Using the Advanced Forum Search on the bottom of this page, you can quite easily find the answer to this often asked question.

 

HUNDREDS of posts to this effect.  They never provided RESTORE CDs, they used to provide OEM Windows XP and drivers.

Well Rickmtg;

 

All I have to go on is the title on the CD's which describe them as being only for use to restore the system. 

 

I did search for the topic as you suggested. Please forgive my ignorance of a much discussed in the past topic when I just joined last week.

 

And as for the dim light individuals who thought up the media reduction scheme; You have lost Dell my business. That is the stupidest, chintziest,  most idiotic, crappiest customer service idea since  Jobs the arrogant stopped allowing Mac-OS to be sold as an OEM version to clone makers.  I stopped using Mac and went to Microsoft equipment.  Guess I'll take another look at gateway and other Manufacturers.

 

This is akin to the business majors at KMART deciding the SEARS CRAFTSMAN warranty isn't going to apply like it used to anymore.  For those of you who didn't know, KMART bought SEARS. 

(I work there part time, and am not looking forward to explaining this stupid policy to irate customers)

 

When your hardware is the same as most everyone elses, you can only differentiate yourself on two things PRICE and SERVICE.  Those two are neccessary to become the tops in your field.