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reinstall vista / factory image restore
my laptop (studio 1537) in running very slowly - so i need to either reinstall vista or do a factory image restore - can someone tell me which?
i dont have any disks. if i do a factoryy restore will dell utilities be reinstalled automatically? if not where do i get them from?
how do i reinstall vista, and does this wipe personal files?
thanks for any help
DELL-Kiran K
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January 18th, 2013 08:00
Hi Alenh,
Request you to use the below link and follow the steps mentioned in it to check if there is any hardware failure:
http://dell.to/OUGnqT
If the test passes without any errors, you may use the below link and follow the steps in it to do a PC Restore where the computer is taken back to a state how it came from the factory:
http://dell.to/gB7c4b
Ideally Dell Utilities dont get installed automatically so you may use the below link and register then you can install all the softwares required:
http://bit.ly/9sK3DH
Note: Before doing a PC restore you will have to backup the data.
If you have further questions do reply to the same post.
Alenh
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January 19th, 2013 12:00
hi kiran
thanks for your reply
i am following this link http://dell.to/gB7c4b to try to restore to factory state. it says to go to control panel to backup files . i can access control panel only in safe mode but there is no backup tool there. is there another way to do a backup?
thanks
Mary G
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January 19th, 2013 12:00
Those instructions are for windows 7. You will have to backup your personal files using vista backup. Best to just copy your photos, docs, music, downloads and other personal files to removable media. All added programs will have to be installed using disks.
Make sure you did the suggested diagnostics including the extended hard drive test first. No use trying to reinstall windows on a failing drive. If the drive fails you will need to order replacement disks to reinstall windows here: support.dell.com/.../backupcd_form
Alenh
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January 19th, 2013 16:00
i am referring to the instructions for vista, not win7. as i said, they say to go to control panel and click Backup Files.
you say to use vista backup - where is that? in safe mode i dont see it in control panel.
thanks for the link but that is for US only. i'm in the UK.
Alenh
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February 1st, 2013 14:00
kiran, using your first link, when i ran the diagnostics utility errors were found on the hard drive. i got this message:
"error code 0146
msg: error code 2000-0146
hard drive 0
self-test log contains previocus errors"
i dont know if the test completed, but the errors werent corrected. how can i get these errors corrected please?
thank you
allen
DELL-Kiran K
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February 3rd, 2013 22:00
Hi Alenh,
I request you to try reseating the hard drive. Then you may use the below link and update BIOS:
http://dell.to/X92qJI
Now try running the test again. If you get the same error code then hard drive is failed and needs to be replaced.
If you have further questions do reply to the same post.
Alenh
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February 6th, 2013 15:00
hi
how do i reseat the hard drive please?
i have looked at the link but dont know what this file does.
thank you
alen
DELL-Kiran K
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February 7th, 2013 22:00
Hi Alenh,
I request you to use the link below which has detailed instructions to remove or replace hard drive. Instead of removing or replacing you can just remove the connections and put it back.
http://bit.ly/V2BI5p
The file I have given in the above post is a .exe file to update BIOS.
If you have further questions do reply to the same post.
Alenh
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February 10th, 2013 02:00
ok i understand. you think there may be a bad connection. i would be surprised if that is the problem but will check. thank you.
Alenh
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February 10th, 2013 12:00
hi kiran
i have reseated the hard drive as you suggested and tried to update the bios. But the flash utility will not run because it says "No battery". If this is referring to the cmos battery, the battey is there and seems to be ok because the time and date are remembered. Should i replace the battery? The laptop is 4 years old so the battery should be ok.
I have run PSA diagnostics again and get the same error:
Error code 2000-0146
Hard drive 0 - self test log contains previous errors
If this indicates a hard drive failure how should i obtain a new drive from Dell? The laptop is still under warranty.
Thank you.
DELL-Kiran K
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February 12th, 2013 00:00
Hi Alenh,
Request you to follow the below steps to reset BIOS to default:
(1) Turn on the computer.
(2) At the Dell logo keep tapping the F2 key.
(3) BIOS screen appears, move to exit tab.
(4) Select Load setup Defaults option.
(5) Now check if it works.
(6) If same issue then hard drive is failed and needs to be replaced.
If you have further questions do reply to the same post.
Alenh
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February 14th, 2013 09:00
hi,
i have reset the bios defaults but i still get the same error code when i run psa diagnostics, and the bios flash utility still says there is no battery. i suppose this means that the hard drive has failed. is there any point in me trying to do a Factory Image Restore?
as the laptop is still under dell warrantry, who should i contact to get the drive replaced?
thank you
alenh
DELL-Kiran K
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February 14th, 2013 22:00
Hi Alenh,
I request you to send me the system service tag through private message. I will check and let you know what needs to be done.
To send a private message, click on my name and select start conversation.
Alenh
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February 16th, 2013 03:00
Hi, i've just sent my service tag by private message. i then pressed "start conversation" and the box disappeared, so i hope you got my message.
thanks
alen