Alienrespawn - why does my backup option grayed out?

Question

Hi

I am the second owner of my m11x r2 and warranty is now expired. I bought this from a friend that after using it for a few months, he reliazed that the 11.6in screen is too small for him so he bough a m17x. The 11.6in screen with i7 engine is just what i wanted. Now, I havent had a single idea that there are such thing as Alienrespawn in this laptop until recently AlienAutopsy popped out and asked me to run some hardware tests and I saw the "Alienrespawn" option. Its wasnt even installed so I installed it, read all about it and now Im ready to do a backup. When I clicked backup to start the backup process, heres what I saw:

As you can see I cant even select the destination of my backup because its grayed out. I contacted chat support and conveyed my experience and asked them if do I have to pay the $39.99 upgrade just to make it work and the agent said no. "It should wont even without paying" she said. Even she doesnt understand why its grayed out.

Now, I read some more and found out there should be a partition drive that holds the recovery data. I dont find it here. My friend must have deleted it. But does that mean if he deleted it, I can no longer create backups hence the grayed out options?

DELL-Kiran K · Answer

Hi copyl3ft,

Apologize for the inconvenience. Ideally with an AlienRespawn Basic files backup option is unavailable. You may use the below link to get more information on this:

http://dell.to/13T6bK6

If you have further questions do reply to the same post.

copyl3ft · Answer

Hi Kiran,

Thank you for the reply, sir. As per the link you gave me, it says:

"AlienRespawn Basic: Comes factory installed in your new Alienware Computer. This Dell/Alienware-branded software will allow customers to burn their own recovery DVD's (or Blu-Ray discs if they have the required hardware) and on USB external devices (USB Optical Drives and USB Flash Drives). Customers have the option to preserve their data (files/folders) during the emergency recovery process."

Actually, what I really wanted to do is just the part:

"to burn their own recovery DVD's and on USB external devices (USB Optical Drives and USB Flash Drives)"

... thats why I was puzzled that the options are grayed out because thats basically what the Basic version can only do which is just what I want to achieve right now. Now dont get me wrong, paying the $39.99 is not a problem for me as long as Ill achieve goal -- to create a dvd or usb backup of my system. Im just afraid that after paying $39.99 Ill be left with a still grayed out backup options and very frustrated.

DELL-Kiran K · Answer

Hi copyl3ft,

Apologies, I thought you were just trying to back up your files and folder. Looking at the picture it doesn’t seem that any option is selected. I request you to click on disc or USB flash drive and insert the desired media to check if the next or back button gets highlighted.

copyl3ft · Answer

Hi Kiran,

Here, this is what I did:

1. I opened Alienrespawn

2. Clicked Backup

3. Click Create Recovery Media

4. Clicked "Disk" and "USB Flash Drive" options but both of them are NOT Clickable

Thank you

DELL-Chris M · Answer

copyl3ft,

The basic version can only create backups of the original Dell factory image on the hidden partition. It cannot create a backup of your current OS. If the original owner killed the partition, you must purchase the Premium version to create the image, then burn it to DVDs.

copyl3ft · Answer

Thank you Chris. Thats what I wanted to know. Okay then Ill upgrade to a Premium Version then Ill update this post on what happens.

copyl3ft · Answer

Hi Chris,

Ive purchased the Premium version of Alienrespawn. I can now do the full system backup. However, everytime I click "Backup" it shows me this:

If I click "Create Recovery Media", it will show me this:

I noticed in My Computer that its showing the maximum capacity of my HDD is just 334gb but I know it should be 500gb. So I double checked my system and heres what I saw:

Let me correct my earlier statement... I do have a Recovery Partition. Its just that I dont know why Alienrespawn wont let me create a recovery media so I can restore it to factory default or something...

copyl3ft · Answer

Chris? Any update on this? My laptop is already acting up right now and a restore will be very handy at this point. Tnx

heartnotsubasa · Answer

I wanna know this too! This you find a way to fix this? I'm having the same problem. I can't click either usb or disc. PLEASE HELP!

Silhouet · Answer

Wow - still no answer on this a year later!!!! I've been a long time alienware customer. I own 7 different laptop versions. I have this same problem - even after upgrading to premium. The main drive went out on my system and Dell had a tech come to the house and put in a new SSD. She got everything up and going and it looks great! Service was awesome. But I can NOT create recovery media. Why did I purchase the upgrade if I can not do something as simple as creating a recovery media. incredible.

Tesla1856 · Answer

even after upgrading to premium.

Maybe Dell will answer.

I understand you wanting it to work since you spent money on it, but I never had any luck with it.

IMHO, just use Windows Imaging, or a dependable (and supported) 3rd party imaging tool like Acronis or similar.

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Alienrespawn - why does my backup option grayed out?

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