They can't really produce "mass-produced" master DVDs because software and drivers change during production run. While companies like HP used to try to make this work, I don't think even they do it any more. Plus, everything is moving towards online software distribution. Finally, certain problems can only be fixed with a Windows clean-install.
What you do (in the case of Alienware) is create a Respawn USB Flash Drive backup of your Recovery Partition soon after taking ownership of machine. It can recover machine back to original factory software load.
Also, any Partition Image Backup software would be able to restore the drive/partition exactly ... but again, you have to run-it/do-it.
Were you just venting and/or trying to communicate your thoughts to Dell? Or, did you need assistance restoring your machine back to working order?
While it might seem like I am venting and it is possible to say that it is venting, I am more trying to point out my disappointment with the results of my repair and the mistake of not making a copy of the recovery drive ( while reading back my post i noted I missed out on mentioning this fact). So others may be able to avoid the same problem and by suggesting they make a copy of the recovery drive when they have a chance, instead of assuming that it will be all good as it is installed a a different partition on the main drive.
My problem was not just as simple of clean install on the original hard drive supplied with the computer, my problem meant that the main drive was replaced with a different main Hard Drive, this is supplied as a blank Drive ( i understand that it would be impossible to know what is installed on the original my hard drive at time of the repair).
While i did make a mistake of not backing up the original drive recovery straight after purchase, as I was under the impression that the windows disc supplied with the laptop was the same as what was installed on my computer at time of purchase ( same image so to speak). Furthermore at the time I did not believe that this was required it, as the computer was Brand new and did not for see a problem of this type with a brand new computer and the main drive having to be replace after only 6 weeks.
So again thank you for your response and as most mistakes I have learnt by it, but only to late now however, will once i have this current OS where i would like it. I have managed to get the laptop working again minus some of the original software which are dell products not show under my dell account, which i plan to chase up with them.
Tesla1856
8 Wizard
•
17.4K Posts
0
October 30th, 2014 11:00
They can't really produce "mass-produced" master DVDs because software and drivers change during production run. While companies like HP used to try to make this work, I don't think even they do it any more. Plus, everything is moving towards online software distribution. Finally, certain problems can only be fixed with a Windows clean-install.
What you do (in the case of Alienware) is create a Respawn USB Flash Drive backup of your Recovery Partition soon after taking ownership of machine. It can recover machine back to original factory software load.
Also, any Partition Image Backup software would be able to restore the drive/partition exactly ... but again, you have to run-it/do-it.
Were you just venting and/or trying to communicate your thoughts to Dell? Or, did you need assistance restoring your machine back to working order?
Proper way to clean-install is here:
http://www.dell.com/support/article/us/en/19/536193?c=us&s=dhs&cs=19&l=
and
http://en.community.dell.com/owners-club/alienware/f/3746/t/19376654
cyber3825
3 Posts
0
October 31st, 2014 05:00
Thanks for the response!!!
While it might seem like I am venting and it is possible to say that it is venting, I am more trying to point out my disappointment with the results of my repair and the mistake of not making a copy of the recovery drive ( while reading back my post i noted I missed out on mentioning this fact). So others may be able to avoid the same problem and by suggesting they make a copy of the recovery drive when they have a chance, instead of assuming that it will be all good as it is installed a a different partition on the main drive.
My problem was not just as simple of clean install on the original hard drive supplied with the computer, my problem meant that the main drive was replaced with a different main Hard Drive, this is supplied as a blank Drive ( i understand that it would be impossible to know what is installed on the original my hard drive at time of the repair).
While i did make a mistake of not backing up the original drive recovery straight after purchase, as I was under the impression that the windows disc supplied with the laptop was the same as what was installed on my computer at time of purchase ( same image so to speak). Furthermore at the time I did not believe that this was required it, as the computer was Brand new and did not for see a problem of this type with a brand new computer and the main drive having to be replace after only 6 weeks.
So again thank you for your response and as most mistakes I have learnt by it, but only to late now however, will once i have this current OS where i would like it. I have managed to get the laptop working again minus some of the original software which are dell products not show under my dell account, which i plan to chase up with them.