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24047
August 22nd, 2010 16:00
Help Putting OS System Back on Dimension C521
I have a Dell Dimension C521 that came with Windows Vista Home 32. It has been a week today that I killed my OS system. I tried to do a system restore there was no dates there. Then I went to something else that told me to put in Boot Disk because I had damaged files. I had no back-up disk kept telling myself I would do it later. Yes Hard Lesson learned. Called Dell for help told him error code 0.800 something 1. He told me to debug hard drive. My computer does not have a Boot Manager it is missing. try to go to but get Source which I type in for C and enter code but nothing is recognized.
Before I made a Debug disc I wanted to come here first. I bought a laptop but I want my desk top back. I know all my info on it is gone and will have to start fresh. Yes I am one of those, single parent, lost job and have limited funds to work with but was hoping to find people willing to help without having to pay $100 to diagnose and then add up from there. Thanks in advance for any help with this situation besides hearing the words again I was a sucker for buying the Dimension C521 because of all its problems.
clickchik
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ieee488
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August 22nd, 2010 18:00
Actually your personal files may not be gone at all. If you know someone with a newer desktop PC with a spare connector to connect up a SATA hard drive, you can slave your hard drive on that PC and get your files off of the hard drive to a USB flash stick.
Otherwise, you can buy a USB enclosure for a 3.5" SATA hard drive like http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817173043&cm_re=usb_enclosure_3.5_sata-_-17-173-043-_-Product . You essentially will then have an external hard drive.
Once you get your personal data off of the hard drive, you can put the hard drive back into your C521 and re-install Windows Vista following the instructions at http://support.dell.com/support/topics/global.aspx/support/dsn/document?c=us&l=en&s=gen&docid=339949
Jeff Hoffman
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881 Posts
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August 22nd, 2010 17:00
Anyone who has used computers for any length of time has done/not done something silly :emotion-9: Do you have the Windows Vista disc? Is your system under any kind of warranty? If it is and you are in the U.S. you should be able to request a ONE TIME replacement OS disc. Another way to go is check with friends/family to see if you can find someone who does have Windows Vista Home 32 Bit. You have the right to run one instance of the OS on that machine only. Which Win V. Home disc you use isn't important.
Let us know what is going on.............
Jeff :emotion-22:
clickchik
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September 1st, 2010 02:00
First I want to thank ya'll for your help and suggestions but the computer is still sitting in its coma. I ended up taking my computer to a shop and said my dvd burner that came with my Dell was burnt and installed a new one and said it should be able to read my disk now came home happy and instead got a new error code of 0x800017. None of my friends in my small circle have Vista they have 7 and the ones who had Vista went back to XP. So I am back to chalk board wanting my Dell to come back to life. The laptop is nice but it is not my desktop.