If she is the original purchaser of the pc and just to play it safe, might want to use her name.
Some people have used the Dell Chat method..... I've never used it myself so I don't know too much about it. Whenever I needed any disks, I always asked through the e-mail method.
They've always sent whatever I requested.. never a problem.
This happen to me as my system is not very stable nowadays, and I want to bring my system back to the factory stage. I try to press Ctrl+F11 to get to the PC restore, but it can't never get there. I did order XP disk from Dell, and tried installed once before this. Will this be the cause that I can not access the PC Restore? Please advise, thx. Marlon
I remember that when I last reinstall the XP by using Dell supply XP Disk, I did not reformat the disk, and just overwrite the system. After the setup, the main system does not change much, and I think I do not have to reinstall everything back. So, I guess this is not a clean install, right? If this is the case, the Dell Restore utility shd be still function? Thx.
I can see the partition of Fat32 4.64GB, but how would I know if it is still good? BTW, is there anyway I can pause the startup so that I can make sure I hv the Ctl+F11 keyed?
If DSR partition is there, then original build image will be OK :smileyhappy:
No, you can’t pause the boot process
Sounds like the problem is Dell modified MBR (probably damaged when you tried to reinstall WXP)
Dan Goodells' reply, quote:
“The telltale sign of the Dell MBR is a black screen with a single blue line at the top, with "www.dell.com" in white-on-blue letters. This screen should appear for 2 seconds between the POST phase (Power-On Self Test, with the giant blue Dell logo) and the XP splash screen (when XP starts to boot).”
So if you don’t see the “single blue line” (at very top of screen) then MBR is the problem
Dsrfix tool available from Dan’s web site can be used to fix damaged Dell modified MBR (used to recognise the Ctrl & F11 keys being use during the boot process)
Using Dsrfix is not recommended unless above-average technical understanding
Thanks so much for your explanation. I finally decided to do a clean install as I hv the Xp disk fm dell last time (lucky I asked for it). I am ok now, and back up the 1st image in case if anything goes wrong again.
Can I delete the Dell restore partition now since it is corrupted?
Don’t think the DSR partition is corrupt, if you don’t see the single blue line during computer boot up then it’s the original Dell modified MBR that is corrupt
In simple terms the Dell modified MBR (like all MBRs) is normally located in Sector 0 (the first or boot sector) of computer hard disk drive (HDD) – NOT in the DSR partition
That means you still have a MBR but original Dell modified MBR has been overwritten, thereby breaking the link between Ctrl & F11 keys & the DSR partition
Dsrfix tool repairs MBR so that when pressing Ctrl & F11 keys, the computer will then boot to the DRS partition to Restore your computer using the Dell installed image stored in the DSR partition
If you delete the DSR partition the Dell installed out-of-box image is gone forever
Some recent Dell PCs don’t have DSR partition (like the XPS 600), some people delete it to provide more useable HDD capacity, some by mistake (reformatting or repartitioning the HDD)
If possible, seek-a-geek friend if you find Dsrfix tool procedure too difficult to use
But if it is a clean install then print off & follow this excellent step-by-step guide
WXP CD needs to be inserted, then shutdown & boot computer to CD or DVD drive, also take note of steps 5, 6 & 7
Clean install also requires your computer system drivers be reinstalled & if you don’t have Dell Resource CD (Drivers & Utilities) you will need to download them from Dell Technical Support download link
Where there is a choice of drivers – knowing computer system build spec helps
Don’t think you mentioned your PC make/model so unable to give you download link
Burn required downloaded drivers to a CD & have CD ready before attempting WXP clean install
The order of installing Dell system drivers (chiefly the Chipset driver) is very important, click here
After windows & drivers are installed, ensure Anti Virus (AV) & Firewall protection is enabled before going online for WXP & AV DAT updates
tommyo1954
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September 4th, 2007 00:00
BELL BOY
1.1K Posts
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September 4th, 2007 00:00
As mentioned by tommyo1954, most people report success when requesting the Windows OS CD
The Symantec option
Assume you mean Dell PC Restore by Symantec a.k.a. Dell System Restore (DSR) utility
Using DSR will restore PC to out-of-box condition, Dell Support DSR procedure here
It’s an automatic restore process & only takes 10 minutes to complete
Even if PC does have a working DSR utility, you should still contact Dell & request Windows OS CD
But if you do go ahead with a WXP clean install, be aware that the DSR utility may then (permanently) not work
A WXP clean install also requires reinstalling PC system drivers
wuhoatu
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September 4th, 2007 03:00
tommyo1954
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September 4th, 2007 11:00
kevin79
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September 4th, 2007 11:00
marlonchow
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September 11th, 2007 01:00
marlonchow
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September 14th, 2007 00:00
BELL BOY
1.1K Posts
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September 14th, 2007 00:00
Marlon
Just noticed your post since it was a week after my last reply in this thread
If you did a WXP clean install then it has probably damaged or removed DSR utility
But read through this thread (both pages) if you want full details about DSR issues
Message Edited by BELL BOY on 09-13-2007 08:08 PM
BELL BOY
1.1K Posts
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September 14th, 2007 09:00
If you didn’t do a proper WXP clean install (includes reformat of WXP OS partition), your computer may be unstable, really depends on what you did?
