I’m sure “No we don’t have any plans to make ISO images available outside of MSDN/Technet subscriptions” by Brandon LeBlanc on 18 October 2013 was amongst the worst promotional material for any Microsoft product. I’d been arguing the case for the need for the .iso downloads since 2010 on Dell IdeaStorm. It only got worse with Windows 8.0 and with Windows 8.1 I’d never such an awful deployment of a service pack by forcing it through a buggy store. The number of issues with the update made a number of workarounds previously documented here very popular. Unsurprisingly there was a large user backlash and endless frustration over this stupid decision. I’m thankful to all users who left negative feedback here and elsewhere even if it resulted with me getting banned on Microsoft Answers, SevenForums and EightForums. Finally only after a year or two (including the lack of a Windows 8.0 OEM .iso) Microsoft have looked to common sense and released a downloader which works as expected. Their new Windows Installation Media Creation Tool is fully functional. To Download Windows 8.1 see my Download Windows 8.1 Retail and OEM .iso. [IMAGE] The Windows Installation Media Creation Tool allows for selection of: The Windows Installation Media Creation Tool importantly does not ask for a product key, allowing you to download the .iso on any Windows computer. The Windows Installation Media Creation Tool also checks that the downloaded .iso is okay which should reduce the errors users previously encountered when trying to install with media created from incomplete downloads. Finally the Windows 8.1 with Update 1 .iso accepts both Windows 8.0 and Windows 8.1 product keys during installation regardless whether OEM or retail: I have multiple confirmations of the new media creation tool .isos working on the OEM license although some cases users used RWEverything and change key for product activation afterwards. Microsoft have acknowledged the feedback left here and many other places on the many difficulties their previous deployment options (or lack of options) had on the end user. From my own guides these were: My guides now include OEM system locked preinstallation activation mechanism found in the Dell Windows Vista Reinstallation DVDs and Dell Windows 7 Reinstallation DVDs. For full instructions including the download links see: Windows 7  Windows Vista 
I have updated IdeaStorm with a new idea here: [URL] It probably will be more seriously looked at in IdeaStorm. I would appreciate if all the people who voted on the poll voted on the updated IdeaStorm idea. Unfortunately however IdeaStorm requires a separate user login to the Community Forum.   Dell are currently shipping out most of their systems without reinstallation DVDs. For US customers there is an online request form for Reinstallation Media. For those customers not in the US you will need to contact Dell technical support and request a Reinstallation DVD. The customer numbers are available here (link broken). Screenshots of the link are available here.Many customers have filled in this form in the US and got the media sent for free or charged a small fee. For those outside the US we have to phone technical support and the policy regarding to reinstallation media doesn't always seem to be clear cut and may lead to differing results which would otherwise not happen or be less likely to happen with the US request form:  Your system is out of warranty you cannot get a reinstallation DVD. It will cost $60 for a Reinstallation DVD despite the fact that 1 year ago it cost only $10 for the same DVD when purchased with the system before that it was free.  One of the main issues is that you aren't allowed or given any option to purchase the Reinstallation DVD with the system. You must wait for the system to arrive and then contact Dell Technical Support to get the media. This process is far more inefficient for the end user who may want to clean install Windows as soon as possible. In addition those who purchased their system must pay a higher price to get the media. Shipping costs would also be reduced if the DVD was send boxed with the system.The Operating System DVD is necessary for many problems that can go wrong with Windows or for installation of a new hard drive. Dell DataSafe does not always cover these issues and does not offer the ability to perform a clean install which often has superior performance. Ideally we would want the ability to download a Windows .iso from My Dell Downloads or another service as mentioned here.   The idea is simple; make this form available for customers around the rest of the world. If pricing is involved:• Fix the price for systems in warranty• Fix the price for systems outside of their warranty period. In my opinion $60 is a bit high, $10-$20 would be ideal.   Also make reinstallation USBs (that are write protected) available as many systems are coming without DVD drives, you can charge slightly more for these. Edit: these are being sent out to some customers. However they have McAfee preloaded unfortunately. Make the reinstallation USBs identical to the DVDs. Finally Dell will only send out DVDs once or maybe twice, I think the quota should be reset if a Service Pack is released as its best to use the Reinstallation DVD/USB with the most up to date Service Pack (for the USBs it would be good to make a special utility to update them when a Service Pack is released). For customers wishing to execute downgrade rights they should be able to request both Windows 8 Professional Media and Windows 7 Professional Media in accordance to downgrade rights preferably with the Windows 7 Operating System preinstalled e.g. in the case of the XPS 8500. [Poll] A Reinstallation DVD is needed to perform a clean install (see A Clean install of Windows). Dell DataSafe/Dell Factory usually have preinstalled junk and severely reduced performance. In addition a lot can go wrong with Dell DataSafe/Factory Settings e.g. if you get corrupt files/partitions. You also have no option for A Clean install or to have custom partitions. I personally prefer the Clean Install to the Dell DataSafe or the Dell Factory Settings. Update: Currently I have removed my wikies on Windows Reinstallation within the Dell Forums and am trying to esculate the issue with Microsoft on the following forums for downloadable Windows 8 media: Several Customers are looking to request a Windows Reinstallation DVD: Looks like several customers are having problems with using Dell DataSafe to Create Recovery Media on Windows 8:  My Dell Downloads Issues    
Requesting a Windows 8 Reinstallation DVD or Windows 7 Reinstallation DVD 
[Downgrade Rights]