Dell Dimension 3100 - PC Restore/ OS Reinstall

To determine if your computer has a functional Dell PC Restore partition, watch the computer boot up.  After the Dell screen disappears following a start-up, a blue bar having the Dell name in it will appear at the top of the display.  The blue bar, or stripe, will show for about two seconds, after which you should see a statement about loading the descriptor for PBR2.  You must press CTRL and F11 during the appearance of the blue stripe, releasing both at the same time before the appearance of the statement about loading the descriptor for PBR2.  If you are successful, you will get a display giving you the option of restoring your PC, or to exit the process.

If you do not see the blue stripe, the PC Restore feature is either not present, or has been disabled.  There are a number of things that can disable the feature, in particular, any procedure that re-writes the Master Boot Record.  This document by Dan Goodell goes into a great deal of detail about the operation of PC Restore for Windows XP and how to fix it:  Inside the Dell PC Restore Partition.  If you manage to get PC Restore to work, remember that it is an image of the hard drive as was originally delivered by Dell.  If you have changed any of the hardware since you have owned it the PC Restore image will not have a driver for it.  It is therefore best to return the computer to the condition in which it was received before activating PC Restore.

If PC Restore is not functional, and you cannot repair it, your only recourse is to use the Windows XP reinstallation disk you made to delete the existing partitions, reformat, and reinstall your operating system and applications.  Dell has a page here with links to the various restore options:  Restoring or Reinstalling Windows on a Dell.  Forum member natakuc4 also has a document that goes into much more detail:  A Clean Install of Windows.

Thanks for your prompt reply.

No, unfortunately, I do not see any blue strip appear after the Dell screen disappears. I did have the system Acronis Recovery Manager activated and wondered if that might be interferring since it also requires hitting the F11 key just after the Dell logo, so I inactivated that, but still no blue strip, just blank screen until Windows boots up.

From what I've read the Unknown FAT32 partition surely contains the PC Restore files (the other small partition holding the Diagnostic utilities, as I understand) Neither I or anyone else has messed with the existing partitions, the DSR parition removal utility or restored the system before. In fact, it's never even been backed up before now. So, I can't understand how it has become disabled or the MBR over-written.  And I did try accessing the Restore screen a couple of times before installing Acronis True Image, so I can't see that that was the cause.

Yes, I have wondered whether this created OS Recovery CD might serve the same function i.e. simply reinstalling the OS, Restore and Diagnostic files in the respective partitions, but I suspect you are right. The set-up screen looks like a typical windows installation set-up, and so presumably I'd lose the Restore and Diagnostic files also, unless I recreate the partitions and restore the files from the Acronis back-up. And would it work even then. What a hassle.

Should I maybe try a Repair install. There is that option on the CD set-up, but I suspect it will tell me that the system is now 'newer' and that a clean install is required.

I did come across the 'Inside the Dell PC Restore Partition' whilst searching for answers. Rather over my head, but I guess I could give it a go. I think I have some floppys somewhere. I'll look at the other docs you referenced also.

Thanks alot. 

If you're going to all that work, you might consider upgrading to Windows 7. XP is already three versions behind, support will be ended altogether next year. Windows 8 is available at Newegg for $80 for today only.

If upgrading is not an option, you can borrow an XP retail install disc of the appropriate version, you can install that and use the Microsoft product key utility to activate using your Dell's product key.

You may have to run DSRFIX to get the recovery working again if you haven't  re formatted and removed.  If the hidden 8 gig partition is at the end of the drive you can repair or recover that image using PTEDIT and DSRFIX.

@rdunnilI

I thought they were offering an upgrade to Windows 8 for around $39, or has that offer now passed. Still, Windows 8 needs a CPU with PAE, NX , as well as SSE2 instruction sets and at least 1gB, lets face it 2gB RAM. This Dimension 3100 has a 3.0GHz P4 (MMX, SSE, SSE2, SSE3, EM64T) and only 512MB RAM.

Why would I need a retail version XP if I have this OEM XP 'recovery' CD? Although I'm still not sure (unless I try it) if it's going to require product re-activation and whether the existing ID and 'CD' keys that Key Finder dug out are valid.

@SpeedStep

No, I've not done anything yet, or given up on the PC Restore. It got to 1.30am and I thought it best to sleep-on it, rather than doing anything rash.

You mention an 8gB 'hidden' partition. As I mentioned in my first post the Unknown (FAT32) partition I'm referring to is 3gB size of which 1.79gB is occupied.  

Guess I need to get my head into these 'repair' DSR possibilities. Thought it was going to be straightforward, as my wife also complained this morning.

I might add also, no hardware, other than a printer and, for a couple of months, a Wireless G PCI adapter, has been added or changed. The 80gB hard drive is the original. No RAM upgrades or anything.

Cheers.  

Hmmm, reading the 'Inside the Dell PC Restore Partition' document I'm wondering whether the DSR on this machine is the DRMK-DOS based version or the the WinPE version that was introduced when Dell began shipping PC's with a trial of Symantec Ghost 10. The article states that started early 2006. This PC, as I recall, was purchased December 2005. Can't see any signs of Ghost program on the PC, but I'm wondering if the DSR is in fact a Ghost image, and therefore technically recoverable using Ghost. I do have a copy of Ghost 9 on DVD (from 2004, I think). Not sure if the license needs updating.

Might be worth a try?

I thought they were offering an upgrade to Windows 8 for around $39, or has that offer now passed. Still, Windows 8 needs a CPU with PAE, NX , as well as SSE2 instruction sets and at least 1gB, lets face it 2gB RAM. This Dimension 3100 has a 3.0GHz P4 (MMX, SSE, SSE2, SSE3, EM64T) and only 512MB RAM.

The Windows 8 upgrade special is over, although you can buy it from Newegg for $80 for today only, and the E3100 CPU should work. Newegg also offers 1 gb GSKILL DDR2 sticks for $15 with shipping.

You don't "need" a retail XP install disc, but it will arguably work better, as it will be unencumbered by resource-eroding utilities and the like.

I'm happy to report that  DSRFIX resolved the DSR issue - re-wrote the Dell MBR.

Might upgrade the DDR2 on this PC at some point, irrespective of whether, or when, update Windows. XP Sp3 users have got until April 2014 I think?

Thanks to all for your help.