Factory Reinstall - Studio XPS 8100

You'll need to call Dell to get an installation DVD.  Normally there is a charge for the DVD (don't get me started on this), but if you can show them that their installation-DVD-replacement failed, then they should send you the disk free of charge.

Actually ... one other way is if you have access to a Retail copy of Windows 7, you can use it to reinstall, enter your product key from your computer, then simply call Microsoft to activate it by phone.

Thanks for the head's up on that ... it's about time, but now they just need to include it in the box instead of having the "rebate" mentality, hoping the majority of people simply won't ask for it.  And to be fair ... it isn't just Dell ... nearly all OEM's are going to a media-free computer recovery from a recovery partition and/or creating your own recovery disks from Windows, and while it is very easy, convenient, and fast to use the recovery partition, I hate the lack of flexibility you have with your partitions, dual-booting, etc. that comes with the recovery partition.  Also, let's say 5 years from now you need to reinstall and the recovery options that come with the computer don't work and you can't order the media from Dell because they don't stock it anymore ... you're stuck with a computer that is really too old to invest in purchasing new media but still too good to throw away.  For the few pennies it costs these OEM's to supply the disks, there is no reason it shouldn't come in the box with the PC.

Sorry ... I went and got started :)

Thanks Flash.  I saw the link to get my 1 free copy from Dell after I posted this.  Maybe they changed their policy on that.