XPS 12 / Win 8 : how to boot from recovery partition / reinstall Windows ?

Hi iveccc,

In case your system is unable to boot into windows, restart it 4 times and it should automatically go to recovery options.

If your system is able to boot into windows, below are the steps to the factory restore the system:

Note: Factory restore leads to loss of all personal data; please backup all information on an external media before attempting it. If these steps do not work for you, you may have to perform a clean 'Windows re-install' with 'Windows operating system DVD'.

This feature enables the user to recover the system to a previous date or to the factory image. To recover the system from within windows, follow these steps:
1. Plug in the AC Adapter
2. Click the Recovery tile
  
3. Click System Recovery
  
4. Click Yes, Continue
  
5. Select the recovery point, then click Restart
  
6. The system would prompt the user to ensure that they are selecting the correct backup point. Click Yes once verified
  
7. The system restarts and goes ahead with restoring the factory image as per the recovery point selected. Follow the on-screen instructions to setup the Operating System

Hope this helps. Do reply if you have any further questions. I would be glad to assist.

I have pretty much the same issue...I cannot restore from the General>reset system...I get an error saying 80070490. I can get to the Dell recovery and choose the image. But when it restarts, it just restarts back into Windows 8...

Please help...

I have exactly the same problem. I always get the error 80070490 as described above. Anyone, please help because I really need to reinstall the system!

The only way i was able to get it to work was to get the USB key from Dell. Then reboot the computer into that key and do a repair...this worked fine after i done so.

For anyone who finds this post, here is a link to the .

Win 7 only.

Being this is about Windows 8...i'm pretty sure a Windows 7 USB key link is unnecessary

See the Windows 8 support Video here and here:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vIglSB9ZB_U&list=PLaMGK8uBGSYvKc60rA99X-Z90N5cWF72M&index=13

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6v5ewszMtGQ&list=PLaMGK8uBGSYvKc60rA99X-Z90N5cWF72M&index=21

Dell Vostro no idea model

Windows 8

I have this laptop that is sooooo full of adware, malware, crapware, etc. that it is practically unusable!

I tried following your instructions up to the restart part.. The problem I'm having is that it goes ahead to restart and when the dell logo comes up it freezes.. This is normal problem for me now and i have to turn the computer off and then on for it to boot up.. But by then it has the instructions to boot into normal windows and not to recovery... Is there a way to get there instead?

On my 4 year old dell inspiron n5010 windows 7 I can just restart it, press f8 a million times... click repair computer and choose the last option of dell datasafe local backup and follow the instructions there (similar to these)

Can I do a similar process here somehow? since:
A. F8 does nothing on this computer

and

B. The bios has no information on how to do anything like this

Am I doing something wrong or is that feature just not part of this new one

F8 is removed and no longer works. See here:

Its meant to automatically load the recovery options if there are errors when Windows boots. Did you make the recovery USB with Dell Backup and Recovery? See here:

http://dellwindowsreinstallationguide.com/dell-backup-and-recovery/

Thank you for the fast reply but in the video you still have to restart AND get to windows 8 from the first try.. I have to turn it off and on from the power button a few times for it to get to windows 8.. And by then it boots straight to windows 8... Not recovery. I know this is a little bit different from the title but please help me!

Edit: and no I didn't make a USB since I didn't have access to this computer until they gave me it in this condition..