Factory restore after overwrite of MBR/Boot loader

Hi newbie455,

The recovery partition could not be accessed if a clean installation of Windows is done. You can try downloading the Dell DataSafe Local and run it to check if it fixes the MBR. You can download the copy from the following link:
http://bit.ly/bbYoho

You can also restore the system to factory defaults from the recovery disks created using Dell Backup and Recovery software in Windows 8. Please let us know if you have not created the disk or if the issue is not fixed by running Dell DataSafe Local.

I did not create a back up disk. When I try to install Datasafe Local, it says that it cannot be installed because my hard disk does not have the factory recovery image.

However, I am positive that the image is there because I can see it in the partitions tables. I only formatted the C: (OS) partition.

Hi newbie455,

Thank you for your reply and I apologize for the delay is responding to your message. You will have to re-install Windows 7 from the installation disk as Dell Data Safe Local failed to detect the Recovery Partition.

I have added you as a friend. Please accept my friend request by clicking on my name ‘DELL-Rajath ’highlighted in blue and then click on “Friends” tab at the top and then click on “Request to Review” and finally click on “Accept” button.

I am sending you a private message as well. Click on “Inbox” to respond to the message and provide the system’s Service Tag and contact details(along with the name on the account) so I may access your system records and check for further course of action. You could also click on Start Conversation to send a private message. Please let me know if this helps.

Rajath, I was able to use a generic windows 8 install disk to and got everything working.

Chad11269, the main issue with Windows 7 is the way it handles resolution for a 1080p screen. If you have your screen reoslution set to 1080, everything will appear very tiny. Yes, windows 7 allows you to change the DPI setting to make text and icons bigger, but Windows 7 DPI scaling pales in comparison to Windows 8's DPI scaling ability. With Windows 7, you can set the resolution lower than 1080 to make everything appear larger, but then you are not taking advantage of the high res screen and I also found everything appeared very blurry when doing this. My suggestion to you is to stick with Windows 8, perhaps use an addon like StartIsBack (which exactly replicates the win 7 start menu) to make it feel a little more like win 7. I am much happier with Windows 8 than I was with Windows 7 running on this computer.

I was just getting ready to install Win 7 on my L521X that came with Win8 for the same reason.  What types of issues are you having with Win7 on your XPS?

Newbie455, thanks for the information.

The main reason I'm looking to downgrade is external monitor support.  I've got the Targus 3.0 SuperSpeed dock and it doesn't work.  I've wasted (literally) days trying to get it working, and nobody (Dell, Targus, DisplayPort, Intel, NVIDIA) will say for sure that it is their driver that needs updated.  

Also I've had issues with Windows 8 and setting a static IP address.  I travel to job sites and am constantly connecting to different wired and wireless networks, often having to give myself a static IP address.  After changing my IP to static it will take, but when I go back into the settings it is gone and DHCP has been selected again.

I'm not as concerned about the DPI issue you mention, I prefer the "tiny" appearance.  

I've been using Start8 to get the start button back (haven't paid for it yet) but it still isn't as complete as the Win7 start menu.

I guess all these issues are to be expected with new hardware and software, but it still extremely frustrating.  Spending all this money on new computer gear so I don't have "computer problems" any more....HA!

Did you have to do anything special to get Win7 to install?  When I tried running my Win7 CD from within Win8 I got an error (or possibly warning?) about drives being in the wrong order??  Then booting to Win7 CD wouldn't work until I disabled Secure Boot, but then the drives didn't show up and I had to get the drivers installed via a flash drive.  I saw the drives then, which is when I read your post about having issues with Win7 so I stopped.

I suppose the external monitor would depend on how the dock connects, but do keep in mind that you'll probably be using the same exact driver whether you're on windows 7 or 8.

The static IP issues is strange as well because from what I can tell, windows 8 has pretty much the same networking functionality as windows 7.

For the DPI, do keep in mind that Windows 8 by default is scaled to something around 120% dpi. Before you dismiss this as a non-issue, try setting it to 100% on win 8 and see how that looks...that's pretty much what I mean by "tiny" (very straining on the eyes to read text so tiny). If you set it above 100% on Windows 7, things won't look quite right. Also, StartIsBack is much better than Start8 so you might check that out.

If you still want Windows 7, make sure you are doing a UEFI boot from the disc. I actually had to disable safe boot AND follow this guide (www.sevenforums.com/.../186875-uefi-unified-extensible-firmware-interface-install-windows-7-a.html) and specify the .efi path manually in the BIOS to get it to install correctly. You might not have to do that though. I did the same thing as you with installing the drivers from a flash drive. One you have Windows 7 installed, you'll have to use the Windows 8 driver for the wlan adapter. For some reason, dell does not list the correct drivers for the wlan if you select windows 7 on the driver download page.

Hi Newbie455,

Thank you for providing an update on the status.

i have the same issue.....can it be fixed

Hi ashishsinghdev,

Please share the exact system model and operating system installed.

I assume that you have also tried to install Windows 7 on the system shipped with Windows 8 installed from the factory and now you want to return back the system to factory state. Is this correct?

If not, then please share the exact nature of the issue that you face. Also, the error that you are getting on the system.

Please reply with the information, I'll be happy to assist you further.