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Demension e520 system restore problems
My dvd rom wouldnt show up in My Computer, I deleted upper filters and lower filters in my registry after reading it would make it work, Trying to get my dvd rom working, After reboot my mouse and keyboard would not work I deleted the wrong filters in registry, So I tried to do a factory restore it worked said to reboot, after splash screen the comp screen goes black and it doesnt go into windows configure its just black, I have no recovery discs or windows xp disc, not sure what to do any help would be nice.
DELL-Manshu S
2.2K Posts
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December 30th, 2012 23:00
Hi Lastchild68,
Welcome to the Community.
I would suggest you to run diagnostics on the computer which will isolate the issue.
1. Restart the computer and tap F12 key to access One Time Boot Menu
2. Highlight Boot to Utility Partition and hit Enter to start the diagnostics
Please make a note of the error code if you get any.
In case of no error code, please send me the Service Tag and name listed on the account in a private message.
Thanks & Regards
Manshu S
#iworkfordell
rdunnill
6 Professor
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8.8K Posts
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December 30th, 2012 23:00
It might be a good time to upgrade to Windows 8, which is available for $40 for a limited time. That's only a little more than Dell XP install discs sell for on eBay.
Here's an XP Professional install disc (with COA) for $25 with free shipping: www.ebay.com/.../330851509734
emerge11
6 Posts
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December 31st, 2012 01:00
What country are you In?
Philip_Yip
7 Technologist
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16K Posts
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December 31st, 2012 02:00
Please have a look at my wiki Windows Reinstallation Guide and Related Wikies:
http://en.community.dell.com/support-forums/software-os/f/3524/t/19480753.aspx
The problem is that the Windows 8 Upgrade Advisor requires a functional OS in order to install the upgrade.
The second problem is the DVD Drive doesn't work so even if a retail version of WIndows 8 was bought likely installation will be necessary via USB.
This suggestion is going to seem convoluted but its due to Microsoft not making a direct .iso download link for Windows 8. Windows 8 cannot be directly downloaded and installed so my advice is to install Windows 7 without a product key to get a 30 day trial and use the Windows 7 trial to update to Windows 8 (simply because its cheaper). You can alternatively purchase a Windows 7 product key and input it but this will cost a good bit more. I personally would recommend Windows 7 over Windows 8 in a heartbeat however Windows 8 is currently cheaper (at least until the 31/01/2013). The Windows 8 Professional and Start8 combination is almost equivalent to Windows 7, alternatively you can try Windows 8 Professional without Start8 to see if you like the new Windows 8 interface which I hate but some others like.
Data Recovery
First perform data recovery, follow Data Recovery of the Hard Drive Using Fedora (page 405).
Windows XP - Reinstallation (Unrecommended but an option)
I would say its time to forget XP, XP non-mainstream support is going to be running out soon. Should you really want to stick to WIndows XP (highly unrecommended) you can get the XP CD from eBay so long as it matches the version on your COA (Home or Professional) and follow the instructions in my wiki nLite: Update your Windows XP Reinstallation CD to create a bootable USB (page 319 of the wiki). You will need to do this on another computer. You can then follow the wiki A Clean Install of Windows XP from USB (page 219).
Windows 7 Installation
Anyway you don't have media I would advise you to follow the instructions on page 272-275 on another computer and create a bootable USB with a 64 bit.iso
Once the bootable USB is made follow my wiki A Clean Install of Windows 7 (page 64) - Start on Step 5. Download the system drivers in Step 5b (skip 5a) take the Vista 64 bit drivers from the Dell ftp website.
You should not need to carry out Step 6.
Step 7a is optional but if you haven't backed up your data I would advise skipping this step. Personally I would back up the data as mentioned earlier perform this step.
Step 7b doesn't apply to this system so skip it.
Follow through with Step 8 and on page 90 ensure that you don't select delete or format if you want to recover your data.
Skip Step 9, carry out Step 10, ignore Step 11 and carry out Step 12. Ignore Step 13-14 but carry out Step 15. Ignore step 16, carry out Step 17.
Windows 8 Installation (requires Windows 7 installation)
Once this is done, follow my wiki Upgrading to Windows 8 (page 5).
At this stage I would recommend carrying out Step 1 (if you haven't backed up the data already) but skip Step 2.
Perform Step 3 and for now just ignore the drivers as Windows 8 will likely have all thats needed for this model without additional installation of drivers. Thus skip Step 4-7b and perform Step 8.
Skip Step 9-10.
Perform Step 11 however note that you may need to activate via phone as your previous version of WIndows wasn't activated - you still have a valid XP license so you are still entitled to take advantage of the upgrade offer.
Perform Step 12-16, skip Step 17 (as you done it before the installation). Step 18 is optional. Perform Step 19 and 20.
rdunnill
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December 31st, 2012 13:00
The DVD drive appears to be in good working order; it's the drivers that are incorrectly figured. If the OP can get ahold of an install disc, they should be able to use Windows Easy Transfer to extract their data and settings, clean-install, and then import the Easy Transfer file.
Newegg had Windows 7 Home Premium available over the weekend for $75 including shipping. I don't know if that deal is still on.
Lastchild68
2 Posts
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January 3rd, 2013 03:00
First of all sorry it took me so long to respond, Thank you to everyone for the comments and help and advice, Now I will tell everyone i figured it out, It ended up being the video card and THE monitor was on analog and not digital, Once I switched it to analog I could see everything, I had no problems, Also THANK YOU to dell support who sent me 4 CDs total, A drivers one a windows XP install and one with applications on it anti virus etc etc, It was here in 3 days, I didnt expect anyone to reply or the customer service be so nice and helpful. THANK YOU TO EVERYONE, YOU ALL ARE AWSOME!!!!!!!!!!!!
emerge11
6 Posts
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January 3rd, 2013 03:00
Thats awesome. Glad you got It figured. I asked you what country you were from because I was going to send you all the discs so that you can fix your computer. I have a spare set. Anyways, take care !
Philip_Yip
7 Technologist
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16K Posts
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January 3rd, 2013 11:00
Great glad to hear it. With regards to the installation CDs glad to hear that you got on so well requesting them (others haven't). Can I ask if you were charged for them and if so, how much or if they were sent out for free?