Factory image restore to replacement hard disk?

Hi,

I don't think it will work like that.  The image restore will install the image onto the same drive that it is located on, not onto another drive.   You can try this link to request replacement Windows media to use to install the image back onto the system.  It's a one-time free option, if you're in the US.

Todd

Hi Todd,

Do you know if there is a place we can download the ISO image? I could burn the recovery DVD myself and work on my laptop immediately...

Hi Todd, Do you know if there is a place we can download the ISO image? I could burn the recovery DVD myself and work on my laptop immediately...

No, it's not available as a download (yet).  It has to do with licensing limitations with Microsoft, although I understand there is a program that may be rolling out.  I would recommend contacting Dell Tech Support for more details, they may be able to help you.

Todd

Mathjk, check out Philip Yip's excellent guide at http://dellwindowsreinstallationguide.com/windows-7-sp1-iso-download/.

I think I'm up and running with it since I was unable to access my old disk anymore.

Hello and good evening

You can order either an "imaged" HDD or SSD with all of the factory software/programs pre-loaded or a non-imaged without.

Save the old HDD as it is still good. You can always send it to Dell will test and return it like new.

Food for thought.

i came to this post becoz i have now been facing a similar situation, but not exactly the same

As due to some duplicated but different tutorials, during my recent factory reset, errors had been made to the file system of my original boot drive and hence it could not be booted.

Hence the situation now is like having a brand new HDD.

And unfortunately, like many other tutorials or guidelines, no solution was actually there.

i guess the same problem continues till now 2020

I would like to add the below comments, which has freshly been posted on another old post too and are mostly applicable to this case, to finish, its about booting the Recovery media flash drive. And I wish Dell and the Community would improve their guidelines:

i agree that the dell recovery bootable flash drive would not be booted by pc with a new HDD/SSD replacement or simply the original HDD/SSD with certain particular hardware or software corruptions.

the dell recovery setup may require some codes from the installed OS of boot drive, in general the Windows, to carry on the processes

(1) a blank new plain HDD would not have one

(2) a physically corrupted original HDD would have bad sectors without those necessary codes

(3) an original HDD with software level of corrupted OS of boot drive, would cause a no boot device, which could actually be regarded as a new HDD

So, I wonder why so many tutorials or replies have never been sticking to the point years after years

And per above, its obviously what needs to be done before running the Dell Recovery

I did use other brand pc and did go thru system restore or factory reset for many many times, it may take times but very simple and clear. And its not a matter of differences between cd/dvd and flash drives

And I am curious if no one sticking to the point is just becoz those simple and direct reset had long been patented??? dont kid me

even so, the tutorials or guidelines should be much more clear, instead of just nonsense F2, F12, or even the ridiculous F8 under our captioned situations