Here are 3 choices should you wish to reinstall Windows: 1. You may attempt to download Dell DataSafe Local Backup from here. Note also that you may restore to factory settings via the Dell Quick Restore by tapping F8 as you power up. When you are at the factory settings the Dell DataSafe local backup will be reinstalled and you can make the recovery discs. (I done it that way but didn't like the factory setting and hence the Dell DataSafe backup and so installed manually). 2. You may use your other Dell Windows 7 Home Premium disc to reinstall Windows 7 on your XPS 8300 providing that they both are Home Premium as you mentioned. You may copy all the files of this disc into a folder (on your desktop for example) and use the likes of RT-7-Lite to slipstream the standalone Windows 7 Service Pack 1 64 bit file if it does not have Service Pack 1 and may mess around with tweaks just be careful there, personally I just slipstreamed the service pack and left everything else as is. Finish up with this program and use it to create a .iso file. Use the Windows 7 .iso to USB/DVD Tool to create a bootable USB (> 4 GB) or DVD to install Windows 7 with. Hence you will can hae the two DVDs should you wish. Alternatively you can just keep the .iso file on an external hard drive and make a bootable USB when and if you need it. You can format the USB stick after installing windows to use it as a USB stick once again. 3. Download Windows 7 Home Premium x64 .iso file with Service Pack 1 from Digital River and use your Dell Product Key along side this. Note that you will have to use phone activation with this media. Again use the Windows 7 .iso to USB/DVD Tool. The drivers may all be obtained from the Dell Drivers and Downloads Page:  Chipset R284334 & R284362  Intel Video R291648 or ATI/Nvidea (best getting the latest versions from their websites respectively)  Conexant R286929  NEC USB 3.0 R266197 (If you have USB 3.0)  Broadcom R282233  Wireless (depends on what card you have)  Audio Realtek R282239 or Creative (best to get the latest from their website)  SATA Drives R284354  Foxconn Card Reader R281588 (missing from drivers and downloads page)  Bluetooth R283190 Dell Support Centre & My Dell Downloads (requires use of 32 bit internet explorer) gives you all the preinstalled Dell Software (I only like having the Dell Support Centre and never bothered installing the rest). I recommend 3. (or 2. if your disc has the service pack 1/you have slipstreamed it/immediately installed it after installing windows). This is because I had some problems with my factory settings on my XPS 8300 after Service Pack 1 and IE9 were installed particularly with gaming performance. If you are following 2. or 3. I have wrote a complete guide (link below) to installing Windows 7 on a Dell system.
I have just recieved an XPS 8300 as a gift and wow what a machine, but I'm just having one problem with it. I see no sign of any OS media with the included discs and I had already removed the Dell DataSafe Local Backup program aswell as most of the other preinstalled software as I have no use for any of it. Except it seems I was supposed to use DataSafe to make an OS recovery disc myself, only I found that out too late. A couple of questions then. 1) Is it possible to somehow re-install DataSafe to create this backup? I cannot see it on the resource/driver discs. 2) I have a Windows 7* installation DVD for my Alienware M15x system, would this work with my XPS system? *Home Premium 64-bit, same version as on my XPS Thank you, and I hope I put this in the right section!
No OS disc, what can I do?