Replacement windows 8 disk

Thomas mlinek

If you reside in the US, or Canada and are the registered owner of the computer, a disc containing the factory-installed operating system specific to your system, can be requested from HERE.

Note: Dell may make a charge for the disc.

If you don't reside in the US, contact Dell's Support that's located in your country. 

Bev.

This link only takes me to registration, not to disk requests as you have indicated it does

It is telling me from that link that the media isn't available and to have customer support handle this. Sigh does this really need to this big of a issue?

You need to request the Reinstallation DVD unless you find a download to a Windows 8.1 .iso. See more details here:

http://dellwindowsreinstallationguide.com/download-microsoft-windows-and-office/download-microsoft-windows/request-a-reinstallation-dvd-from-dell/

If you request media from Dell it will be Windows 8.0 and not Windows 8.1 due to the botched up deployment of the Windows 8.1 by Microsoft. You will need to manually update to Windows 8.1 via the Microsoft Store which is the equivalent of a double installation.

See here for more details on direct installation of Windows 8.1 with a Windows 8.1 .iso assuming you can get your hands on one (best performance will come from a direct clean install of Windows 8.1):

See my A Clean Install of Windows for installation instructions:

http://dellwindowsreinstallationguide.com/a-clean-install-of-windows/

In particular:

http://dellwindowsreinstallationguide.com/a-clean-install-of-windows/windows-8-0-installation/

http://dellwindowsreinstallationguide.com/download-microsoft-windows-and-office/download-microsoft-windows/upgrading-to-windows-8-1-from-windows-8-0-via-the-microsoft-store/

Why should I pay. I payed for the disk rights when I bought the computer.

I am requesting a new disk copy of windows 8. I can't download anything or use any other routes

You have to be registered and in the USA and have current warranty.

If any of these conditions are not met you will not get a disk.

If you are out of the USA you must request this directly from dell support.

 http://www.dell.com/register

https://www.dell.com/support/diagnostics/us/en/19/nondiagnostichome?c=us&l=en&s=dhs

So spend 1000 used on a computer and get zero help from dell without having to spend more?????

1000 usd*

None of the major OEM's include installation discs anymore.  Microsoft has "encouraged" them to use system-specific recovery partitions and user-created recovery discs instead of distributing generic installation media as was the case with earlier OS's.  You will need to contact Dell for an installation disc if you cannot use the recovery options included with the system.  Should be free, but I have heard in some cases that the cost is $10-30 for replacement (probably only for out-of-warranty systems).

Point here is regardless of warranty, when you spend good money on a product they should mail you a copy of the operating system regardless. My computer is only. 2 years old. And my hard drive fried after doing a windows update. I spend 1000 usd to buy a computer I should have a operating disk if I ask for one free of charge. The 2 dollars it takes to mail it to me shouldn't be a issue.

You are preaching to the choir here. Most of us Community Rockstars (who are Dell customers and not Dell employees) were and still are against the OEM media reduction policy. I have wrote guides consisting of workarounds to overcome it for Windows Vista and 7 and have been asking on IdeaStorm for a .iso image for the last few years.

Its an issue where Dell's (and all other OEMs) hand is forced by Microsoft and Microsoft have made decisions which are highly detrimental to the end user. Microsoft also failed to provide a direct download link to a Windows 8.0/8.1 .iso and made a highly flawed downloader for the retail license which doesn't accept OEM keys.

If you want an official installation media source you need to call Dell Technical support. You are lucky you are in the US/CA. We in the UK don't even have a media request form when in warranty.

My Experience is that the Retail or Downloaded or OEM disks work with OEM installs.  If you have 8.0 bios key you must install 8.1 with the generic Home or Pro key then change the key to activate AFTER its installed.

AKA if you have an 8.0 machine with key in bios the Retail WIN8.0 Upgrade DVD 64 bit works fine with Your OEM WIN 8.0 Dell.  If you have a Retail 8.1 DVD you have to use the generic Key to get it to install then change the key to the one in the bios to activate.

Now I'm only talking about USA Retail Upgrade or Full Discs.

The retail packages come with a 32 bit and a 64 bit disc.   Win8 Secure Boot machines ONLY boot with the 64 bit media however.

Windows Free for Students

Those who are still at college, and whose institution provides access to Microsoft DreamSpark Premium, are among the especially privileged. If that's the case for you, consider yourself lucky! You'll get Windows 8 free

Install now, Activate later

In previous versions, it was possible to install Windows without key, run it as trial for up to 120 days, and enter a product key later. This option has been removed in Windows 8 and 8.1.

However, it's still possible to pre-install Windows 8 with a generic key. These keys can only install Windows 8. It's not possible to activate with them unless you enter an original key purchased from Microsoft.

XKY4K-2NRWR-8F6P2-448RF-CRYQH (Windows 8 Pro)
RR3BN-3YY9P-9D7FC-7J4YF-QGJXW (Windows 8 Pro MCE)
FB4WR-32NVD-4RW79-XQFWH-CYQG3 (Windows 8 [Home])

XHQ8N-C3MCJ-RQXB6-WCHYG-C9WKB (Windows 8.1 Pro)
GBFNG-2X3TC-8R27F-RMKYB-JK7QT (Windows 8.1 Pro MCE)
334NH-RXG76-64THK-C7CKG-D3VPT (Windows 8.1 [Home])

Users can Get OEM media from Newegg or other Vendors.  But its not  Free. The current version of Belarc Advisor does read the key.

HOWEVER if you update your 8 home to Pro or Pro to MCE the Key Changes. And you won't be able to use the upgrade key to activate so write down the previous key and keep in a safe place. On retail packages the key is on a card.

  The OEM System Builder versions of WIN8 or WIN8PRO DO HAVE COA Stickers that are covered with labels that say they are not a COA. There is an area they want you to peel off and stick to the unit.  Note the this is no a coa on several areas.  The key changes as you add things though.  Adding PRO upgrade changes the key.  Then Adding the Windows Media PRO pack changes it again. So you would need 3 KEYS to reinstall windows after a crash.  AND if its an upgrade you must have an activated copy of windows to install the upgrade.  This is a change from windows 7.  Also the Label is 10x smaller so unless you have a microscope or reading glasses you may not be able to read the key. The picture below is blown up because its sooo small.

Just means I will be buying Windows 7 Systems and keep a few copies of 8.

Windows 8 left-over lot on Amazon

If you prefer to hold a physical disk of Windows 8 in your hands, you can get one from the leftover stock of the initial upgrade offer at Amazon. This version can be upgraded to Windows 8.1 free of charge. In fact, this option is much cheaper than purchasing a full version. Microsoft stopped distribution of the initial offer on 31 January 2013, but Amazon still seems to have some stock remaining:

• Windows 8 Initial Upgrade offer

Windows 8 Test Drive

If you don't want to spend any money now, but still have a look at the final release of Windows 8.1, you can download a 90 days evaluation version of Windows 8.1 Enterprise. The previous release Windows 8.0 is also available for evaluation.

• Windows 8 Enterprise
• Windows 8.1 Enterprise

After the 90 days are over, these versions can't be converted to a full product by entering a purchased product key.

So does customer service even bother to come here to help

This is a user forum not direct interaction with customer service.