So, I have a inspiron 6000, which shipped with "dell system restore" instead of installation disks for windows and drivers.  My harddisk has failed (as in, when I start up, I get the message "read error on internal hdd").  My warranty is expired, and I need to get disks for windows, and drivers.  My question is, since I know exactly what the problem is, I'm not asking for any diagnosis fron Dell, and I'm not asking for them to fix anything -- I'm just asking them to sell me disks that, in my mind, should have been shipped with the computer anyways, do I really need to pay $50 just to talk to someone on techsupport for the three minutes it takes to explain my situation and ask for them to sell me disks?  I mean, I really don't need techsupport -- I need a salesperson, except that backup disks aren't an option on the sales voice menu.  Is there any other number I can call?  Because this really seems messed up to me.  Honestly, if you were to design a system with the goal of frustrating people in mind, what better way to start than giving people no other option than to pay for things they don't want, nor need, just to get to a (hopefully) human representative on the line.

 

off at Dell,

Aaron