When you first turn on the system, you are prompted to make recovery media -- if that wasn't done, you'll need to contact Dell support to purchase a set for your system. The recovery media is available for a charge of $25.
Yes. Microsoft ceased shipping WIndows media with new systems quite a few years ago. At initial setup time, you're prompted to make a recovery flash drive or set of DVDs. If that wasn't done, you'll need to contact Dell to purchase that now.
Is it really true that my only option to create media to reinstall a new hard drive was on first boot? I find that hard to believe. I hope there is an option to create media from a working computer if nothing else.
I do not. Is there a way to make non-model specific media? I thought I saw an option in the Dell Backup and Recovery software to create windows installation media.
no it is not true.. it is just highly recommend u make the recovery media soon.. before u mess up ur machine.. :)
i made my first set the first day i got my laptop. then after upgrading to win 10, i made the recovery media again after it was working good. then after doing a win 10 clean install, i made the recovery media again.
first time was a dvd, but win 10 will only use a USB drive. not the dvd's like when i got this with win8 which upgraded to win 8.1 soon after.
maybe u could use a external HD, but seen people having problems with those.. and other things too of course..
i always say "i'm more surprised when a computer works, then when it doesnt"
ejn63
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August 30th, 2015 13:00
When you first turn on the system, you are prompted to make recovery media -- if that wasn't done, you'll need to contact Dell support to purchase a set for your system. The recovery media is available for a charge of $25.
Tom Resing
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August 30th, 2015 14:00
"When you first turn on the system"
Do you mean when it was first turned on, 5 years ago? I know that wasn't done.
ejn63
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August 30th, 2015 17:00
Yes. Microsoft ceased shipping WIndows media with new systems quite a few years ago. At initial setup time, you're prompted to make a recovery flash drive or set of DVDs. If that wasn't done, you'll need to contact Dell to purchase that now.
jessy.holiday
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371 Posts
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August 30th, 2015 18:00
not sure where u live. but, go to one of those lil store front computer stores that build their own pc's ..
possibly buy a OEM win 7 or 8 cheap.
Tom Resing
4 Posts
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August 31st, 2015 10:00
Is it really true that my only option to create media to reinstall a new hard drive was on first boot? I find that hard to believe. I hope there is an option to create media from a working computer if nothing else.
ejn63
9 Legend
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87.5K Posts
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August 31st, 2015 10:00
If you have access to another Dell of the same exact type, you can do that - the images are model-specific but not system-specific.
Tom Resing
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August 31st, 2015 12:00
I do not. Is there a way to make non-model specific media? I thought I saw an option in the Dell Backup and Recovery software to create windows installation media.
ejn63
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87.5K Posts
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August 31st, 2015 16:00
The recovery media is written from an image stored on the system -- it may work for very closely related models but won't otherwise.
You're going to need to contact Dell if you want a set of media (or standard windows install DVD) for your system.
jessy.holiday
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371 Posts
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August 31st, 2015 16:00
no it is not true.. it is just highly recommend u make the recovery media soon.. before u mess up ur machine.. :)
i made my first set the first day i got my laptop. then after upgrading to win 10, i made the recovery media again after it was working good. then after doing a win 10 clean install, i made the recovery media again.
first time was a dvd, but win 10 will only use a USB drive. not the dvd's like when i got this with win8 which upgraded to win 8.1 soon after.
maybe u could use a external HD, but seen people having problems with those.. and other things too of course..
i always say "i'm more surprised when a computer works, then when it doesnt"