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15 Posts
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34837
December 14th, 2011 16:00
Factory restore gone wrong on my M17x
Hello
I had some software issues on my M17x R3 two days ago (short fps drops in games like Battlefield 3 and League of Legends), before it all kind of broke, and I had a constant 9fps on League of Legends, and Battlefield 3 wouldn't start up at all.
So I decided to make a clean install.
(Note: I did NOT format any partitions, I even still have the Windows.old folder - yes, I tried to use the command box under Repair system to recover it, It wouldn't work)
Now I have a problem: I still have all the folders with my old games and programs that I do not want on there anymore, but I am scared that I irrevocably delete something and I will not be able to resolve the Issue that I am about to explain.
My issue is: After doing the clean install by just inserting the Windows Disk, I ended up just having windows on my Laptop, rather than Windows, and all the fancy Alienware stuff that I'd like to have on there (AlienFX, macro buttons, etc). Since all these Programs - even AlienRespawn - were gone, I inserted the resources DVD which didn't have them either. So i browsed around, and found a Page to download and Install AlienRespawn. After having run through it twice (It said it would format C: but it actually did not) now, the only "factory install" i can recover to is the windows reinstall I did last night rather than the actual factory status. Now my question is: How do I get my system back to Factory status, either through just downloading everything manually (here I just want to know if it is even possible at all to download everything necessary for this), or through AlienRespawn / the DVDs that they shipped me.
And, in addition to that: How do I get rid of my old files without losing any essential data?
Greetings
Michael Adams (Nashghul)
KelschKid
4 Posts
0
February 12th, 2012 23:00
I did this exact same thing and I'm in the same boat. Can anyone answer this question? I still have the recovery partition on my hard drive, but I don't know how to access it. Will accessing it bring me back to factory condition with all the "fancy Alienware stuff"? Please help because at this point I'd do anything to have my old computer back.
Cenobitez
348 Posts
0
February 13th, 2012 05:00
You need to download it all from the dell website, there is a thread a few days ago about some people doing a full clean install from a format right the way thru, maybe worth having a read of that.
The resource dvd's are basically drinks mats and cause more issues than they are worth.
Rouge Recon
42 Posts
0
February 13th, 2012 09:00
Download the drivers you need through the Dell website as they are the most up to date. Make sure to save them someplace safe (external drive, SD card) for when you need to install them again.
KelschKid
4 Posts
0
February 13th, 2012 12:00
"You need to download it all from the dell website"
Do you have a link for the Dell website, or some key word to look up? I don't want to crawl the whole site if I don't have too.....
"Download the drivers you need through the Dell website"
If I just load the drivers on the fresh install of windows will it put me back to factory specs? i.e. just like the way it was when I got it with AlienFX, AlienRespawn etc?
Rouge Recon
42 Posts
0
February 13th, 2012 16:00
Create a Dell.com account. Once you register your computers tag number, you'll be provided the build sheet, computer updates, and warranty info. Start there.
The drivers on the site are often more up to date vs the drivers that shipped with your computer.
Cenobitez
348 Posts
0
February 13th, 2012 21:00
Goto Dell.com > Tech support > Drivers and Support > enter your service tag and it brings up a list of M17x R3 items like
Application (2) (Command Centre etc).
Audio (1)
BIOS (2)
Chipset (3)
Input (2)
Network (9)
Serial ATA (3)
Video (12)
sjmadd
27 Posts
0
February 14th, 2012 09:00
What ever you do, DO NOT USE THE RESOURCE DVD TO RELOAD ANYTHING. I did and now my lighting will never work again unless I replace my mother board. I'm not sure if using respawn will do the same thing or not. If you don't see respawn during boot up you can press F10 anyway and it will go to it.
Scott
KelschKid
4 Posts
0
February 14th, 2012 19:00
Do you mean don't use the DVD again? Cuz I already did and that's why I'm in this mess.
I appreciate everyones help, but I haven't had time to try it yet. Waiting for a few hours of free time to do it right.
sjmadd
27 Posts
0
February 14th, 2012 19:00
Just so I know, your system boot up and runs right? Do the lights work?
KelschKid
4 Posts
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February 14th, 2012 21:00
Yeah it runs fine, just doesn't have all the software it used to have; isn't the same as before etc. Still need to load the drivers.
Lights on the keyboard? Yeah, they work fine too.
sjmadd
27 Posts
0
February 15th, 2012 05:00
Thats good, you not doing too bad then. As far as the software/drivers that it used to have, you can down load it from Dell.com in the support area. There may be some programs that could be lost for ever. However you may be able to dig them out of the windows.old folder if you still have it.