Can I get the Dell partition back?

Question

Hi Folks,

Recently had a complete meltdown and had to format the HD and re-install XP. PC is still under warrantee. Is there any way to get the PC restored to the out of the box new condition?

I realize that re-formatting the HD removed the Dell partition but I had no choice PC could not control HD and no internet.

XPS 410

Core 2 duo

1GB ram

XP media center 05

mombodog · Answer

If you did not delete the restore partition when you reinstalled XP (this would have to be intentional) it is still there but may be damaged, and can be repaired.   Go to disk management and see how many partitions are on the C drive.

elb01 · Answer

Thank you mombodog. I sent two replies that did not post. I sent a reply to another poster and it posted immediately. Don't know what's going on here. Ed

elb01 · Answer

Hi mombodog,

this seems to be working now so I'll try the reply again.

Apparently I do have the restore partition. I have three partitions:

One small FAT partition at about 55MB.

One larger FAT 32 partition at about 4.5GB

One large NTFS partition at about 223GB

But Ctrl+F11 doesn’t seem to do anything

Why are there FAT and FAT32 partitions here? Is the restore partition really a FAT32 partition or is this part of the problem?

I’m very disappointed with this PC, it seems I’m spending more time fixing it than using it. Any help will be greatly appreciated.

mombodog · Answer

Yes they are FAT.   the 55mb fat is your Dell diagnostics, 4,5 gb is the restore partition.   Here is a website that has the info on your restore partition and how to troubleshoot or repair the functioning of it.   http://www.goodells.net/dellrestore/fixes.htm

elb01 · Answer

mombodog, thanks a gig. That's just what I needed. Ed

Windows General

Can I get the Dell partition back?

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