Dell Recovery media rant

[TLE]

You may want to try cloning something that ignores the file system. I typically use Roadkil's Raw Copy, but others may say DD is better (and maybe it is..).
But Easus, Ghost and Acronis all look at the filesystem and its health, where something like Raw Copy will just copy bit for bit regardless of what you're cloning.

Is Raw Copy by HDGuru? I have never used it.

 

[Martyn]

Is Raw Copy by HDGuru? I have never used it.

I think it's this one

http://www.roadkil.net/program.php?ProgramID=22

 

[14049752]

Yeah, that's the one.

 

[TLE]

Yeah, that's the one.

lol, is that a Yeah to Martyn or mine

 

[14049752]

lol, is that a Yeah to Martyn or mine

Oh, I'm sorry. Martyn's link.

 

[Kitten Kong]

Thanks everyone. I'll look into those progs tomorrow.

 

[Wheelie]

I have a copy of all the Dell re-installation disks to avoid having to beg. You can use them on 99% of Dell PC's and the BIOS automatically detects it as authentic. You can also use the appropriate Dell re-installation disk on other brands and then authenticate it with the COA label on that PC.

Is doing this illegal?

.

 

[Wheelie]

Point taken, but we do have to use recovery media, to abide by Microsoft's licensing laws. We cannot according to MS, use our own media, and our clients COA.

This has been discussed numerous times on TN.

Ah. Now I see.

Guess I am doing it all wrong ...

.

 

[AlaDes]

Honestly, talking to Dell regarding recovery media is a PITA but I've never ran into the same problem you have. If I can't tell them the original owner's details, they simply tell me there is a $19.95 shipping charge for the media, where as it'd be free of charge if I could provide the details. I feel as if you just got a customer rep that didn't know their job and was probably the reason they wouldn't transfer you to their supervisor. Personally, I'd be giving Dell a call back lol.

 

[NorCal Internet]

I was going to suggest calling Dell back and getting someone else. Often when you call Dell, or any of the major manufactures for that matter, if you call 5 times, ask 5 differnet people, you'll get 5 different responses.

Just keep calling until you get the answer you want.