Dell XPS 15 L502x restore

It would have been easy to use the PC Restore to get back to the original factory image before you formatted the driver.  That being water over the dam, you can check out this site to see if it offers any help.
en.wikipedia.org/.../Windows_Imaging_Format

It gives instructions on how you can use the .wim file.

Here is Microsoft's web page on it.
http://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/library/cc749478(WS.10).aspx

I also came across this web site.
http://smsoftdev-solutions.blogspot.com/2009/03/how-to-restore-dell-factory-image-when.html

deeqfinch,

Try reading...

How to restore Dell factory image when PC restore does not work?

Rick

@ bay wolf .

i realised that .

when i do the imagex command from my usb disk booted windows setup

i get this error

"The subsystem needed to support the image type is not present."

like i saids in my original post.

so thats where im stuck

also i have googled heavily on this as well.

so any other non-google-search way :( ?

When Dell ships out the computers with the PC Restore file, the ability to boot into the recovery mode is in the MBR.  When you format the hard drive, you change the MBR and thus remove the ability to use PC Restore.

You should be able to use imagex to get the image file.

www.petri.co.il/imagex.htm

thx guys .

i really dont understand why i cant factory reset =(  . yea i formatted but i never knew a restore would be dependent on os parititoon it self . thats quite poor (even if user friendly ) .

@Rick & @Bay Wolf

the link is for old dells . who have imagex in recovery paritiotn . i dont . and i tried downloading it separate .

it gives an error (The sybsystem............... one )  (thts why its now useless i guess )

so im stuck . i guess i call dell and tell them to factory restore

I don't know if this will work for you, but it is worth a shot.  You can copy the WIM file to another computer and extract the files.  

www.sevenforums.com/.../15162-wim-file-extract-modify.html

I am just thinking outside the box on this one and I am not sure it will work.

Install Windows on your hard drive.  Then use imageX to extract the files onto another partition and then copy the files over the temporary Windows setup.  You will need a second OS enviornment to do this copy.  You can't copy over files that are being used.

Like I said, I don't know if this will work.  Just an idea.

@ bay wolf

for obvious reasons . thats not viable . os installations arent as simple as copy paste .

and ill give u 1 better . much better than copy paste

i shrink the hard disk .

free 20gb . created new partition .

used a gui imagex tool from this windows 7 ultimate called gimaex.  put the dell wim file on that 20gb paritiotn

created a manual Boot entry .

tried to load that windows and it wont start .

so i need something sure and solid .

although i am losing hope and realising that dell people will have to come  and take charge here.

i was out of town till january and i was hoping i could do this on my own . sad :(

Hi deeqfinch,

I think i understand your problem as i have also done the same thing and now i am unable to restore my laptop to factory setting. if you have got any solutions from this forum or from other sources, kindly help me in restoring my pc to factory setting. thanks in advance.

@priyabrat

youre out of luck . dell is 1 step behind compared to other brands in this aspect.  you have no choice except to ask help from dell customer service ( which i did not want in my case) , they might take some time in this.

i was never able to factory restore. and I am currently using my own windows.

tancks