Free Windows 7 Upgrade Concern (VOID concern)

Have you considered running a virtual machine for your games? Works great for some people, especially with 4GB RAM on the host.

You can pretty much ignore any advice to switch to XP64 on your system. Driver support?

You'll get whatever platform that was pre-installed on your system. So if you bought it with Vista x64, you'll get Windows 7 x64.

If you think downgrading to XP or Vista x86 is going to make your games faster, save yourself the trouble. It won't. Most likely, your limitations are with the hardware itself, because, after all, this is a laptop, with laptop parts.....meaning lower performance to save on power.

Stick with Vista x64 for now, and upgrade to Windows 7 once you get your discs. make sure your drivers are all up to date. Call me crazy, but I certainly wouldn't switch to an OS that's going to limit my memory availability to ALL programs, without even boosting my gaming scores.

kegobeer said:

I don't believe a Dell warranty is voided because the operating system has changed. I've read quite a few threads by people that were told by Dell tech support that the warranty was voided because the OS was changed, only to be told by the warranty department that, in fact, the hardware warranty was not voided. Also, the Dell online policy states that the limited hardware warranty covers defects, and does not cover oeprating systems or any software.

YOU NEED TO REGISTER WITH YOUR MANUFACTURER TO GET WIN7 UPGRADE!

Regardless, do not tell them that you made any OS install change. If you need to discuss it with them, talk about it as something you are thinking about doing to test their response. I had Toshiba tell me that my warranty is voided if I clean install the same O.S. version to overcome file corruption from removing all of their bloatware. They actually told me that I had to have the bloatware or it voided the warranty. Acer is nicer and says that I can try a clean install of same OS with my own OEM disk (told them I got it from MS) but that I would have to deal with MS if it didn't activate since the key on the box is now a batch key that will take when first typed in but require you to call to sort it out after install. (Don't type it in - some OEM's will recognize the motherboard tattoo). Acer also offered to send me free recovery disks (since I called with 90 days of purchase) in case I needed to revert, but I didn't.

With the ACER, due to file corruption from removing 12 bloatware programs, I simply did a repair install (upgrade over same version) which worked perfectly to fix file corruption since it replaces the entire OS while preserving your programs, files and most settings but not Advanced video choices.

gregrocker said:

kegobeer said:

I don't believe a Dell warranty is voided because the operating system has changed. I've read quite a few threads by people that were told by Dell tech support that the warranty was voided because the OS was changed, only to be told by the warranty department that, in fact, the hardware warranty was not voided. Also, the Dell online policy states that the limited hardware warranty covers defects, and does not cover oeprating systems or any software.

YOU NEED TO REGISTER WITH YOUR MANUFACTURER TO GET WIN7 UPGRADE!

Regardless, do not tell them that you made any OS install change. If you need to discuss it with them, talk about it as something you are thinking about doing to test their response. I had Toshiba tell me that my warranty is voided if I clean install the same O.S. version to overcome file corruption from removing all of their bloatware. They actually told me that I had to have the bloatware or it voided the warranty. Acer is nicer and says that I can try a clean install of same OS with my own OEM disk (told them I got it from MS) but that I would have to deal with MS if it didn't activate since the key on the box is now a batch key that will take when first typed in but require you to call to sort it out after install. (Don't type it in - some OEM's will recognize the motherboard tattoo). Acer also offered to send me free recovery disks (since I called with 90 days of purchase) in case I needed to revert, but I didn't.

With the ACER, due to file corruption from removing 12 bloatware programs, I simply did a repair install (upgrade over same version) which worked perfectly to fix file corruption since it replaces the entire OS while preserving your programs, files and most settings but not Advanced video choices.

I'm wondering why you quoted my post and replied with contact the manufacturer for the upgrade.

As for your experiences - did those responses come from the Toshiba warranty department, or the technical support department? I reviewed several of the online warranty documents on the Toshiba website, and I didn't see anything about voiding a warranty by changing operating systems. Of course, things might have changed since you had your issue, but I have a sneaking suspicion that isn't the case.

kegobeer said:

[As for your experiences - did those responses come from the Toshiba warranty department, or the technical support department? I reviewed several of the online warranty documents on the Toshiba website, and I didn't see anything about voiding a warranty by changing operating systems. Of course, things might have changed since you had your issue, but I have a sneaking suspicion that isn't the case.

