Inspiron 660 Windows 8 Recovery

Hi jsee001,

It can be annoying when the system fails to boot properly. Windows 8 has tried to recover from the error. However, it needs a recovery media to fix the error. This could happen if there is a hardware issue. I suggest you to run the hardware diagnostics by following the steps provided in the link below:
http://dell.to/OUGnqT

Please let me know the test results.

Hi mf.garrett,

I would suggest you to drain the residual power from the system:

• Disconnect any external peripherals (flash drives, printers, external hard drives) from the computer
• Disconnect the power cable from the system tower.
• Press and hold the power button for 10 seconds

Restart the computer. You may run the hardware diagnostics to check for the hardware functionality. Please follow the steps below:

• Reboot and press to enter the Boot Menu
• When the boot device list appears, highlight Diagnostics and press Enter
• The computer begins to run the Pre-boot System Assessment, a series of embedded diagnostics that perform initial testing on your system board, keyboard, hard drive, and display
• In case any hardware component is bad, you will get a corresponding error

Keep me posted with the results. I will be glad to assist.

Hi mf.garrett

Please ensure the following settings are updated in system BIOS. You may follow the steps below:

• Power on the system and tap 3-4 times to access system BIOS.
• Go to ‘Boot’
• ‘Boot List Option’ should be ‘UEFI’
• ‘Secure Boot’ should be ‘Enabled’.
• ‘Load Legacy Option Rom’ should be ‘Disabled’
• Press to ‘Save Changes and Exit’

Keep me posted with the information. I will be glad to assist further.

I made sure the BIOS settings are set correctly as per your recommendations and when I boot I get the little Windows 8 white spinning circle at the bottom of the screen then it goes to a black screen.  I'm on BIOS version A08

Hi mf.garrett,

Thank you for the response. As the hardware diagnostics passed, you can try to repair the operating system. As the system does not boot to OS, force enter Recovery by the following method:

• Shut down the computer
• Power On the system
• Power Off the system as soon as ‘rolling dots’ appear at the bottom of the screen
• Repeat steps 2-3 times to start 'Automatic Repair'
• Let automatic repair finish and then click ‘Troubleshoot’
• Click ‘Advanced Options’
• Click ‘Automatic Repair’

You may ‘Refresh’ your system in case the ‘Automatic Repair’ is not able to repair Windows 8.  

*Note: The apps that came with your PC or you installed from Windows Store will be reinstalled, but any apps you installed from other websites and DVDs will be removed. Windows puts a list of the removed apps on your desktop after refreshing your PC.

If the above steps don’t work you can click ‘Dell Backup and Recovery’ and perform pc restore by following the steps below:

• Click the ‘Dell Backup and Recovery’ icon
• The system restarts and comes back up, click ‘Next’ on the Dell Backup and Recovery Screen
• The system would be checked to see if the smart repair option can fix the issue, click ‘Next’
• once this is done
• You will be prompted to select the backup to be used, click the factory image option or select from one of the backups. Click ‘Next’
• You will be prompted to back up your files, select ’No, Erase my files’
• The system goes ahead and completes the restore of the operating system. Click Restart when prompted
• Follow the on-screen instructions to setup the system with windows

Keep me posted with the results. I will be glad to assist further.

I get to the recovery screen That reads "After multiple tries, the operating system on your PC failed to start, so it needs to be repaired.

Error code: 0xc0000001"

Then says I need recovery tools on a usb drive or the installation media etc.  and I have the option to go to the F8 menu or the Bios Setup screen I don't remember the third,  It shuts itself off after about a minute if you don't make a selection.

There are no recovery options and I know what that screen looks like.  I recently used it on a PC at work and I had to put the windows 8 disk in.  The one CD they did provide is bootable but there's only and option to run a 32 bit diagnostics which won't run because the drive is 64 bit.  is there some where I can download media fix this.  I have a windows 8 disc but it's pro not home version so it's useless.    I'm pretty sure the bios update would resolve the issue as well if there is some way I can run it from a command prompt?  The file name is  "Inspiron 660 Vostro 270 A09.exe" so it must run from windows and it's not an extractable executable.   I'm very frustrated at this point.  I can't think of any other way to repair this machine unless there is some command I can run from a command prompt to access something on the system partition.

Hi mf.garrett,

Please provide me the Service Tag and the name as it appears on the account via private message (click my username and then click Start Conversation) so I may access your records and check for further course of action.

Keep me posted with the information. I will be glad to assist you.

I did as you requested.  It didn't confirm whether the message was successfully sent or not.  It just went to your profile when I clicked send or whatever the button said.  Let me know if you didn't receive anything.

never mind I found a message in my in box on here.  thanks.

I have the same issue as MF Garrett.  Can you tell me what you did to fix it?  It started with the 0xc000021a error, and then to the 0xc0000001 error.  I have a dell inspiron 660.  I would even take it back to factory default, but can't get to that screen.  Please help

I have the same exact issue as MF Garrett.  Please tell me how this can be fixed.

You said: "but any apps you installed from other websites and DVDs will be removed. Windows puts a list of the removed apps on your desktop after refreshing your PC".

The Dell Backup and Recovery never works. System restore does not work. Data recovery does a system restore. So stupid. I am so sorry to have Dell inspiron 660 with windows 8. I lost my application five times already and yes I get A LIST OF THE APPLICATIONS THAT I LOST BUT, how do you recover them is the question???

Now I upgraded from  Windows 8.1 evaluation to Windows 8.1 supported by Dell because I was given a deadline time January 14 that I had to do it. While doing and when the update started, a little window pops stating that all the application will have to be reinstalled???? !@#$%^&*()_+  

I LOST ALL MY PRIOR INSTALLED APPLICATION INCLUIDING THE DELL APPLICATIONS. What a pain to have to start all over. What is even worse is that in order to recoup the Dell applications and tools I will have to get a service tag and then I get someone from India to run a service check in my PC only to find out that the problem is configuration (HELLOOO) and then probably try to charge me well over $200.00

Among my paid applications I bought Backup and Recovery Premium from the same Dell ($39.00) and now in order to reinstall in my PC they want another $39.00 LOL it is a joke.. Dell is a joke!!!!