If you can't get PC Restore to work, and your files are already backed up on external media, you have nothing to lose by trying Goodell's fix. The part you need is here, and says:
Dsrfix Quick-Start
This section should give you a quick idea how Dsrfix is used. However, be sure to also read the following sections to get a clearer idea of the details and potential pitfalls.
Dsrfix is a DOS program. It does not work in Windows. It does not work in a XP command-prompt window. It does not work in the Windows PE (preinstallation environment) or RE (recovery environment) -- those are not DOS. You need to boot to real DOS. If you need to, check the section below for ways to boot to DOS.
Extract dsrfix.com from the archive. (Note to reader: The other files in the archive are supplemental. The only file you need to copy to floppy disk is dsrfix.com.)
Boot from your DOS boot disk.
Run the command " DSRFIX ". Review the results to assess whether your system is a good candidate for restoring Dell's DSR feature.
Optional:save a dumpfile before making any changes. This may be useful if you later need the information for forensic reconstruction.
If you decide your system is a good candidate for repairing Dell's DSR feature, rerun Dsrfix with the command " DSRFIX /F ". The program will repeat its summary report, then prompt you to queue any changes to be made. Accept or deny each fix proposed by Dsrfix. After proposals have been queued, confirm whether you want Dsrfix to go ahead and write those changes to your hard disk.
Rerun Dsrfix again for a new report to check the results.
If Dsrfix's report shows no fatal errors and no alerts, the Dell-specific restore feature should be functional on your system. You should see a blue "www.dell.com" banner across the top of the screen when the computer starts to boot. Pressing the Ctrl+F11 keys at that moment should divert the boot process to Dell's custom restore utility.
pc's 5years running. want to start fresh. plus i bought system mech.7 about 2-3 years ago and after some time(few months) it had problems installing definitions after a update. their tech told me to uninstall and gave a link to install a copy from their site. only when i uninstalled i could not connect... i had to do system restore to be able to get online. now the sm7 was telling me i was using an evaluation copy and had to enter code... i have the cd, the box, but don't know if it even came with this code... when trying to install on another pc(3 licences) it connects to their site to get code, supposingly no record of my copy... so basically i've had no anti-virus all this time...
when i used microsofts online pc check, it detected 2 files that somehow attach to memory(or something like that). it didn't say if it was executed or not, but my pc is so unbelievably so. while typing this it sometimes takes up to a minute for it to appear on screen. the blinking curser freezes up all the time. to just close a folder is time consuming. it closes from top to bottom with a slow swiping motion. when i click the start menu, it opens on the top and slowly swipes down to the task bar... i uninstalled almost everything from my pc... have no non-escentual stuff running.
i have 1gb memory coming to add to my pathetic 256mb. with a freshly reinstall i think i'll be fine until i can get a monster of a pc... the prices are so low now...
i'm a big gamer and haven't play a game since Quake 3 Arena years ago(this pc can play that game)... i got 'Quake4' 2 christmases ago and never played it, yet...
sorry i missed these replies... didn't realize it went to a 2nd page...
don't have a floppy drive was 1 of the reasons for not trying this fix at Goodell's... but reading a little further in to this post it addresses this problem with cd. i have 1gb memory and cd-rw's being delivered today or tomorrow. i will give this a try.
ut oh... wondering if it should be a cd-r and not cd-rw... will the pc read a cd-rw in a boot situaion?
i just realized that about 75% of the time system mechanic7 compacts hives and registry and backs it up when booting up and reboots about 3 or 4 times to complete this process. is this process 'messing' with the boot record that everyone is talking about?
I think it's time to bite the bullet. Boot from the Windows Reinstallation CD, re-format the hard drive and reinstall everything. Before you do, go to Dell's drivers/download page for this system and download all the drivers you need. Burn them on a CD so you'll be ready to install them after reloading Windows.
After installing Windows, the correct driver installation order is:
Reformatting the hard drive isn't automatic when you reinstall the OS, and there are cases where somebody might not want to reformat. You should be offered the option so be sure to accept it.
i can't believe that i've reformated and reinstalled OS at least 6 times (on a packard bell win95 and dell 8100 winMe) and still don't remember the process...
one more thing, after everything is done(reformat, reinstall, drivers, etc.) is there something that i can do to save at that point(not system restore)? something that i'll at least have to go back to if i run into major problems in the future, but not have to start at reinstalling OS. i hear things about ghost images(?), cloning(?), i'm assuming has something to do with what i'm asking... any thoughts?
