Run the diagnostics first to check the hardware and include a custom hard drive test to make sure the problem isn't hardware related. The existence of the recovery partition doesn't mean it can be used. It could be corrupted. After 3 years, it would be better to reinstall from a system image or use the installation disk again if the hard drive passed the extended test.
As I thought, it had nothing to do with corrupt partition or diagnosis tool. Wonder why Dell support at Twitter and you gave this as a solution. A little research on google pointed out the actual problem.
Since I had re-installed Windows previously through Win 7 disc, the recovery source link was changed from the Dell provided backup to C: (one created by fresh install). All what was needed was a bit of editing of BCD through bcdedit.
Having done that, everything is working fine. Didn't even run the diagnosis tool as suggested.
Anyways, thanks for the help.
P.S. - I had some problem with my previous laptop, and all that I was told by support that time was to run same diagnosis tool. I understand that this may be first step to troubleshoot but expert here need to understand that every issue is not related to hardware and may be solved through software too.
Some time back I had reinstalled Windows 7 from the windows CD that came along with the laptop. May be due to some driver issue, the system is not running as fast as it should.
Now I want to re-install windows through the recovery partition that is available in my laptop. For which I went to F8 menu, and selected Repair Computer, but on next screen the laptop hangs on "Windows is loading files" and does nothing further.
I checked for the availability of Recovery partition through System Manage utility, and there is a partition available of 13.25 GB with only 4 GB of free space left, which means that recovery partition is still intact.
I had tried installing Dell DataSafe software, but it doesn't install saying my computer doesn't have a recovery partition.
Please help me in restoring my Dell XPS to factory setting.
You need to clean install as you used your Windows 7 DVD to manually install before. This time wipe all partitions or preferably securely wipe with DBAN. Install Windows 7, Update it fully and then install the system drivers. After this is done install Dell Backup and Recovery and it will make a new recovery partition. See here for more details:
Mary G
4 Operator
•
20.1K Posts
0
October 5th, 2014 09:00
Run the diagnostics first to check the hardware and include a custom hard drive test to make sure the problem isn't hardware related. The existence of the recovery partition doesn't mean it can be used. It could be corrupted. After 3 years, it would be better to reinstall from a system image or use the installation disk again if the hard drive passed the extended test.
nishant.strings
4 Posts
0
October 5th, 2014 13:00
No.
As I thought, it had nothing to do with corrupt partition or diagnosis tool. Wonder why Dell support at Twitter and you gave this as a solution. A little research on google pointed out the actual problem.
Since I had re-installed Windows previously through Win 7 disc, the recovery source link was changed from the Dell provided backup to C: (one created by fresh install). All what was needed was a bit of editing of BCD through bcdedit.
Having done that, everything is working fine. Didn't even run the diagnosis tool as suggested.
Anyways, thanks for the help.
P.S. - I had some problem with my previous laptop, and all that I was told by support that time was to run same diagnosis tool. I understand that this may be first step to troubleshoot but expert here need to understand that every issue is not related to hardware and may be solved through software too.
Philip_Yip
9 Legend
•
16.1K Posts
0
October 6th, 2014 03:00
You need to clean install as you used your Windows 7 DVD to manually install before. This time wipe all partitions or preferably securely wipe with DBAN. Install Windows 7, Update it fully and then install the system drivers. After this is done install Dell Backup and Recovery and it will make a new recovery partition. See here for more details:
http://dellwindowsreinstallationguide.com/a-clean-install-of-windows/a-clean-install-of-windows-7/