Need help reformatting my DM051

Question

Hi everyone, I have a: Dell Dimension DM051 Pentium(R) D CPU 3.20GHZ 3.19GHZ, 1.00GB of RAM My cd/dvd drive has stopped working quite a while ago, and it has become an overwhelming annoyance, in addition to other small computer issues here and there. I have tried to fix them one by one, reinstalled drivers, etc. But it still malfunctions. So, I decided to reformat my computer back to its original computer factory settings. However, it never came with any operating systems cds, or driver cds or anything. So, I looked on DELL.COM and they said that I could reformat my computer with the Symantec PC restore function. So, at the Dell splash screen, I was instructed to press ctrl and F11 at the same time, then release at the same time. I did this. However, I got the following error shortly after: 'Floppy diskette seek failure Strike the F1 key to continue, F2 to run the setup utility' and my computer never gets reset to the original factory settings. Now, every time that I boot up, my computer prompts: 'Floppy diskette seek failure Strike the F1 key to continue, F2 to run the setup utility' Can anyone help me with this? I have tried pretty much everything I can think of. I got a copy of the backup os from Dell. Is there any easier way to use the PC restore function? Or should I just reformat it the old fashioned way?

GioAguilar · Answer

On that message, press F2, you'll get BIOS (System setup). Go to the drives section, then highlight the Diskette drive, press enter, and switch it off.   For the PCRestore, try it on this way: Turn computer on, press and hold Ctrl key (keep down), press F11 for about 4 - 5 times, once each second. See if it works   If not try the same, but not at the DELL logo, try it when you see the blue bar at the top with the WWW.DELL.COM

wanderingpig · Answer

If I use the pc restore, will it restore the drivers as well as the OS? or should I download those previously and write to a separate cd?

speedstep · Answer

Control F11 Symantec restore should restore everything.

I would clone the drive to a new drive after that.

<ADMIN NOTE: Broken link has been removed / replaced from this post by Dell>

Compatible with almost any 2.5" or 3.5" IDE/PATA or SATA Hard Drive

USB 2.0 Cable, AC Adapter and Apricorn's Upgrade Suite CD

Manufacturer Part# : ADW-USB-KIT
Dell Part# : A1164717

http://search.dell.com/results.aspx?s=dhs&c=us&l=en&cs=19&k=symantec+restore&cat=sup&x=7&y=6

Dell™ PC Restore by Symantec™ is a hidden partition on your hard drive that contains an exact copy of your computer's original setup. With PC Restore, you can reset your computer (such as the operating system and software) to the original state in which it was shipped to you from Dell.

Message Edited by SpeedStep on 01-09-2008 10:09 PM

Windows General

Need help reformatting my DM051

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