This is all a bunch of ridiculous B.S. One should not have to request recovery media for a system they purchased that comes with the capability of making its own recovery media. I have used the Flash USB method and the DVDs I made when I first bought the PC and neither of them work. Never do I get an option to install Windows. Refresh PC and Reset PC are equally useless when being told your recovery media is "invalid". If I had my Windows Product Key I could just run Windows Set-up, enter the key and be on my way. I have tried to use the request form to request the media from Dell, but because I am out of warranty the web page just loops and does not ever actually submit a request. It looks like I might have to call Dell Support and pay by the minute (cell phone) while on hold. Even the Tech Support email link disappears once that warranty expires. Thanks, Dell. Appreciate the help. I think part of the problem is that the PC came with Windows 8 (so the recovery DVDs were made then) and since then I upgraded to 8.1 thus rendering them "invalid." But that does not explain the new flash USB recovery media I made just moments ago that still does not work to "Refresh" or "Reset" my PC. It says there are recovery files missing. Shouldn't it have checked all that while making the recovery media? At this point, I have now downloaded the free version of Reflect and am using it to clone the old hard drive before it finally dies and hopefully that will work. Good luck everyone.
Hello, I've just ordered a DELL Inspiron 3000 desktop. I've read that DELL no longer supply reinstallation DVD's.  So what happens when (if) the hard disk in the new PC goes wrong? Could I then fit a new hard drive in my machine, and use the recovery disks (which I would make as soon as the PC arrives using DELL back up and recovery) to reinstall everything on to this new hard drive? Is that how this would work? Thanks, Dominocat
Using recovery disks (windows 8.1) to reinstall to a replacement hard disk