Regarding availability of DSR utility, follow my instructions in above-mentioned thread, in particular my reply in that thread dated 08-16-2007
If DSR partition is still present, it may just be a corrupt MBR issue that can often be fixed
Post back if actual DSR partition is still presentmarlonchow
5 Posts
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September 14th, 2007 22:00
BELL BOY
1.1K Posts
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September 15th, 2007 01:00
If DSR partition is there, then original build image will be OK :smileyhappy:
No, you can’t pause the boot process
Sounds like the problem is Dell modified MBR (probably damaged when you tried to reinstall WXP)
Dan Goodells' reply, quote:
“The telltale sign of the Dell MBR is a black screen with a single blue line at the top, with "www.dell.com" in white-on-blue letters. This screen should appear for 2 seconds between the POST phase (Power-On Self Test, with the giant blue Dell logo) and the XP splash screen (when XP starts to boot).”
So if you don’t see the “single blue line” (at very top of screen) then MBR is the problem
Dsrfix tool available from Dan’s web site can be used to fix damaged Dell modified MBR (used to recognise the Ctrl & F11 keys being use during the boot process)
Using Dsrfix is not recommended unless above-average technical understanding
Tool download & procedures available from http://www.goodells.net/dellrestore/fixes.htm
If you do intend to use Dsrfix tool, best to print off, read carefully & make sure you understand procedures
If unable to fix the MBR you will probably need to do a proper clean install of WXP
marlonchow
5 Posts
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September 15th, 2007 02:00
BELL BOY
1.1K Posts
0
September 15th, 2007 23:00
Hi again Marlon
Don’t think the DSR partition is corrupt, if you don’t see the single blue line during computer boot up then it’s the original Dell modified MBR that is corrupt
In simple terms the Dell modified MBR (like all MBRs) is normally located in Sector 0 (the first or boot sector) of computer hard disk drive (HDD) – NOT in the DSR partition
That means you still have a MBR but original Dell modified MBR has been overwritten, thereby breaking the link between Ctrl & F11 keys & the DSR partition
Dsrfix tool repairs MBR so that when pressing Ctrl & F11 keys, the computer will then boot to the DRS partition to Restore your computer using the Dell installed image stored in the DSR partition
If you delete the DSR partition the Dell installed out-of-box image is gone forever
Some recent Dell PCs don’t have DSR partition (like the XPS 600), some people delete it to provide more useable HDD capacity, some by mistake (reformatting or repartitioning the HDD)
If possible, seek-a-geek friend if you find Dsrfix tool procedure too difficult to use
But if it is a clean install then print off & follow this excellent step-by-step guide
WXP CD needs to be inserted, then shutdown & boot computer to CD or DVD drive, also take note of steps 5, 6 & 7
Clean install also requires your computer system drivers be reinstalled & if you don’t have Dell Resource CD (Drivers & Utilities) you will need to download them from Dell Technical Support download link
Where there is a choice of drivers – knowing computer system build spec helps
Don’t think you mentioned your PC make/model so unable to give you download link
Burn required downloaded drivers to a CD & have CD ready before attempting WXP clean install
The order of installing Dell system drivers (chiefly the Chipset driver) is very important, click here
After windows & drivers are installed, ensure Anti Virus (AV) & Firewall protection is enabled before going online for WXP & AV DAT updates
marlonchow
5 Posts
0
September 16th, 2007 02:00