Dell and OS lock

[shortyes]

I have been hearing recently that Dell and other companies are starting to lock their computer OS. I tried finding more info on this since I ordered a Dell 4550 (dirt cheap) but hate winxp and going for win2k.

There is nothing on the Dell upport homepage. Anyone have more info aka first hand knowledge, site

Second is there a way aroudn this?

 

[Audioaficionado]

The OS CDs that ship with them won't install on another brand of computer. I don't know if they've hardcoded their hardware to only use windows.

 

[shortyes]

So what you are saying is that I can still install any OS I want onto that machine? I just can't use the CD to install the OS that came with the machine to another computer?

I heard that I can't install OS other than the one that came with my computer. Tell me if I am wrong please.

 

[cack01]

You just can't use their CDs in another brand's comp.

You can still install any OS you want. If that wasn't the case, I'm sure many people would be pretty mad at M$.

 

[zachj]

You are unable to use that disk on any computer besides your own, but you can upgrade your OS to any previous/future/alternative OS you wish as long as you have driver support. I believe the restore CDs are locked in accordance with MS's pirating policy or some such thing.

Z

 

[nealric]

There is no way they could prevent you from putting in a different os. At very worst, you would need to reformat and flash the bios.

 

[DDR-PIII]

yeah so far i know of dell and emachines doing this.