System Service Tag.  They're free.  If you want to put them on a CD after you download them, be my guest, but if you want the drivers at this stage of the game, you download them.

If you want an operating system CD, either go buy one at Staples, or CompUSA, or any other store that sells them, or order one here.  You're going to have to figure out which one you need, because it appears that you never did mention which OS was on there.  It also appears that if you want anything besides WinXP or Win2k, you're going to have to get it from somewhere other than the supplied Dell link, unless they're still hiding copies of the obsolete stuff somewhere.

As far as "the software that came with the PC," if you mean MS Works, CD burning software, etc., you're missing a heck of a lot more than one single disk, because Works alone requires 5 or 6, and there's at least one other CD with Anti Virus, CD burning software, Internet provider software, etc., on it.  If you're missing all the CDs, you're still in the same boat, after 30 days.  You download the drivers, and you buy anything else that might still be available.  You can buy it from Dell if they still have it via the link above (or by calling 1-800-449-3355), or you can go to any third party vendor and buy it.  The Sales people at the above phone number aren't going to have any idea what came on your PC, so they're not going to know what you need.  Your invoice (if that isn't missing too) will have that information, and Support may have a record of it, but Support isn't going to be able to sell or send you the CDs.  Those come from Sales, at the link or phone number above.

Suggestion:

-Figure out what was on the PC that you need to replace.  OS?  Use the suggestions above, and buy an OS CD.  You'll need a full version, not an Upgrade version.  If the system had Windows ME on it, Dell may not even have them in stock any more, but Staples, CompUSA, and a variety of online merchants do.  Just make sure they don't try to sell you an upgrade version, because it won't work.

-Drivers?  Use your System Service Tag and the Downloads tab above to find all the drivers you'll need.  If you're not sure, post the service tag here, and the "crack support team" (which, in the case of this forum, is composed almost entirely of volunteers, I might add) can probably help you find them.  Download them.  Save them to a CD.  Don't let whomever was in charge of the last set of CDs take care of them, because we all know what happened as a result of that.

-MS Works, CD burning software, Anti Virus software?  Same suggestions as above.  Dell might have some of it, but you can probably get it cheaper and quicker elsewhere.  Here are two online suggestions:

http://www.dirtcheapsoftware.com

http://www.buycheapsoftware.com

Once again, it's going to be up to you to figure out what was on there that you need to replace.  If you post a Service Tag, I can probably tell you at least some of the stuff that shipped with it, but you're going to have to provide at least a Service Tag. 

Message Edited by Flooby on 09-17-2003 09:58 PM

"You want a new operating system CD for a Dell PC after 30 days, you buy it, plain and simple."

That's EXACTLY what I'm trying to do.  This CD, whatever you want to call it EXISTS, since we had one.  And it simply reinstalls the OS, drivers, and software that came with the PC.  All I'm trying to do is get a replacement.  Sorry for forcing you to read these posts against your own volition, Flooby.

This whole thread is VERY similar to what I went through trying to discuss this issue with Dell support.  Their own people can't seem to agree on whether it exists, did exist, is available, is not available, or what department has it.  So, I thought I'd be able to get some resolution here.

Sorry! 

TOUGH CROWD YOU THINK BY NOW SOMEONE WITH A 4100 WOULD HAVE WHAT YOU LOOKING FOR!