Dell Windows 7 Factory Recovery/Restore Problem - Windows requires existing user ID and password after full recovery? Why?

Hello Parabolon1, 

It can be frustrating when you re-install the operating system and  it asks for the existing user id and password. I would suggest performing a Clean Re-installation of the Operating system. You would require the Operating System disk to perform the clean re-installation of windows. Clean Re-installation means, deleting all the previous partition which had windows installed in it and then creating new partition to install a fresh copy of  windows. The main difference in a Windows 7 clean install verses other kinds of Windows 7 installation methods is that a clean install involves the removal of all operating system related partitions. 

-- In the process of re-installing windows, on the screen when it asks where do you want to install Windows, Click Device Options(Advanced).

Now that all available drive options are listed, you can delete any operating system related partitions from your existing hard drive(s).
**Important: Before continuing, be aware that deleting a partition will permanently erase all data from that drive. By all data I mean the operating system installed, all programs, all data saved by those programs, all music, all video, all documents, etc. that might be on that particular drive.

--Delete the Partition Windows is Installed On 

The message says "The partition might contain recovery files, system files, or important software from your computer manufacturer. If you delete this partition, any data stored on it will be lost." Click the OK button.
-- Confirm the Partition Deletion.

If there are any other partitions please delete them as well.

As you can now see, all the space on the installed hard drive is unallocated. No partitions exist on this computer.
Note: The number of partitions displayed and whether those partitions are unallocated portions of a hard drive, previously partitioned spaces, or previously formatted and blank partitions will depend on your specific system and which partitions you deleted in the last several steps. If you're installing Windows 7 on a computer with a single hard drive on which you've just deleted all the partitions from, your screen should look like the one below, aside from your hard drive being a different size. Choose the appropriate unallocated space to install Windows 7 on and then click Next.

For more details please refer to the Windows Reinstallation Guide [PDF]. After re-installing windows, please ensure to install the drivers in the correct order. It is very important for the computer to function properly. 

Please write back for further queries.

Thanks for your quick response, Mr Allan D. Maybe my description wasnt clear, but those are the exact steps i followed each of the four times i performed the recovery. Since Dell no longer includes OEM Windows disks, I could only use the recovery disks made with the computer or the recovery partition. Do you have any other suggestions?  Thanks. MB

Hello Parabolon1,

The problem seems to be with the disk that was created. Hence I’d request you to private message me the system service tag number. I'll see what best can be done. To private message, click on my user name and click start conversation. 

Please write back, I’d be glad to assist you further. 

Hello Parabolon1,

I have received your private message and would be replying to it.

Great, glad you got your system back up and running. :)

Also I have a new revision of the reinstalaltion guide:

http://philipyip.wordpress.com/dell-community-forums/

I have added a section on creating a backup with Acronis, I advise doing this now that you have your system working the way you want it.