Are you saying that Mr. Rocker is wilfully misrepresenting his experience?

Antman said:

kegobeer said:

As for your experiences - did those responses come from the Toshiba warranty department, or the technical support department? I reviewed several of the online warranty documents on the Toshiba website, and I didn't see anything about voiding a warranty by changing operating systems. Of course, things might have changed since you had your issue, but I have a sneaking suspicion that isn't the case.

Are you saying that Mr. Rocker is wilfully misrepresenting his experience?

Certainly not. I don't doubt someone at Toshiba told him he would void his warranty, but I suspect it didn't come from the warranty department. Once he replies, I'll know for sure.

When I said "... I have a sneaking suspicion that isn't the case", I was inferring that I doubt there was a recent change in the warranty, where any reference to voiding when installing/removing software was removed.

Without regard to warranty, no manufacturer will provide technical support service to a system that they did not sell. System includes software.

The warranty department does not provide tech support.

As a VAR, I provide a warranty on hardware. I do not provide a warranty on software. I do provide an extended warranty that addresses software, but the inclusion of software it is expensive and draconian. I guarantee that I will correct your software issues - with a format and system restore. System defined by contract.

My employees do sell a handful of these agreements. I will not.

kegobeer said:

gregrocker said:

kegobeer said:

I don't believe a Dell warranty is voided because the operating system has changed. I've read quite a few threads by people that were told by Dell tech support that the warranty was voided because the OS was changed, only to be told by the warranty department that, in fact, the hardware warranty was not voided. Also, the Dell online policy states that the limited hardware warranty covers defects, and does not cover oeprating systems or any software.

YOU NEED TO REGISTER WITH YOUR MANUFACTURER TO GET WIN7 UPGRADE!

Regardless, do not tell them that you made any OS install change. If you need to discuss it with them, talk about it as something you are thinking about doing to test their response. I had Toshiba tell me that my warranty is voided if I clean install the same O.S. version to overcome file corruption from removing all of their bloatware. They actually told me that I had to have the bloatware or it voided the warranty. Acer is nicer and says that I can try a clean install of same OS with my own OEM disk (told them I got it from MS) but that I would have to deal with MS if it didn't activate since the key on the box is now a batch key that will take when first typed in but require you to call to sort it out after install. (Don't type it in - some OEM's will recognize the motherboard tattoo). Acer also offered to send me free recovery disks (since I called with 90 days of purchase) in case I needed to revert, but I didn't.

With the ACER, due to file corruption from removing 12 bloatware programs, I simply did a repair install (upgrade over same version) which worked perfectly to fix file corruption since it replaces the entire OS while preserving your programs, files and most settings but not Advanced video choices.

I'm wondering why you quoted my post and replied with contact the manufacturer for the upgrade.

As for your experiences - did those responses come from the Toshiba warranty department, or the technical support department? I reviewed several of the online warranty documents on the Toshiba website, and I didn't see anything about voiding a warranty by changing operating systems. Of course, things might have changed since you had your issue, but I have a sneaking suspicion that isn't the case.

I was talking with the Toshiba tech support people while preparing to reinstall Vista Premium from my own all-versions OEM. They were quite blunt that if I did that it would void the warranty for tech support. They said I needed to use their bloaty recovery disk. I had just removed their bloatware and gotten the (customary in Vista) System File Checker results that corruption existed which could not be fixed.

It taught me to never outright admit to a reinstall using your own OEM media. Test them first by speaking hypothetically.

Acer was much nicer but told me I was on my own if I couldn't get the OEM activated since the key affixed to the machine is now a batch key. I put the key in upfront for the upgrade repair install (again to repair corruption from bloatware removal), which I thought had worked since it self-installed Premium from the all-versions disk. But when I checked Properties page it said I had 3 days to activate, then that I had put in the wrong key, directing me to call MS which sorted it out in about 5 minutes.

Which Studio 15?

Dell Studio 15 Laptop Details

If it came with the Intel 4500MHD then your chances of playing much of anything beyond solitaire are slim to none,

Notebookcheck: Intel Graphics Media Accelerator 4500MHD (GMA X4500MHD)

scroll down and they even have results for Doom 3. Not too good when even at all low and at 640x480 it only averages ~17 FPS.