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PC Restore Ctrl F11 not working?
I own Dell Dimension 3100 desktop running Win XP (Home Edition).
I have PC restored 2x on this PC using Ctrl+F11 but now that no longer works. I have never reformatted the OS (by default, cos I am IT-illiterate).
I checked Disk Management and there are 3 parts, EISA, System and Unknown Partition. All 3 are "Healthy" and the Unknown Partition is 3GB in size, so I think THE partition hiding the PC Restore feature is still there. Also, when I look under c:/Dell/Utilities, the DSRIRRemv2.exe file is still there, which confirms THE partition exists, I think.
I have a so called Resource CD but that allows me to run diagnostic tests, which are exactly the same as pressing F12->Boot to Utility Partition.
I inserted the OS Installation CD just to run the commands CHKDSK /P, /R, then /P again and ONE error was repaired/fixed.
The fact that I have successfully used Ctrl+F11 on the same machine and there are no harddisk errors, does it point to corrupted MSR as THE problem ? Would [FIXMBR} solve my problem or the opposite (meaning end up deleting THE partition containg the PC Restore function} ?
Various other threads here regarding the same problem points to Dan Goodell's DSRFIX as the only solution worth attempting but I am not confident/capable of implementing his recommended solution and hope to find an easier solution to this non-working Ctrl+F11 (hell ! I only used those keys 2x, when can't it work a 3rd time :( )
Does anyone know if the PC Restore function can be executed by DOS command, in the same way as executing Restore using [c:\windows\system32\restore\rstrui.exe] ???
How does owning the Resource CD help me activate the PC Restore feature ?
Help please !
Thx.
fireberd
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January 13th, 2010 06:00
If the Dell recovery partition is corrupted and won't work your ONLY hope is the DSRFIX you referenced. There is no way for users to recreate that partition. If that will not fix it you will have to manually reinstall using the Dell supplied Windows XP disc and the Drivers and Utilities disc.
A manual linstall (required install sequence) is (1) Install Windows (2) Install chipset drivers (3) Install device drivers including sound, video, ethernet, etc.
iroc9555
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January 13th, 2010 07:00
Hi huangsy.
Every time some one is referred to Goodells', and come back saying "yeeswish that is too geeky" It reminds me of myself. If you want DOS and repair your Ctrl+F11 read this thread by JohnUSA:
http://en.community.dell.com/forums/t/17356468.aspx
Just read it. Copy the instructions and follow it. Read also what the other participants of that thread have to say and what problems they encountered and how they solved them.
Be patient and good luck.
BTW just in case. The Ctrl+F11 command is applied when the blue bar at the top of the screens appears. Not before not after. the bar shows for less than a second. it is very fast.
huangsy
2 Posts
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January 13th, 2010 20:00
First and foremost, THANKS to Dan Goodell (not sure if he will be reading this post :) ).
I managed to reinstate the PC Restore function to my Dimension 3100. I have the Dell Resource CD (I dunno how to make bootable disk) and these are the steps I took.
1. Downloaded the ZIP files from www.goodells.net and copied only 3 of the files to a blank CD (didnt copy over the TXT and PDF files).
2. Power on my PC and press F12 -> Onboard USB CD-ROM Drive. Inserted the Resource CD -> chose Q to return to DOS.
3. Inserted the CD from (1) above. Got onscreen messages that :
"The CD drive during Boot Cycle is f::
RAMdisk is available for Boot Cycle as c:: etc
4. I saw that F:\> was already there and prompting me. I entered "DSRFIX" and got some 'report' regarding PBR descriptor 1 (DE), 2(07), 3(DB) 4 (00), etc
5. I entered "DSRFIX /F" and had to answer "Y" to 2 questions (include a question about write to disk). Then i got worried because I didnt get any msg about success.
6. I entered "DSRFIX" again and saw somewhere in the last line of report something about "...match MSR ver 3".
7. I logged out and TURNED OFF PC.
8. Power on PC and pressed CTRL+F11 and IT WORKED !!!! HURRAY !
I still cannot figure out those set of instructions about typing "mbrsave /r" in DOS environment.
My thanks to the 2 of you above who bothered to respond and once again, to Dan for his 'essay'. In all fairness, is not that his solution was difficult but in order to get there, the making of bootable disk and commanding in DOS environment, etc were the challenging parts to the IT-illiterate like me.
iroc9555
1K Posts
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January 14th, 2010 06:00
Glad it worked out for you and you have your sys like new.
PBR descriptor 1 = Partition Boot Record 1 would be OS. When the blue bar appears to press Ctrl+F11, you will see under it "Loading PBR descriptor 2" meaning the Partition where the Dell Sys Restore (DSR) is, is ready to be executed.
DeLL OS have a peculiar MBR in order for the DSR to be executed. If in anyway that MBR (master boot record) is changed, Ctrl+F11 does not work, so in your DOS instruction you use "mbrsave /r" to save the MBR to a floppy for the eventual future use of it.
Now what I see in your instructions is that you did not use a floppy. I have not used or read Goodell completely, too lazy, but I have practiced with JhonUSA tutorial and a floppy disk is a must. Inadvertely you must have found another way to do it. IMHO.:emotion-21: