Welcome to the forums John :emotion-21:

First of all... have you tried booting into Safe Mode?

Keep pressing F8 during the boot process, until a screen opens with various boot options? Choose Safe Mode.

You should then be able to choose the latest system restore point again?

But ...... I've read about pressing CTRL and F8 or F11 when the 'Dell' screen appears to access the partitioned image....... but when I do this nothing happens and XP starts up to its 'confused state'. Should my machine have this facility on it and if it has is there any other way I can use it?

It should have a 'Recovery' partition on it... which should be visible in My Computer as the D:\ drive - labelled 'Recovery'?

It is CTRL then F11... then release both at the same time.

See here for a complete 'how to' on retoring your system to its factory settings.

I have also tried to use the XP Reinstallation CD supplied with the machine ..... but when I try to start a reinstall, it asks for the 'Product Key'. So I put in the number on the coloured label on the top of my machine but then 'computer says no' and says that the number is invalid!!!!!!!!! And I have entered it several times very very carefully.......... but ...... the Product Key is for Vista not XP as I bought the downgrade to XP so is this why the XP Reinstall CD won't accept the number????

Since you chose XP as the OS prior to delivery, Dell should've provided the licence key sticker for XP - not Vista, because you can't use a serial for Vista, for XP :emotion-43:

You need to get onto them about that!

But you shouldn't be asked to provide the serial number anyway, because (to my knowledge) all Dell OS discs have the serial pre-registered?

My machine only has one label on top and I do not want to install Vista.

You can't install Vista anyway - can you... or did you also get a Vista disc from Dell?

holla,

got ur information.. i beleive ur sys don't need a reinstallation with the help of a os cd.. i believe ur sys should have an image of ur factory default settings in the hard drive.. Try to use the key combination to fire up the image partition.. (CTRL + F11 - as soon as you turn on the sys).. Try this and revert back for queries..

Thanks..

Cheers...

Maddy...

Thanks for your reply!!!!!!!!!!

OK I've tried booting in Safe Mode but System Restore still won't work ............ and I don't think that it must have a recovery partition as Ctrl +F11 doesn't make anything happen ...... unless thats broken as well............

Perhaps I need to email Dell about this XP licence key issue......  I did get a Vista recovery disc with the machine..... but thats staying in the box!!

I have looked at the Dell Support link that you given me ........ I guess I was just trying to see if there is an easy way to restore without having to do the 'full' restore ........... being an install virgin, it makes me kind of nervous thinking about doing it.......... 

Any other ideas very gratefully received.........

Thanks again!

John

.......... No I've tried it again and CTRL+F11 does absolutely nothing at all and XP just starts up

I couldn't be that easy could it!!

Thanks!

John

OK I'm getting a bit twitchy now cos I ain't getting nowhere with this problem...... and I really need to get this machine sorted

If anyone can help ............please.............. like I'm on two knees here.....

Up to now I've done what the guys above have suggested.... no joy...

I've tried to change the boot sequence so that the CDROM is first choice ....... but it just ignores this and loads XP  from the hard drive.... I was hoping to attempt a repair........ at least.....

I've run sfc /scannow having seen that other people have used it successfully but it just completes and tells me nothing which I take it means no files missing?

The PC will install my digital camera sofware with no probs and appears to work OK

I've emailed Dell about the Product Key for XP as I ordered the downgrade to XP and the machine only has the Vista Product key on the label. I've had a reply but the guy who replied wanted to phone me back but he only works when I'm at work so I've got to wait until Monday for a reply from him

I only appear to have a 'Utility Partition' not a recovery partition so Ctrl+F11 is never going to work ......... how can I tell for definite if my machine has a recovery partition? ..... Is it accessible through a DOS command?........ although I really know very little about DOS......

I have perfected the method of emailing cans of beer if thats an incentive for anyone to get involved............

I will be very very grateful for any further help .............

Thanks !

John 

I just read the other posts to your problem. Are you doing the F11 at the Dell Splash Window? It's the first one that comes up. Do it quickly, as the window doesn't last very long.

