As you tagged Windows 7 I assume you want to install Windows 7. In this case use a Digital River .iso and the Activation Backup Recovery Program to restore your OEM System Locked Preinstallation Activation.

See Windows Reinstallation Guide (Step 1b) and Dell System Locked Preinstalled Keys and Code of authenticity Explained (Combine this with Step 1c and Step 11b - this will be in the next update of Windows Reinstallation Guide which is a work in progress).

Sorry I should have said I'm in the UK, and my warranty has run out.

Hi Wrigs13,

Welcome to Dell Community Forum.

If the system is under warranty, please contact me through a private message by clicking on my name highlighted in blue. On the next page, click the envelope icon and provide your service tag and contact information (as mentioned below) so that I may access your system records.

• System Service Tag No.:
• Registered System Owner's Name:
• Shipping address:
• Telephone number/s:
• Email address:

If the system is out of warranty, then you may contact our Expired Warranty Support at the link below:

http://dell.to/12LmNBq

However, if you are based in the United States, and are looking only for the recovery disks, you can request a set of backup discs containing the factory-installed operating system as well as the Resource DVD which contains device drivers and utilities specific to the system.

• Requests are limited to one (1) set of backup discs per system purchased.
• The backup discs requested must match the operating system that was factory installed on the original order.

Click on this link for Discs Request Form: http://dell.to/12Zxttu

Please feel free to contact us in case of further queries. We would be happy to help.

Thanks and regards,
Babita S
#iworkforDell 

For easy access to drivers, manuals and product updates, please visit our Support Site .

Is there anyway to get replacement discs in the UK or a download directly from Dell?

I have the resource dvd, but I never had a copy of windows, so there must be a way to replace my hard drive and reinstall.

Hi Wrigs13,

Thank you for your reply.

Repeating my previous request, please contact me through private message by clicking on my name highlighted in blue. On the next page, click the envelope icon and provide your service tag and contact information (as mentioned below) so that I may access your system records.

• System Service Tag No.:
• Registered System Owner's Name:
• Shipping address:
• Telephone number/s:
• Email address:

Please reply at the earliest.

Thanks and regards,
Babita S
#iworkforDell 

For easy access to drivers, manuals and product updates, please visit our Support Site .