Do not repartition the drive yet. PC Restore will not work if you do. It also will not work if you "fix" the master boot record. Here's how you can tell if you have a recovery partition:
Disconnect all external devices before reinstalling Windows XP; i.e., everything but monitor, keyboard and mouse. To restore Windows XP using PC Restore, perform the following steps:
NOTE: Dell PC Restore by Symantec is available on Dimension and Inspiron systems that shipped on or after 7/16/2004 in the Americas and 8/30/2004 in Europe.
Turn on computer. When the Dell screen appears press and hold the CTRL key on the keyboard, press the F11 key, then release them both at the same time. The Dell PC Restore by Symantec window appears. Press the keys one time only. If you press them more than once, a keyboard error occurs and the process has to be initiated again.
Click Restore button or press Tab key to highlight Restore and press Enter..A message appears advising all data will be lost. Click the Confirm button or press the Tab key to highlight Confirm and press Enter. The Progress window appears. Once the process is begun, Dell PC Restore usually takes 8 to 10 minutes to complete. Restore is complete when the message "The system recovery process was successful" appears. Click the Finish button or press the Tab key to highlight Finish and press Enter. The computer will restart. Your software is now as it was when you Dell shipped it from the factory.
Perform Windows Update after Installing Windows® XP. Windows Updates performed prior to reinstalling XP are no longer installed. Perform Windows Updates to obtain security patches, fixes, and help protect you from unauthorized Internet attacks.
This is a clean install. Any third party programs can be removed with Control Panel's Add/Remove Programs utility. If you do not have a PC Restore Partition, and wish to do a clean install, you will need the Dell XP Reinstallation CD, chipset drivers, audio drivers, video drivers, etc. Press F12 at Dell logo, select CD as boot drive and boot from Reinstallation CD, Select Install Windows, partition the drive however you like, and install XP. Once XP is up and running, you will need to install chipset drivers first, followed by audio, video, network card, etc drivers in any order.
Denny Denham
2 Intern
•
18.8K Posts
0
January 24th, 2006 02:00
If the computer was made after July 15, 2004 you have PC Restore which can be used as indicated here. If it is older your only option is a reinstall.
There is no FDISK in XP as it isn't needed. Formatting and partitioning are done as a part of the installation procedure. See this and included links.
tgsmith
2.9K Posts
0
January 24th, 2006 02:00
DimXPST600,
Do not repartition the drive yet. PC Restore will not work if you do. It also will not work if you "fix" the master boot record. Here's how you can tell if you have a recovery partition:
Disconnect all external devices before reinstalling Windows XP; i.e., everything but monitor, keyboard and mouse. To restore Windows XP using PC Restore, perform the following steps:
NOTE: Dell PC Restore by Symantec is available on Dimension and Inspiron systems that shipped on or after 7/16/2004 in the Americas and 8/30/2004 in Europe.
Turn on computer. When the Dell screen appears press and hold the CTRL key on the keyboard, press the F11 key, then release them both at the same time. The Dell PC Restore by Symantec window appears. Press the keys one time only. If you press them more than once, a keyboard error occurs and the process has to be initiated again.
Click Restore button or press Tab key to highlight Restore and press Enter..A message appears advising all data will be lost. Click the Confirm button or press the Tab key to highlight Confirm and press Enter. The Progress window appears. Once the process is begun, Dell PC Restore usually takes 8 to 10 minutes to complete. Restore is complete when the message "The system recovery process was successful" appears. Click the Finish button or press the Tab key to highlight Finish and press Enter. The computer will restart. Your software is now as it was when you Dell shipped it from the factory.
Perform Windows Update after Installing Windows® XP. Windows Updates performed prior to reinstalling XP are no longer installed. Perform Windows Updates to obtain security patches, fixes, and help protect you from unauthorized Internet attacks.
This is a clean install. Any third party programs can be removed with Control Panel's Add/Remove Programs utility. If you do not have a PC Restore Partition, and wish to do a clean install, you will need the Dell XP Reinstallation CD, chipset drivers, audio drivers, video drivers, etc. Press F12 at Dell logo, select CD as boot drive and boot from Reinstallation CD, Select Install Windows, partition the drive however you like, and install XP. Once XP is up and running, you will need to install chipset drivers first, followed by audio, video, network card, etc drivers in any order.
Tony
Message Edited by tgsmith on 01-23-2006 11:46 PM