Question about Dells & formatting HDD's...........

[Dooin' it]

I have a couple questions about what to do with a Dell computer. I have a 4600 (not from the mega-deal) on its way. I've not messed with a Dell outside of using the standard configuration before this but I'm wondering..........

Could I format the HDD and put whatever I want for an o/s on there?? (i.e. .......going from WinXP to Win98SE)???

Does Dell ever ship with the Windows CD by itself or only ever with their "restore" disk?? (Curious because even though we've *PAID* for Windows we don't actually have it to *USE* when they bundle it & don't give us the actual separate software!)

(What I mean to say here is that it's not retail vs. oem........it's actually a third category of O/S which appears to me to be PROPRIETARY oem. IOW, you can use it, you just can't take it with you!) In which case.........what are we really paying for??

[Droppyale]

yes you can format and put whatever you want...

yes you get the full version software... but i think you can only install it dell system.

[Dooin' it]

OK, that jives. Only reason I ask is because I've recently rec'd new Dells here at work (Optiplex 160) running Win2000 and they all came w/ restore disks only!!! (Nice OEM - style manuals, but only dark blue Dell "resotre disks".) Licenese sticker is on the side but that's all. Now..........if I purchase OEM on my own........I get the CD/manual & can install it on any friggin' computer in my house! (So.........semi-proprietary? I'll have to see what's in the box when it arrives!) Hmmmmmmmmmmm........

[Steve R Jones]

I installed Win2k on my Dell 4550 that is a few months old. There were a few mobo drivers I never could find. The UBS2 in particular. You’ll have even worse luck trying to get Win98 installed 100%.

For the last or more, Dell’s restore cd’s will check the bios and will ONLY install on a Dell..