Computer purchase legal advice please
 

can anyone give me the definitive answer to this:

My old man has just bought a new computer from D***, one of their TV advertised special deals. I've always built my own from components so this has never been an issue for me but if you buy a system that comes with all the software pre-installed does the supplying company have to provide a copy of the software on CD? Common sense would seem to dictate that they do, after all part of the purchase price is for software. So if for example you had to reformat your drive and reinstall Windows etc, are you then expected to go out and pay for all the software again? Doesn't seem right to me but maybe somebody can clear this up for me? To be honest it's not really a big issue as I've got all the software he would ever need but it's the principal!!!

Thanks guys,

Neil

no they dont, they get a discount by supplying it all pre-installed, and there should be a recovery disk in the box in the event of a re-install being necessary and somewhere on the box should be the Microsoft Licence sticker, as that in essence is what you are really paying for.

We've had loads of stuff from Dell, Systemax and Compaq and its always the same mate.

Hope that helps.

As dibs said, you'll generally get a system restore disk that will put it back to exactly the same state you bought it in.

Thanks mates,

I had a feeling that would be the answer!

From your experience, do they come with all the necessary driver packs or is it a case of downloading from their site?

Cheers, Neil.

[Edited on 6-4-2004 by neil748r]

Install from the recovery disk then run Windows Update (in Internet Explorer -> Tools -> Windows Update) as this will make sure you have all the latest drivers and patches.

having worked for a few PC manufacturers in my time I can give you a definative answer here.
When reselling MS o/s's as a manufacturer you have 2 choices on how to sell them. 1 is as an OEM o/s which is the type you got by the sound of it, or the other is as a complete operating system. Given the way a M/S o/s has now to be activated online the big manufacturers are not going to supply the complete O/s anymore, it means each individual PC has to be connected up to the internet, tested, then the O/s reset so as to require registration when you turn on your Pc for the first time. When you buy from the likes of DELL you are buying a mass produced product, - the O/s is probably the most expensive part in the box so despite their b/s about it being taylor made they are not going to do what is required to really offer a made to measure service.

Building PC's is one of many hobbies.
If you are really that bothered the only way around it is to reformat the hard drive and reinstall a new version of the o/s from cd. This is the way to go if you intend to keep it beyond the Dell warranty period as quite frankly the recovery discs they supply are crap and are of limited use.

Dell provide a Dell-branded OS recovery cd for whatever flavour of windows you purchased with the PC. It will only work on Dell PC's as it reads a checksum from the BIOS to determine its actually a Dell PC you are trying to reinstall it on. THe CD key for this is located on a sticker on the side\top of the PC case. Thats what u are paying for, the sticker, thats your licence.

I went the Dell factory in Limerick last year and they have these holgraphic licence key stickers on rolls, locked inside a strong-box...the production line scans the PC chassis on the line and then automatically dispenses the correct sticker for the operator - theres this person and her job is to stick the licence stickers on all day, every day!!

You also get a Drivers and Utilities CD from them, this has all the device drivers and such for your model, so you dont have to go to the net and download, if you're doing a re-build....

If you bought any other software as part of the deal, you should get a re-install CD, for example DVD-Player decoder like WinDVD.....

not a clue about computers really but are the dell deals good value for a home pc 750 odd including at 17in flat screen seems ok to me?

Dell and similar companies do provide good deals in that you get a good warranty with it should you have any problems.

The problem with *any* PC is that it's a very complex piece of kit in the hands of someone that might not necessarily know exactly what they're doing, and it is very easy to screw it up.

Most techies will go the "I'll build it myself" route, and will probably sneer at the quality/brand of the components used in mass produced machines like Dell, but for your average "out of the box" user they are ideal.

If you're thinking about a machine Dickie, you might find that PC World (just up the road from you) have something of pretty similar spec from another big name manufacturer at around the same price. The convenience is that if it goes wrong it's only up the road to take it back rather than boxing it up and having it couriered. This reduced level of hassle might be wroth the extra few quid you'd pay over Dell's offer prices.