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June 10th, 2013 21:00
ALIENWARE M17x R4 - Windows 8 Reset & Refresh ERROR - "No changes were made"
Hi,
I just recently purchased my Dell Alienware M17x R4 and have already encountered a serious yet subtle issue with Windows 8. I am thinking of gifting the laptop to my brother who is a gamer but I cannot reset Windows 8. It's not that I don't know how to, the problem is that it isn't allowing me to do a reset or a refresh. I've ran many diagnostics and nothing seems to be the problem. The error message I get says that there has been a problem resetting the laptop - NO DUH. Below that, it says "No changes were made". If I attempt to troubleshoot, it takes me back to the desktop and a small troubleshoot window appears and runs for about 5 seconds and then NOTHING happens. Could this be a hardware issue or is it a Windows 8 issue? More than anything, how do I resolve it and reset Windows 8?
Thank you in advance to anyone and everyone who responds to my problem. I know I can't be the only one who has had this issue.
- Gilbert
Alienware-Alexa1
361 Posts
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June 11th, 2013 12:00
Hi Gilbert,
I have some options for you:
1- Use system restore.
2- If Alienrespawn is installed, you can check this.
If none of this works, let me know.
gilbertocavazos
3 Posts
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June 12th, 2013 08:00
Hey Alexander,
Thanks for your help. Unfortunately, none of those options worked for me. System restore took me back to the first critical update, in which my current issue was already present. Alienrespawn, it appears, did absolutely nothing. Supposedly it would restore my laptop back to its "factory image". I still can't reset or refresh Windows 8. :-(
- Gilberto
DELL-Chris M
Community Manager
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June 12th, 2013 12:00
gilbertocavazos,
Did you change the default boot and drive options in the bios? Respawn should be able to use the compressed factory image? It sounds like you ran respawn from within Windows?
Launching AlienRespawn outside of Windows
* This will erase the hard disk drive so if you can, save all of your documents, favorites, MP3's, etc. to DVD or USB key
* Turn the system off
* Disconnect all external devices from the laptop except for the AC adapter brick and power cord
* Restart the system
* Press F8 several times
* On the Advanced options menu, choose "Repair You Computer"
* Press Enter
* Select your keyboard language
* Click Next
* User name and password may be required, enter the login information. If your Windows password is disabled, it will not be needed so, select the user name
* Click OK
* At the System Recovery Options choose AlienRespawn Restore and Emergency Backup
* Follow the prompts
Alienware-Alexa1
361 Posts
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June 12th, 2013 12:00
Gilberto,
The process posted by Chris works all the time, if this is not the case, please send me a private message so I can arrange to send you the media required.
Alienware-Alexa1
361 Posts
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June 12th, 2013 13:00
You're right. Windows 8 disabled the [F8] key; the advanced boot options is not available. I sent you a friend request, accept it and then send me your service tag on the private message.
gilbertocavazos
3 Posts
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June 12th, 2013 13:00
Hey,
Thanks again for the replies. I did try Alienrespawn through Windows because I cannot access it outside of Windows as Chris instructed. Upon restarting my laptop, I press F8 repeatedly as soon as the Alienware logo appears but it does not take me to the advanced options menu. I've attempted this several times. I'm pretty much a noob so I don't know how BIOS works or how to access it so I'm nearly certain that I haven't changed the default boot or drive options in the BIOS. What's the next step I should take? Would I need to reinstall Alienrespawn? For now, I'll try to figure out how to send you a private message, Chris.
Thanks!
- Gilbert