I just re-installed XP on my Dell, using XP. When the Dell Splash screen comes up, hold the CTRL key and the F11 key down. First press the CTRL key, while holding it down, press the F11 key. (Not the F8 key), and you should get a screen that allows you to re-install XP without the disk. It worked for me.

ConfusedMore;

Let's see if we have this straight; you ordered your computer with Vista Business or Ultimate and selected the downgrade privilege for Windows XP Professional.  Therefore you should currently have Windows XP Pro on the computer, but it isn't working quite right.  The product code on the sticker attached to the machine for the version of Vista you purchased is also good for Win XP Pro, but you don't use it for installation.  It only indicates that the computer that it's attached to has a license for Vista Business/Ultimate, which also carries downgrade rights to Win XP Pro.

First, examine the way the computer boots.  Computers that have the Dell PC Restore on them show the Dell Power On Self Test (POST) screen when you first turn them on.  If the PC restore Master Boot Record is active, you should see a blue bar with the manufacturer's name (Dell Computer Corp, I think) at the top of the screen when the POST screen disappears.  This blue bar lasts about two seconds, then a message appears immediately below the bar that states "Loading Descriptor for PBR-2...Done".  If you see this, you should have PC Restore.  In order to get to the PC Restore menu, you must press CTRL and F11, releasing both simultaneously before the appearance of the message about PBR-2.

If you don't have the blue bar, you may still be able to repair your Windows installation.  Start the computer, and just before Windows begins to load, press F8 to get to the Windows start-up menu.  Choose the last known good configuration to start Windows and let us know how you make out.

Ragger + Jackshack........ thanks for your time .........

Jackshack - yes you've got the problem spot on

Now I've looked at how the machine boots up and there ain't nothing appearing as you describe - just one screen with the blue Dell logo and the BIOS version (1.0.15) underneath it and F keys for Setup(F2) and Boot menu (F12) in blue in the top right corner of the screen. After that it goes straight to the black Windows XP startup screen with the 'travelling blue lights bar' underneath.

I've tried 'Last known good configuration' and......... it starts up exactly the same with exactly the same problem....... I still cannot access Start/Help and Support or Start/Search.

I'm still wondering if this is all pointing to a registry error ......... although I will happily be told otherwise!!!!!!

Does it now look like a full reinstall of XP? If so, please can you tell me how I do it........... There is nothing much on the machine as it is brand new ...... and if a reinstall is the most sensible thing to do I'd rather do that now than have to do it later if a repair doesn't work and I've installed all my music software.......... (I've got a theatre show to start music for within the next three weeks)

I did try to start a reinstall using the supplied Dell Reinstallation CD and I got so far then it asked for the 25 digit code which I presumed was the Produc Key off the Vista label.......... and as it would not accept this I could get no further..... Please could you tell me where to find the code if this is necessary????

Also would I need to format the hard drive before reinstalling XP or just install it over the top of the current 'damaged' version. I am happy to do whatever is the best option not just the quickest........... but would this remove the 'Utility partition'?

Thanks again ....... very much appreciated

John

It is almost certainly a registry problem.  Since you don't see the blue bar I described, I would say that PC Restore was not installed on your machine.  As it appears you are looking at a re-installation of Windows, you might want to try one more thing.  See the Microsoft note here:  Recovering from Corrupted Registry.  This is a last resort sort of thing, and you may notice that it is not recommended for computers having an OEM installation of Windows.  I suggest it only because I believe the risk is low for two reasons:  Dell doesn't normally add special accounts and passwords on their systems, and also it appears that the only way you are going to get out of this if this procedure doesn't work is to perform a manual re-installation of Windows.

This process is primarily just to get the computer working well enough to get any data you have saved to alternate media before it gets wiped out with a new installation.  If you find that the computer works acceptably after you complete it, you might try leaving it that way.  A clean installation of Windows will require you delete all information on the drive and can be tedious.  If it winds up necessary, however, you will find plenty of help here.