Format Instructions needed urgently

Question

Running the Windows XP Professional version, on a Dell Dimension E310 computer.   I need to format my hard drive and re-install the operating system. System Restore did not work, Symetic (sp?) restore did not work. I don't have a floppy drive to make a start-up disk from the Cdenab.exe file available from Dell. I have the Dell software on CDs for my computer. Windows Explorer is not working either. Where do I go from here?

JSGr · Answer

The DVD (thought it was a CD till I read it all) I have says the following - Operating System - Already Installed on Your Computer Reinstallation DVD Microsoft Windows XP Media Center Version 2005 with Update Rollup 2   This software is already installed on your computer. Only use this DVD to reinstall the operating system on a Dell PC.   This DVD is not for reinstallation of programs or drivers.   ~~~~~~   The second CD says Application Already Installed on Your Computer - for Reinstalling Dell Tools System Software   This software is already installed on your computer. Only use this CD to reinstall the software. Contents:Antivirus software, support software, multimedia software, internet software.

ieee488 · Answer

When I bought my B110 two years ago, I asked for a Reinstallation CD of Microsoft XP Home Edition SP2.

See if you have something like that in your pack of Dell CDs.

If you do, you'll need to boot up your computer with the CD in the CD drive.

ieee488 · Answer

You'll need both.

G16 · Answer

Hi JSGR--   While I'm not completely sure about the first DVD (I wonder why it needs to be a DVD when XP is involved), it sure sounds like that is the OS.  If it is (Dell has now promised to ship a Vista DVD with their new computers on their blog), then your best bet is to do a repair install since you can't seem to access SR via F8.  Make sure you try every safe mode at F8 and Last Known Good, but if I were you and you actually have XP on that disk, I'd try to do a repair install this way.  I've never seen one fail, and there is no down side:   Perform a Repair Installation   http://www.microsoft.com/windowsxp/using/helpandsupport/learnmore/tips/doug92.mspx   MSFT addresses the same thing in a couple MSKBs and calls it a repair install or inplace upgrade.   Good luck,   G16

G16 · Answer

JSGR--

To be crystal clear, before you write off system restore as not working, make sure you try all the doors to it at the F8 (Windows Advanced Options menu) because sometimes accessing SR via one type of safe mode works when the others don't. Also you didn't mention whether you knew about or tried LKG at the F8 advanced options menu.

Having said that,if you have XP on that DVD or CD from Dell, a repair install is far and away your best bet by odds--it's very effective and does not hurt you. I've done this hundreds of times.

Here are my stock instructions for using F8 in case for some reason that first disc does not have XP on it. You have nothing to lose by trying a repair install with it--it's either going to work or not. It won't hurt you.

Here's your other option:

***Using the F8 Environment***

***Taking Full Advantage of the F8 Options (Windows Advanced Options Menu)
by starting the PC and tapping F8 once per second when the firmware screen
with the pc manufacturer's name shows a few seconds after restarting***:

The F8 options in Vista are the same as XP, and the link for Safe Mode Bootoptions is labled XP by MSFT but they are the same for Vista (they haven'tupdated to add Vista to the title as they havewith several MSKBs that apply to both).

Again, pressing F8 repeatedly when you seem the firmware screen may be is a generic way to launch Windows RE on some OEM Vista computers.

You could also:

Think: I have 4 different ways to get back my XP at F8 and try 'em in order.1) Safe Mode 2) Safe Mode with Cmd to Sys Restore which is simply a cmd prompt in safe mode 3) Safe Mode with Neworking 4) LKG or Last Known Good Configuration

Try to F8 to the Windows Adv Options Menu>try 3 safe modes there (I don't use WGA) and Last Known Good>then I go to Win RE in Vista. That gives you a choice of Safe Mode, Safe Mode with Networking,and Safe Mode with Command Prompt.

These methods are outlined in

A description of the Safe Mode Boot options in Windows XP/and Vista
http://support.microsoft.com/kb/315222/

Frequently Asked Questions Regarding System Restore from MSFT:

http://www.microsoft.com/technet/prodtechnol/winxppro/plan/faqsrwxp.mspx

System Restore can be run from the Win RE recovery environment from the same link as Startup Repair, and sometimes it will work from one F8 safe modelocation or from the Win Recovery Environment when it won't work from otherlocations.

How to start the System Restore tool at a command prompt in Windows XP

http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;en-us;304449

Good luck,

G16

Storage, Drives & Media

Format Instructions needed urgently

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