Alienware 18 - Windows 7 Install Disc

Hello all. I've been reading through this forum for weeks now and decided to purchase my own Alienware 18 (on Sept. 26th). Should arrive on the 17th of October.

After completing my order, I decided to purchase a Samsung 840 PRO 512 GB SSD to replace the 750 GB HDD the system comes with. I've read around and from what I've gathered, Alienware does not ship the OS install disc with the laptops they send out. I gave Dell a call, but they were unable to help me since their US/Alienware Customer Support isn't available until Monday 7am - 7pm. Is there any way I could get an install disc shipped to me with my system? That was I'd be able to put the new SSD in and do a clean install of the OS (which would be the ideal way according to a few threads). Please advise.

Thanks!

 

Every system comes with the Windows OS disc and a resource DVD that contains drivers. Only some come with an applications DVD which should contain all of the programs installed on your system.

Worst case scenario: You create your own recovery disc using AlienRespawn, a program/application designed by Alienware for their systems. You can use a USB flash drive or DVD's, or both.

 

You can also ask for it after you get the PC if you don't receive one. We can send it there via overnight shipping.

 

If you already have a Windows 7 product key, you can also download an official ISO from Digital River and create DVD or USB installation media.

See this thread: http://forum.notebookreview.com/win...-digitalriver-windows-7-sp1-13-languages.html

In addition to activating using your product key, you can back up your existing Windows (and MS Office) activation and restore them immediately after the clean install using Advanced Tokens Manager.

This makes things even easier. Download and run Advanced Tokens Manager (This works with Windows 8 as well.)

It is a real shame Micro$oft does not make Windows 8 ISO available for download like Windows 7. They make it an unnecessary pain in the bottom for Windows 8 fans.

 

I just received an alienware m18 with windows 8.1. I've been having issues with my Seagate usb 3.0 4tb hard drive disconnecting when I go to transfer files to it, And from what I've read it sounds like an issue with windows 8.1 drivers. would I be better off installing windows 7 or is there a fix.

 

I noticed this with my 18 and W7. It's really weird. It didn't happen after I plugged it into a different USB slot then switched back.

So weird.

 

Im probably going to install win7 since this happens on any of the ports

 

Negative, they now allow you to download the ISO for any Windows 8.1 Edition (Single Language, Core, Pro, etc):

Click on this link: Windows 8.1 Media Creation

Then download and launch the Create Media file

You will then be given a choice to choose the language, edition (as in Windows 8.1 Core, Windows 8.1 Pro, Windows 8.1 Single Language, etc.)

Then choose the architecture you want (32-Bit or 64-Bit) and start the download.

It will give you a choice of whether you want to create it directly on a bootable USB Flash disk or simply save the ISO somewhere for later use.

Note: If you are not sure which edition to download, simply visit the PID Checker website, enter your Windows 8 or 8.1 product key and press the CheckPID button, it will then tell you the exact edition of Windows that key is meant for. You will need to download the correct edition to be able to activate Windows after you install it.

 

Im having driver issues when installing win7. seems that it cant detect some of my hardware like the Ethernet controller. Tried installing the Ethernet driver from the dell site and I get an error message