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January 17th, 2016 12:00
Booting sequence "Load defaults" option
I bought a refurbished Dell Optiplex 780 running Windows 7 yesterday. It appeared to be running fine. I burned the backup image disk and the repair disk before proceeding to install Ubuntu Linux OS alongside Windows 7. I F2 at the startup; changed the booting sequence to DVD/CD. But the it JUST WOULD NOT BOOT INTO THE DVD. After several futile tries, I thought I'd use the "load defaults" of the booting sequence option, thinking that there may just be a bug in there some where and if I reverted it to its defaults, the CD Boot will catch. Besides, if something went wrong, I was armed with the "repair disk" and the "system image backup" disks, I had just burned. WRONG. I still could NOT boot into the CD. Even WORSE, the act of opting to "load defaults" of the booting sequence appeared to have changed the names of the drives, now it just WON'T BOOT at all. It just takes me to the "start windows normally" or " launch startup repair (recommended)" screen.. I choose the repair option, at the end of which, it says repair failed. I choose the "start windows normally" it just loops me back to the same screen. And even double WORSE the "repair disk" and the system image backup" disks are useless since it won't boot into the CD.
I've used HP laptops, computers of other brands, appliances, computer softwares, all this time. And "load defaults" with them means putting it back to it's original settings and getting it to work as before....But with Dell, it looks like "load defaults" means "totally and completely mess it up beyond repair"... yikes.
Can anyone help? What do I need to do to get it back up and running? How do I get it to boot into a CD. I'd hate to have to return it, since it's over an hours drive to the store.
Thanks much!
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RoHe
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January 18th, 2016 12:00
If you press F2, can you still get into BIOS setup?
In BIOS setup, check these settings:
Otherwise try: RAID AutoDetect/AHCI
Be sure to save the changes before exiting BIOS setup.
ArenB
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January 18th, 2016 19:00
Did what you suggested. Didn't work.
I did what another poster in another forum suggested - that is to uncheck the hard drive and the floppy disk and just leave the CD/DVD drive checked. That somewhat worked halfway. It booted into the DVD Windows 7 repair disk that I burnt at the start, but it didn't do anything, I opted to restore the Systems image backup disks I had made in the beginning, but the DVD player refuses to read them...
I think DELL needs to rethink how they engineer their machines. I find it very unintuitive, lacking safeguards ( like don't offer a "load default" option when all that does is messes the system up beyond repair)...and why are the System Image Backup discs not working ?
I, also, found many others online in forums asking for advice for the same Dell issue of not being able to boot into their DVD drive, or not being able to load the OS...
It's too bad because it's these kinds of issues that will drive customers away. I won't be buying a Dell again any time in the future (as this is the 2nd Dell machine I am returning) .
Thanks anyway, RoHe