Dell PC Restore by Symantec

Neel,

The WAIK (Windows Automated Installation Kit) is not always needed to get imagex to work.  We listed it in an earlier post because some systems do not have imagex.exe in their recovery partitions.  Dell includes it in the Recovery partition's Tools subdirectory.  The best way to manually restore your system to it's as-shipped factory configuration would be to boot the system from a Vista DVD (32-bit or 64-bit depending upon which is installed on your system), go to the command prompt, navigate to the Tools directory of the recovery partition, and type the following command:

imagex /apply d:\dell\image\factory.wim 1 c:\

If you do not have a Vista DVD, you can download a Vista (32- or 64-bit) Recovery DVD ISO from here:   http://neosmart.net/blog/2008/windows-vista-recovery-disc-download/   Windows 7 (32- or 64-bit) Recovery DVD ISOs are also available on this site.  Please note that these DVDs only give you the "recovery center" options of a Vista or Windows 7 DVD such as System Repair, System Restore and command prompts. 

This is the site that Microsoft techs recommend for Vista Recovery DVD ISOs.  Downloading them and creating bootable DVDs with an ISO burner such as Nero or Roxio  is a lot simpler than using the WAIK to create such disks.

Hope this information helps you.

Tony

Hi Tony (tgsmith),

I have read all the posts in this thread, but have a problem with the Dell recovery partion it is not mounted or active. It does show up in Disk Management as a partion with no drive letter and the same for Dell Media partion and a OEM partion so there are 4 all together.

When I use Windows Explorer only the C shows. I remember that it used to show before I install Win 7 32 bit, which after many trys with different drivers from other Dell Laptops running Win 7 32 bits, just could not get this Dell 1720 to work 100%.

At the moment I am using the OEM Vista 32 bit Disk to reinstall OS back onto partion 3 which had Win 7 32bit, something must be wrong it's taking forever to do the last step (Completing installation). I hope I didn't fry something or change a device's setting to the point where Vista does not recognize the computer.

Thanks for getting back to me, but my problem was that they slip streamed the Raid controller drivers on to the Dell MBR, so not even the first Vista release would install.

Dell's orginal Disk does not give an option for you to install drivers like the Matrix drivers from USB or CD or A drive. (what's up with that)

I deleted all partions and erased all three MBRs (never seen that before) with Super Fdisk utility.

So I played a few more times with Windows 7 and drivers from several other models. Most of them from 1750 Win 7 32 bit.

And I tried the 355 Bluetooth driver it worked but not perfect so I did not install the the driver, dont use it anyway.

I got it all working except the for newer Chipset Driver from Intel you have to leave Dell's old Vista 32bit Chipset driver.

So wind up with the Windows rating for CPU is a 1/2 a point lower but no gliches.

I'm happy.

MTFrobin,

You are correct.  Dell's original OS DVD is basically a pre-activated Microsoft OS DVD.  Therefore, it does not have the RAID controller drivers slipstreamed.  Those drivers are included in the Factory Restore partition.  When installing from the DVD, you  either have to have the Matrix drivers on CD or USB or you have to  change the BIOS Setup hard drive controller from RAID to AHCI, install Windows, install the Matrix drivers and then change the BIOS Setup back to RAID.  That is not necessary when installing from the Factory Restore partition.

Glad you got Windows 7 working.

Tony

I DO NOT HAVE A D DRIVE ON THE COMPUTER,AND I CANT DO THE DELL PC RESTORE BY SYMANTEC