[Pete]

bought dimensionE5100 in feb, recently I asked for os disc. I had messed-up the disc partion that held symanatec sys restore and also preffer to have hard disc (not much to ask considering I spent 0ver $1200.00 with them when I ordered my system(at that time I was unaware and assumed I(without paying thought to) that I would have my OS disc:Microsoft Windows XP Pro MCE 2005.Still learning about pc's and windows I occasionally like to wipe HD & reinstall os and over the last year and a half have done so about 6 or 7 times without problem.So when I requested OS disc from Dell that's what I thought I'd be getting in the mail untill I opened the pckage and startd using the "Dell OS disc" will sombody please tell me what kind of "customization" as a Dell rep put it, is done on these os's and why it needs to be hidden from me. Is it just me? call me paranoid but I just cant get over this, are people familliar: When installing OS from Dell disc everything is normal just like MS disc at first :... you are shown all space partitioned and unpartitioned on the drive then the options for creating,deleting,formating etc.. then at a point where normally (if you were using the MS oem disc) you would be about the end where it would be asking you if you wanted to subscribe to internet service from MSN, the command console window opens and for a split second you can catch a glimpse of the command line entries being inputed ,just when you are mouthing the words "whatthe?? a "screen" is the best word wich describes it, is placed just in front of the cc window wich only purpose seems to be hiding the commands or ? (I'm no programer to say the least) being input into your personal OS. my OS has alot of funky to me group policies appliied on it now but if that is related is beond my skills/knowledge but I am uncomfortable with this and other minor I'm sure "sneaky ways" Dell " helps themselves (I guess) to my system resource wich I am obviously to inexpereienced to utililze(in there bundled programs the have loaded-up and ready for your sole bennefit of course!)when you finnaly take a close look and see all the start-up and process ect... you tell me..is somthing not right? O.K. I'll finish my point/question: I asked Dell for the oem OS disc I'm willing to even to pay alittle extra, and am really baffeled and surprised to find they bassacaly refused and advised me (at least) that Dell policy is: they never supply oem OS disc but it took a long time to arrive at that (about 1hr and 45min, they had many questions for me first and repeatedly advised me how the only difference was that Dee only "customizes the MS OS to meet the needs of the majority of Dell(s) customers" I am aware of the fact that none of us owns our respective copy of "Windows" but rather only borrowing it for free from MS but I'm now guessing that Dell has taken it a step farther and slipped uknowing low-tech people alittle somthing of there own.Am I crazy? oh-yeah:when I look at system properties from start menu it shows system as Windows NT.Why?

[jbking]

Well, Dell has deals with various hardware companies as well as other types of companies to provide certain features on each of their computers, e.g 90 day trial of this, the software for this ISP, this other free stuff like Google's applications, etc. that to honor them Dell puts its stamp on such discs. As for optimal performance of the computer I think it worth noting the trade-offs in more ways than one where someone wants Dell to take over their computer and fix it which requires some software be loaded so that Dell can get to it and fix it for one example of something where while some users may be annoyed by it, others love it since they don't have to try this or that to fix it, the Dell guy will handle that.As for the last question, this is because XP is built on top of NT and is I think version 5.1 where Windows 2000 was 5.0 I believe. I'm not sure if Vista will be called NT 6.0 though this wouldn't surprise me.I'm not trying to start any fight, but rather simply give the arguements from the other side as best I can though I don't work for a company that sells computers.Regards,JB

[ibuildstuff2001]

Its been awhile now,but i remember reading something like that.But i think if you buy a new computer they are all like that.I prefer to buy an OS anyplace other than a computer manufacturer.