Using to Boot into Advanced Boot Options (e.g., Recover Factory Image) does not work on new Dell Inspiron 15R 5520

Hi DellToad,

Windows 8 removed the need for F8 key. The Advanced Boot menu is redesigned. Windows 8 boots very fast, it boots so quickly there simply isn't time for a keystroke interrupt, which would normally allow users to go to ‘Advanced boot menu’ by tapping F8.

However to Recover OS from the recover partition follow the steps given below:

1. Plug in the AC adapter.
2. Point to the right hand corner of the screen to bring up the charms bar.
3. Click Settings.
4. Click the shutdown button, hold down the Shift Key and click Restart from the options provided.
5. The system restarts, login and click Troubleshoot.
6. Click the Dell Backup and Recovery icon.
7. The system restarts and comes back up, click ‘Next’ on the Dell Backup and Recovery Screen.
8. The system would be checked to see if the smart repair option can fix the issue, click ‘Next’ once this is done.
9. 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.
10. 10.   You will be prompted to back up your files, if needed do so by selecting the option ‘Yes, backup my personal files’ (Make sure to have an external backup hard drive handy.) or select No, Erase my files.
11. The system goes ahead and completes the restore of the operating system. Click Restart when prompted.
12. Follow the on-screen instructions to setup the system with windows.

It is always a good idea for the system to be in UEFI/ secure boot mode which provides greater security for your system. As this or the Legacy boot mode option will not make any difference to the system functionality.

Thanks for providing me this info. I appreciate the help.  

I do have a couple follow-on questions:

1) Do you know in which manual the info you provided me is documented?  (My Dell Support Center on my Windows 8 machine seems to be for a Windows 7 machine -- parts of it direct me to Windows 7 features and to Dell documentation & software provided on Windows 7 but not provided on Windows 8.)

2) It seems to me that you have to have a functional Windows 8 system to execute your instructions to Recover the OS.  What do you do if Windows 8 is not functional?  i.e., needing to Recover the OS implies there is something wrong with the current state of the OS which would preclude being able to use your instructions ...

3) Understanding the security risks sometimes I will need to boot from CD/DVD or USB, so I will have to switch to Legacy mode booting.  In Legacy Boot mode the "Harddisk" option does not find an OS to boot, so you can't boot Windows 8 (in Legacy Boot mode) without using the boot menu & choosing UEFI-Boot/Windows-Boot-Manager.  Is that how it is supposed to work?

4) (I'm guessing the answer to question #2 will be to use Recovery Media, which makes this question more relevant.)

Do you know if the Metro/Windows 8 version of Dell Backup & Recovery software is still fairly unstable/buggy and will be fixed soon?  I had to use an external DVD burner to create Recovery Media DVDs.  I cannot create them with the Dell Backup & Recovery software using the onboard (Matshita) DVD burner.  (After burning one of three it would not continue to burn the other two ... and since then it won't even recognize a blank disc ... ??)

This laptop is going to be a gift to a very non-technical person.  I want to make sure everything is working and that this machine will be easy to own & operate.  

Thanks again for your time.

Hi DellToad,

The windows 8 recovery manual is not yet uploaded. You may follow the steps given in the previous post. Please reply in case of any doubts.

When the system is unable to boot normally to Windows 8, the system will automatically go to recovery partition which is like ‘Advance Boot option’ screen you get when you press F8 at start up in Windows 7. It is not necessary to have functional windows 8 to go to recovery partition.

If the system has to boot from CD/DVD or USB and if the device is connected, it will automatically detect and boot from the given device. I recommend you not to change the boot option to Legacy mode as the system may not boot.

Since you are unable to burn the CD/DVD to create recovery media, I recommend that you click on ‘Update’ tile in the ‘Dell Backup & Recovery’ software and then try to create the recovery media.

Hi, im having a huge problem.

Every time I turn on my laptop, appears a blue screen and reset even before windows start. How can I acces the restore partition????? I thinks it was a very bad ideia remove de F8 feature.

Can anyone help me? My laptop came with no Restore CD.

Hi JimmyCroft,

Generally Windows 8 will automatically give Recovery Options after 2 to 3 failed reboot.

However, I recommend you to run a diagnostics on the hardware components of the system. To run diagnostics restart the system and at the Dell logo tap the F12 key every two seconds. This will start the One-time boot menu. Using arrow keys select ‘Diagnostics’ and hit enter. This will run diagnostics on the hardware components of the system which may take around 5 minutes. Please reply to this post in case of any error message.

If the test passes, the option is to reset the system to the factory installed state. Please follow the step given in the previous post to set the system to the factory installed state.

There is no option to access the Recovery partition.

Issue has been solved. please press the settings button in the right corner top (above insert prntscr delete buttons)of the laptop when its starting. you may get the advanced recovery mode options.

Hi sujatha,

i got new laptop inspiron 5520 with windows 8. first few times the advanced menu appears and still i am looking for it with the keys but i could'nt get it. at the moment the laptop is getting into automatic repair mode and i waited more than a hour to restore by clicking start restore and nothing happend.

could you please guide me to get in to advanced recovery mode option please?

With Regards,

Mohamed Bilal

Tapping F8 NOT WORKING PLEASE HELP!

I have a Dell inspiron 15 5520 came with Windows 7 and that is what OS is on now on my laptop and I have tried over 20 times booting up trying to get to advanced options screen to get to system restore recovery so I can use factory restore image to put my laptop to factory status.

I have had many Dell laptops and desktop computers and have activated advanced options and used factory images and put laptops and desktops to factory status so YES I have done this many times.

Are they other ways while in Windows 7 I can activate system restore and get my laptop to factory status state?

PLEASE HELP THANK YOU.

Boyd