Order Dell E6400, Windows Vista or XP?

Weird, I was sent both DVDs from Dell in hand when they shipped the box. If you pay for the downgrade, you should be entitled to both discs. Must be a Latitude thing, because I got both XP+Vista DVDs on both M4400s I was sent.

*Edit: even on the M4400 website it says XP comes preinstalled and they give a Vista DVD...why did they send me an XP SP2 DVD twice then?

 

Same here. No trace of an XP disc. So the first thing I did was to get out Acronis and make an image of the HDD. Maybe there is different practice between Dell Europe and Dell USA.

John

 

I specifically asked for an XP CD when I ordered my laptop. The sales guy said that they were not really allowed to add it to the order but he added it anyway. He said that the CD order might not go through though. I changed the laptop order the day after and the sales guy forgot to add the XP CD to the new order so I didn't receive any CD.

I have an old XP CD for my Latitude D610 that should probably work on E6400 also and it should be ok from a license perspective also. I haven't tried the old CD yet.

Örjan

 

You pay for a 64-bit CPU, you probably will get your system with 4 GB of RAM.
Failing in not getting Vista 64-bit means that your system will use 3.2 to 3.5GB of RAM (both XP and Vista 32-bit), and you will get a system slow down compared to if you naturally had 3.5GB of RAM, due to the fact that Windows (and all 32-bit OS including Linux) performs hacks to to manage 4GB of RAM. Vista 64-bit won't give you this.

If you have devices that you plan (and absolutely need) to connect with your laptop that has compatibility issues (no XP 64-bit nor Vista 64-bit drivers), then go with the 32-bit version. But that should be the only point that blocks you from going with Vista 64-bit. Even if you decide to go with 2GB of RAM, just in having your CPU unlocked (so 64-bit mode, not locked down anymore to be a 32-bit CPU), you can enjoy a faster system, especially that every process, core, system files, programs that comes with windows, video/audio codecs, and drivers are 64-bit, you really have a nice performance boost.

If you already have Vista 32-bit, you can change with the 64-bit, just ask a friend that has Vista SP1 OEM or RETAIL disk (any edition it doens't mater, it's your product key that decide which edition to install), and you can do the switch. Just make sure to use YOUR product key. This has been tested, and Vista activation passed. In your case you might need to do it by phone as the provided serial key for Vista is not active by default. But no worries, just say you are re-installing your system, which you are so you are not lying or anything.
Is it illegal? As long as you use YOUR product key and that you use it on 1 computer, that you use the 32 or 64-bit shouldn't mater for Microsoft. I think you can even order the 64-bit disk from Microsoft website, this needs to be checked.