Aurora r5 Factory reset

1. I've seen a thing called Alien respawn, but I can't find it in my computer and according to what I've seen on the web, it's not for systems that came with Windows 10 preinstalled.   2. I do not want to lose all the preinstalled Alienware applications, my license of MacAfee, etc. I just want to start again from zero and configure the user accounts from scratch

Thanks Tesla. i've found this:

www.dell.com/.../Download

It asks for the service tag to download what is supposed to be an ISO adapted to the system. Since it's quite bigger than a standard Windows ISO (almost 7GB versus 4,38GB), and you are required to input your service tag, I think that maybe it includes everything.

But I'm a bit reluctant to "investigate". I've been a Mac user for the last 25 years, and this is my first PC (in fact, is my son's PC). i have a lot of experience on Mac, and can recover from many disaster conditions, but i have no idea on PC. And I find all this quite confusing. The lack of a proper documentation or links to DELL service doesn't help either.

Thanks again

What part is confusing? Did you read that thread (or my others)? Did you see this:

You can also make a perfect copy of Windows-10 (64bit) here:
https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/software-download/windows10

What Mac part doesn't have a corresponding Dell-Windows part in your mind ?

Well... It's not a perfect copy of Windows 10 64bit what I'm trying to find, but a system image of everything that came installed with the computer from the factory. Windows 10, but also the alienware comand centre, alienware audio, McAfee preinstalled, etc.

As I suggested, you simply do this:

www.thewindowsclub.com/reset-restore-factory-image-settings-windows-10

A Macrium Reflect (Free) Image ... or possibly a bundled Windows-10 Imaging Image ... would allow this to be done again later.

en.community.dell.com/.../20956938

The reason it's "easier" on the Mac is because Mac hardware is fixed or close-source, so hardware drivers can be bundled (and all machines in a series only come pre-loaded one-way). Apple doesn't include 3rd-Party apps or drivers from Factory either. Yes, the functionality of Apple-ID/iTunes Store purchases is nice, but it's not all inclusive. Nor has it always been there to use.
 
I like what I see. As a long-time Windows user slowly learning and possibly ultimately moving to Mac for main-machine and work-flows... let me ask you a question
 
How much do I have to spend on a Mac-Pro (or any NON All-In-One) to Boot-Camp Win-10 to play a little Fallout-4 at 60fps on Ultra-High Details and Max Effects?

everything that came installed with the computer from the factory. Windows 10, but also the alienware comand centre, alienware audio, McAfee preinstalled, etc.

Being in the computer business as long as I have ... I have learned to "Partition Image" systems and/or make (and sometimes buy) Recovery Disks or flash-drives for systems.

But I also keep notes, installers and serials for driver-suites and apps. Been doing that since my Amiga days in the 80's. That way, I can always Nuke-and-Pave and "clean-install" the OS. Which according to Microsoft ... is sometimes the only way to return system to a perfectly working and non-compromised state.
 
Two "backup plans" are better than one.

Hi Tesla. First of all, I want to thank you for your help and guidance. My first language is not English, but Spanish, and often is difficult for me to find the right "tone". Sometimes I may sound unwillingly harsh.

I agree with you about the backup policy: I have three backup sets for my macs: a bootable clone (offsite) and two diferential backups (one offsite).

What I really miss, beyond a pdf with basic troubleshooting instructions and a link named something like "clic here and you will download an image to copy in a pendrive and restore your system to factory defaults", is the possibilty to create bootable clones. I've downloaded Macrium Reflect, and it's quite an impressive tool. Similar to CarbonCopyCloner on Mac. But it seems that due to limitations in Windows, the clones are not bootable unless you extract the disk from the usb enclosure and mount it internally.

Images seem the way to go, and I'm working on it.

Thanks again: your info has been really valuable to me.

1. Hi Tesla. First of all, I want to thank you for your help and guidance.   2. My first language is not English, but Spanish,   3. and often is difficult for me to find the right "tone". Sometimes I may sound unwillingly harsh.

1. You are welcome
 
2. Your English is very good. I wish I could read and write Spanish as well as you do English.
 
3. Some users here probably think the same about some of my posts. [:)]  Fact is, as many messages as I write here ... I try to just stay professional and get to the point or final "end-game" resolution.
 

It's also sometimes frustrating for me because most users don't realize that I can't control what Dell ultimately does (I can only make suggestions). Also, that I don't work for Dell or get paid for all this time. I do all this in my spare time for free (as do the other Rockstars).
 

I suppose I've turned into a "customer advocate" ( someone has to be) but really its just how I would be expected to be treated if I was the end-user customer. Real people build the machines and there can be errors. Even new machines and components can fail. This is all fairly complicated and many things must be 100% for customers to be 100% happy. Running a large tech company is hard. All we can do is move forward.

1. I agree with you about the backup policy: I have three backup sets for my macs: a bootable clone (offsite) and two diferential backups (one offsite).   2. I've downloaded Macrium Reflect, and it's quite an impressive tool. Similar to CarbonCopyCloner on Mac.   3. But it seems that due to limitations in Windows, the clones are not bootable unless you extract the disk from the usb enclosure and mount it internally.   4. Images seem the way to go, and I'm working on it.   5. Thanks again: your info has been really valuable to me.

1. Smart to keep an emergency backup off-site. Not many people think of that to protect from Fire, Flood or Theft.
 
2. Good. Yes, they are similar.

3. See that thread link above and read notes at bottom. Test Bootable Macrium Rescue Media USB flash before trying to use it for real.

The Macrium Reflect USB-Flash that you create (if done the way I documented) ... should boot on ANY Legacy or UEFI system (even with SecureBoot on). You can do "bare-metal" restores. I like to keep my (small capacity) Macrium-Reflect Bootable USB untouched, and save large Images on USB-HDD or NAS. However, notes say:
 
Official docs say that Image files can be stored on the rescue media. This means you can also add a main folder to the Flash drive, that might contain the main installer, notes, etc.
 
So, if it's big enough ... I don't see why you can't save images to USB-Flash itself. If it doesn't work, maybe Google or try Macrium Reflect support or their forums. I would also like to know if it did not work.

4. Good. Yes, Backups save your data. Cloning (and Partition Images) saves so much time.

5. You are welcome.