There are a number of software apps that allow you to make a backup image of your hard drive and store it on an external hard drive. (It's probably too big for a CD or DVD). With some of them you can make incremental backups from time to time, meaning that it only updates files that have been added or modified since the last backup.
Either Ghost or Acronis might be a good choice. If any of your hard drives are made by Seagate, you can download a free (limited) version of Acronis from their site. This free version only allows you to make full backup images, but not incremental images. But it is free, even if it takes longer to make a full backup than an incremental one.
Don't know anything about the method Rajaganesh_83 suggested, but might be worth a try...
your direction got me to auto IDE config, but ctrl+F11 didn't work...
i'm giving up on this 'restore' method. i'm not even sure if i have it...
as long as the reinstall goes smoothly, i'm good.
i got all panicie because i once tried to reinstall my nephew's OS about five years ago and didn't find out which drivers was for his system before starting... the cd he had, had lots of drivers for differect systems. i don't remember having that problem with my other reinstalls... win95 had everything on 1 cd and you were done. winMe had a driver disk and i think it was pretty much self explainitory...
i'll be doing it sometimes today... just got to make sure i remembered everything(backing-up)...
oh yeah, it says remove non-essentials... i have a different keyboard that has a usb connection, different from the keyboard that came with the pc that uses the regular keyboard port connection, would this cause a problem? will the pc find the usb port keyboard?
USB keyboard should be ok. Booting from the Windows CD should load USB drivers. Be sure to unplug your network connection in addition to unplugging printers, external hard drives, memory sticks, scanners....
Don't forget to back up your in box and out box for your email, if you want to save the emails, and your email address book and browser favorites lists too.:emotion-5:
Ron
EDIT: After you install Windows and all the drivers. Get your firewall and antiviral software running. Then go directly to the Microsoft update site for all the updates that you need.
Just had a quick scan through your thread & it looks like all the bases have been covered & you have already identified need to upgrade very limited original RAM build spec
Since purchased November 2004 then assume the Dell OEM XP supplied CD is SP2 (helps)
Suggest you upgrade RAM hardware after doing an XP Clean Install (i.e. let Windows detect new hardware)
If you can still run XP then if not already done
Before doing a Clean Install it can sometimes help to have a profile of computer installed hardware & software
Lots of Forum members use Belarc Advisor (free) to record such information, click here
tha """(WOW that was strange i typed "tha" and dell went to post)"""
thanx all
i reinstalled without a problem, popped in the 1gig memory stick(brief scare after install mem. when starting and got that bold white type about the new memory detected, i thought i did something wrong)
anyway... let windows download and install 58 updates, in one shot. restarted only to then DL and install SP3, which said that it had all previous updates... what??? then why did it do the 1st updates???
as for outlookX, i already saved my emails prior to saving it the way OLX's directions so it's not that important but just for the knowledge, how do you import the 'folders' with the emails in them back in to OLX?(i.e. i had folder as "keepers" "valerie" etc.) . as i said i already saved emails to where i can read them, but OLX has these emails in the folders and turned the extentions to .dbx... i've imported through OLX contacts and accounts but not folders with emails in them...
RoHe
12 Elder
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45.2K Posts
•
172.6K Points
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December 14th, 2009 15:00
If you can't get PC Restore to work, and your files are already backed up on external media, you have nothing to lose by trying Goodell's fix. The part you need is here, and says:
Dsrfix Quick-Start
This section should give you a quick idea how Dsrfix is used. However, be sure to also read the following sections to get a clearer idea of the details and potential pitfalls.
Dsrfix is a DOS program. It does not work in Windows. It does not work in a XP command-prompt window. It does not work in the Windows PE (preinstallation environment) or RE (recovery environment) -- those are not DOS. You need to boot to real DOS. If you need to, check the section below for ways to boot to DOS.
(Note to reader: The other files in the archive are supplemental. The only file you need to copy to floppy disk is dsrfix.com.)
