Can I grab an XP OEM disc if I bought a refurn Vista notebook?

What is the process for getting an OEM disc? I'm wanting to reformat my refurb notebook, to get rid of that recovery partition, and use an OEM disc to install Windows w/o all the crapware. Will that disc come with the purchase when I get the laptop, or will I have to order it? And who do I call to get that?

Now, I'm thinking about putting XP on it instead of Vista, since it seems to work better for dual booting with Linux right now -- I have no reason to have Vista over XP. How can I get it so Dell will send me XP OEM discs if I bought a notebook with Vista pre-installed on it?

 

I do not think they will send you XP disc's. Only what you currently have a liscence for.

EDIT: Edited because I just reread the title and realized you asked for XP OEM, not JUST OEM. Sorry.

 

Dell is not just gonna give you XP for free, especially when you purchased Vista. If you need and XP cd, then your best bet is to go purchase one, otherwise you're not gonna get a freebie from Dell.

 

You can ask dell for a reinstall disc of the OS installed on your computer, and it will come without all that crapware.
Unfortunatly you will not beable to ask them for an XP disc when your laptop purchase was for Vista. Even though they use OEM keys, they get charged $$ for that "user" key (its a key that can't be used with windows, but links you to a unique owner of a specific version of windows for customer support reasons and proof of purchase) stuck to the bottem of your laptop. They would have to give you an XP version of one of those, thus costing them something like $50.

 

They will not give you XP for free.

 

If I have the code from the bottom of my old Dell that ran XP, and also have the XP discs from that Dell, can I use the code and discs to install XP on different Dell that came with Vista?

 

Technically, yes. You should be able to do that. However, be warned that there is a big difference between what you can do and what you can do legally.

 

Alright, good to know. I'm currently evaluating Vista, if it doesn't work sufficiently well, I will go to XP.

 

My XPS M1210 shipped with Vista and it lasted all of 2 days. I simply use too many 3rd party programs that Vista has issues with. Anyway, I found that the XP install disc from my XPS 410 worked just fine to install XP Pro. It even included the SATA drivers to get the install going.

I purchased a copy of XP Pro x64 for my desktop, so I believe that I'm perfectly legal with having XP Pro on my M1210 that came with my 410?

 

Not really. An OEM liscence is tied to one machine, the one it shipped with. Now, that doesn't mean that MS cares. I have installed a DellXP disc on a non-Dell before (I replaced that OS, so still just 1 copy running), and it works just fine.

 

I think the OEM license is tied to the manufacturer not the machine? The Dell XP install discs don't even ask for CD-keys, just check the BIOS for Dell and you're good to go.

 

The OEM licenses that you get from companies like Dell are SLP OEM discs which mean they are locked to bios. The OEM discs you get from Newegg.com are locked to a specific motherboard. Slight difference. None the less I know someone where I work that said all they did was call Microsoft and said they needed to activate a Dell OEM disc. Microsoft asked why and she told them that she had replaced the motherboard and they went ahead and did it. It is worth a shot.

 

I get so tired of hearing about this "license being tied to one machine" BS, that I want to puke... I've discussed this on more than one occasion about my discussions with Dell regarding the same issue. They don't give a crap what you put it on and neither does Bill Gates. If you are running a single license on a single machine they could care less... in fact they'd be extatic if everyone did. In fact... I'll contact them to put this to rest. Or better yet... are there any MS people out there that would like to comment. Don't give me the legal mumbo jumbo, just answer me if they would be satisfied if everyone ran one copy of windows on a single machine.

 

Well I see the punk removed his post...

If you have a question as to whether something you are contemplating is "legal", just e-mail Microsoft. They'll tell you. I've never found them to be unreasonable. All I think they want is for people to pay for their product, be it through an OEM or whatever. In my desktop computing era... I used to upgrade MOBOs in my home built PC on a regular basis and I used an off the shelf copy of WinXP that I had purchased at Best Buy. I'd just call them and tell them I'm upgrading the MOBO again and I was good to go. You can call it tied to BIOS or MOBO or whatever you want to... the bottom line is if you have a legit copy of Windows there's no reason you shouldn't be able to use it on one computer regardless of what flavor it is. Granted you may not be able to load a Dell OEM disk on a Frankenstein machine but there's a pretty darn good chance it will work on another Dell and an off the shelf version should run on anything.

Their response...

From your description, I understand that you would like to swap system on two Dell computers. If there has been any misunderstanding, please let me know. I understand the inconvenience this issue has caused. Please be assured that I will do my best to assist you in resolving this issue. The answer to you concern is yes. It is ok to swap systems.

 

That would be true. If you are installing a Dell disc on another Dell system then there should be no issue at all. I have already been told by a Dell rep that I could use my old Dell XP MCE disc on my new replacement laptop if they could not get it on there themselves as there was the chance of getting Vista on it when it was put together. Therefore there should be zero legal issues there. You paid for the license. Use it!

 

Just FYI:

last time I moved a Dell OEM install to a non-Dell system and had to call in to re-activate the number, the guy asked if it was OEM and the same machine. I just told him I didn't remember since I had a few copies floating around. So it worked, but they did sem to care a little.

Just my experience. Your milage may vary.