If Dsrfix's report shows no fatal errors and no alerts, the Dell-specific restore feature should be functional on your system. You should see a blue "www.dell.com" banner across the top of the screen when the computer starts to boot. Pressing the Ctrl+F11 keys at that moment should divert the boot process to Dell's custom restore utility.
Ron
EDIT: I fixed the links.
walbek
268 Posts
0
December 16th, 2009 08:00
pc's 5years running. want to start fresh. plus i bought system mech.7 about 2-3 years ago and after some time(few months) it had problems installing definitions after a update. their tech told me to uninstall and gave a link to install a copy from their site. only when i uninstalled i could not connect... i had to do system restore to be able to get online. now the sm7 was telling me i was using an evaluation copy and had to enter code... i have the cd, the box, but don't know if it even came with this code... when trying to install on another pc(3 licences) it connects to their site to get code, supposingly no record of my copy... so basically i've had no anti-virus all this time...
when i used microsofts online pc check, it detected 2 files that somehow attach to memory(or something like that). it didn't say if it was executed or not, but my pc is so unbelievably so. while typing this it sometimes takes up to a minute for it to appear on screen. the blinking curser freezes up all the time. to just close a folder is time consuming. it closes from top to bottom with a slow swiping motion. when i click the start menu, it opens on the top and slowly swipes down to the task bar... i uninstalled almost everything from my pc... have no non-escentual stuff running.
i have 1gb memory coming to add to my pathetic 256mb. with a freshly reinstall i think i'll be fine until i can get a monster of a pc... the prices are so low now...
i'm a big gamer and haven't play a game since Quake 3 Arena years ago(this pc can play that game)... i got 'Quake4' 2 christmases ago and never played it, yet...
Richie
walbek
268 Posts
0
December 16th, 2009 08:00
sorry i missed these replies... didn't realize it went to a 2nd page...
don't have a floppy drive was 1 of the reasons for not trying this fix at Goodell's... but reading a little further in to this post it addresses this problem with cd. i have 1gb memory and cd-rw's being delivered today or tomorrow. i will give this a try.
ut oh... wondering if it should be a cd-r and not cd-rw... will the pc read a cd-rw in a boot situaion?
walbek
268 Posts
0
December 16th, 2009 09:00
i just realized that about 75% of the time system mechanic7 compacts hives and registry and backs it up when booting up and reboots about 3 or 4 times to complete this process. is this process 'messing' with the boot record that everyone is talking about?
RoHe
12 Elder
•
45.2K Posts
•
172.6K Points
0
December 16th, 2009 09:00
I think it's time to bite the bullet. Boot from the Windows Reinstallation CD, re-format the hard drive and reinstall everything. Before you do, go to Dell's drivers/download page for this system and download all the drivers you need. Burn them on a CD so you'll be ready to install them after reloading Windows.
After installing Windows, the correct driver installation order is:
Chipset driver
Video driver
Audio driver
Network driver
Modem driver
etc.
Ron
walbek
268 Posts
0
December 16th, 2009 10:00
that's what i think i'm gonna do...
that is what the original plan was before hearing about this restore feature...
i aready had dell send me the cd(winXP reinstall). she gave me direct links to the drivers i needed.
got to back up a couple more things and i'll be good to go...
catch me up to speed...
doesn't the process of reinstalling also re-format?
this is one of the processes the reinstall askes while reinstalling?
thanx
Richie
RoHe
12 Elder
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45.2K Posts
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172.6K Points
0
December 16th, 2009 16:00
Reformatting the hard drive isn't automatic when you reinstall the OS, and there are cases where somebody might not want to reformat. You should be offered the option so be sure to accept it.
Hope it goes smoothly.
Ron
walbek
268 Posts
0
December 16th, 2009 18:00
thanx Ron
i can't believe that i've reformated and reinstalled OS at least 6 times (on a packard bell win95 and dell 8100 winMe) and still don't remember the process...
one more thing, after everything is done(reformat, reinstall, drivers, etc.) is there something that i can do to save at that point(not system restore)? something that i'll at least have to go back to if i run into major problems in the future, but not have to start at reinstalling OS. i hear things about ghost images(?), cloning(?), i'm assuming has something to do with what i'm asking... any thoughts?
Richie
Rajaganesh_83
8 Posts
0
December 16th, 2009 20:00
Hi,
Try the following steps..
1. Press F2 when you see the Dell logo which will take you to the bios screen
2. Press Alt +E ,Alt +F and Alt + B which will load the defaults and exit out
3. When you see the message that says performing automatic IDE configuration on the screen hold down the CTRL Key and keep tapping the F11 Key
If this fails,download and run the BOOTDSR.exe from www.tech.atjolie.com ,by doing this you dont have to do the CTRL F11 option...
RoHe
12 Elder
•
45.2K Posts
•
172.6K Points
0
December 17th, 2009 09:00
There are a number of software apps that allow you to make a backup image of your hard drive and store it on an external hard drive. (It's probably too big for a CD or DVD). With some of them you can make incremental backups from time to time, meaning that it only updates files that have been added or modified since the last backup.
Either Ghost or Acronis might be a good choice. If any of your hard drives are made by Seagate, you can download a free (limited) version of Acronis from their site. This free version only allows you to make full backup images, but not incremental images. But it is free, even if it takes longer to make a full backup than an incremental one.
Don't know anything about the method Rajaganesh_83 suggested, but might be worth a try...
Ron
walbek
268 Posts
0
December 17th, 2009 10:00
your direction got me to auto IDE config, but ctrl+F11 didn't work...
i'm giving up on this 'restore' method. i'm not even sure if i have it...
as long as the reinstall goes smoothly, i'm good.
i got all panicie because i once tried to reinstall my nephew's OS about five years ago and didn't find out which drivers was for his system before starting... the cd he had, had lots of drivers for differect systems. i don't remember having that problem with my other reinstalls... win95 had everything on 1 cd and you were done. winMe had a driver disk and i think it was pretty much self explainitory...
i'll be doing it sometimes today... just got to make sure i remembered everything(backing-up)...
oh yeah, it says remove non-essentials... i have a different keyboard that has a usb connection, different from the keyboard that came with the pc that uses the regular keyboard port connection, would this cause a problem? will the pc find the usb port keyboard?
RoHe
12 Elder
•
45.2K Posts
•
172.6K Points
0
December 17th, 2009 13:00
USB keyboard should be ok. Booting from the Windows CD should load USB drivers. Be sure to unplug your network connection in addition to unplugging printers, external hard drives, memory sticks, scanners....
Don't forget to back up your in box and out box for your email, if you want to save the emails, and your email address book and browser favorites lists too.:emotion-5:
Ron
EDIT: After you install Windows and all the drivers. Get your firewall and antiviral software running. Then go directly to the Microsoft update site for all the updates that you need.
BELL BOY
1.1K Posts
0
December 17th, 2009 17:00
walbeck
Just had a quick scan through your thread & it looks like all the bases have been covered & you have already identified need to upgrade very limited original RAM build spec
Since purchased November 2004 then assume the Dell OEM XP supplied CD is SP2 (helps)
Suggest you upgrade RAM hardware after doing an XP Clean Install (i.e. let Windows detect new hardware)
If you can still run XP then if not already done
Before doing a Clean Install it can sometimes help to have a profile of computer installed hardware & software
Lots of Forum members use Belarc Advisor (free) to record such information, click here
Print off a reference hard copy
walbek
268 Posts
0
December 18th, 2009 05:00
tha """(WOW that was strange i typed "tha" and dell went to post)"""
thanx all
i reinstalled without a problem, popped in the 1gig memory stick(brief scare after install mem. when starting and got that bold white type about the new memory detected, i thought i did something wrong)
anyway... let windows download and install 58 updates, in one shot. restarted only to then DL and install SP3, which said that it had all previous updates... what??? then why did it do the 1st updates???
as for outlookX, i already saved my emails prior to saving it the way OLX's directions so it's not that important but just for the knowledge, how do you import the 'folders' with the emails in them back in to OLX?(i.e. i had folder as "keepers" "valerie" etc.) . as i said i already saved emails to where i can read them, but OLX has these emails in the folders and turned the extentions to .dbx... i've imported through OLX contacts and accounts but not folders with emails in them...
once again thanx
Richie