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Go to SolutionInspiron 1525 - factory image restore problems (need help!)
Hi all,
I have a problem with my Dell Inspiron 1525 I cannot solve... so please help me!!
My Windows Vista Home Edition crached while installing an update and now could not start anymore (I always receive that bad blue screen while starting), so I'd like to repair my laptop using the Dell factory image.
I'm following these steps ...with related problems
1.. I hit F8 while booting but there is no "Restore Dell factory image" entry or something like that (I even tried each entry one by one but nothing starting factory imagine restore).
2.. By booting with an Ubuntu live cd, I can see that there is a partition containing (amoung other files and folders) that image ( : \dell\image\factory.wim), and a Tools folder where there is imagex.exe and pcrestore.exe files
3..a.. Using a bootable usb pen drive containing a bootable dos version, I boot into the system. I also put into that usb pen, ntfspro.exe in order to read ntfs partition
b.. I went into D:\Tools and run this command:
> PCRestore.exe --> but I received an error saying that this program cannot be run in dos mode
c.. so I tried this one else (I read it here in Dell Forum):
> imagex /apply c:\dell\image\factory.wim 1 c:\ --> but I received the same error as above, that is this program cannot be run in dos mode
4.. Moreover (and I think this is strange), I tried to boot with the operating system dvd shipped by Dell with the laptop: Windows starts loading but just after the (green) progress bar appears down the screen, it crashes again showing that bad blue screen!
Now I don't know what else I can do!!!!!!
.....please help me!!!
Is there a way to restore the laptop with the Dell factory image??
Thanks,
Orlando
I solved my problem!!! thanks to your help!!
I summarize here what I did to help other people with the same problem.
Problem
My system crashed while booting Windows Vista Home Edition from HD and even while booting from Vista DVD showing, in both cases, the blue screen error code "STOP 0x0000C1F5"
Solution
I followed the (detailed) instruction reported here:
http://www.delmartian.com/nullpointers/Workaround-for-STOP-0x0000C1F5-0xC1F5-C1F5-BSOD-CLFS.SYS-KB946084.html
Details
a.. download SystemRescueCd from here http://www.sysresccd.org/Download
b.. burn the ISO image on a cd
c.. boot the bad laptop using this cd
d.. follow these steps
- Boot the SystemRescueCD disc, answering any localization questions as required, until you get to a shell prompt.
- Mount your hard drive at /mnt/windows using ntfs-3g, e.g. "ntfs-3g /dev/sda1 /mnt/windows". You may have to "ls /dev/hd*" or "ls /dev/sd*" or "fdisk -l" to figure out the correct device to mount. If you are using a RAID device for your root file system, run "dmraid -ay" to attempt to mount all available RAID file systems, then "ls /dev/mapper" and look for your device. Also, if the NTFS file system is corrupted (which it probably is if you are reading this post) you may have to add the "-o force" flag to the mount, e.g. "ntfs-3g /dev/sda1 /mnt/windows -o force
- Verify that you have the correct file system mounted by "ls /mnt/windows". You should see the content of "C:" or whatever is your boot drive in Windows... if you don't, repeat Step 2 until you mount the correct device.
- Navigate to the first hidden folder: "cd /mnt/windows/\$Extend". Note the backslash before the $; that is important as it keeps the command shell from interpreting the $ (it is really part of the file name).
- Navigate to the second hidden folder: type "cd \$RmMetadata". Once again, note that the $ is escaped with a backslash.
- Type "ls". Among the files/folders listed you should see "$TxfLog".
- Take a deep breath and recursively remove the $TxfLog file: "rm -rf \$TxfLog". Once again, note that the $ is escaped with a backslash.
- Use "ls" to verify that it has been deleted. (You should see the same listing as in Step 6 except the $TxfLog folder is now missing.)
- Type "cd /"
- Type "umount /mnt/windows" to cleanly unmount your NTFS filesystem.
- Type "init 6" to reboot, removing the CD when appropriate.
e.. while booting press F8 and enter the System Startup Option
f.. choose Repair your computer
g.. the system should now boot showing a window screen with several options.
h.. choose Restore Dell Factory Image and follow the (few) instructions you are prompted
That's all!!
Your system should be correctly restored to its "as-shipped" configuration.
Thanks again to this forum!
Orlando
- Verify the modem or network cable is detached from the computer.
-
- Start the computer.
- When the Dell splash screen appears during startup, press + and release them at the same time
- Note: Press the key combination only once. If you press them more than once, a keyboard error occurs. Restart the computer and repeat the steps above.
-
- Click Accept when the Symantec|Dell Recovery Environment End User License Agreement screen appears. The Symantec Recovery Disk window appears displaying two options:
- Recover My Computer - Restores your computer to a backup point:
- Click Recover My Computer.
- When the Select Recovery Point window appears, click to select the recovery point from which you want to restore, and click Recover My Computer.
- Follow the onscreen instructions to complete the recovery process.
- Click Recover My Computer.
- Recover My Computer to Original Dell Configuration - Restore your computer to its original Dell configuration:
- Click Recover My Computer to Original Dell Configuration. The Recover My Computer Wizard window appears.
- Click Recover My Computer to Original Dell Configuration. The Recover My Computer Wizard window appears.
- Recover My Computer - Restores your computer to a backup point:
- Click Yes and press .
- Click Yes when the Recover My Computer Wizard dialog box appears, and press .
- Click Accept when the Symantec|Dell Recovery Environment End User License Agreement screen appears. The Symantec Recovery Disk window appears displaying two options:
-
The Ghost32 window appears, and the restore process begins, which takes approximately 8 to 10 minutes to complete. When complete, the computer restarts.
Hi,
thank you for your answer but I already tryed that way but without success...
No entry of F8 menu and of "Repair your computer" menu let me access the restore factory image feature!
I read somewhere on Dell support that this feature could be not enabled for specific countries and/or specific system, and I suppose this is my case (Italy - Inspiron 1525)... unfortunately!!
Bye..
David_Castlewoo
1 Message
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Posted March 17th, 2009 06:00
Normal 0 MicrosoftInternetExplorer4
I am having the exact same issues as Orlando1. I really hope someone can post a solution here soon.
TheRealFireblad
4 Apprentice
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4639 Posts
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Posted March 17th, 2009 15:00
Is there another way to access the factory image recovery feature?
Unfortunately not - no :emotion-6:
I think I have it figured out.
When I would hit CTRL+F11 I would get a screen with the "how should I start Windows screen" (Safe Mode, etc). The last time I got this screen, I started in safe mode, then shut down properly. When I powered it back up, I hit CTRL+F11 when the Dell logo appeared and it worked. It's restoring my system as I write this.
I hope this helps.
orlando1
Assume your Inspiron 1525 was supplied with Windows Vista preinstalled?
You don’t mention what the original BSOD error message is?
Have you tried Recovery Environment using Windows Vista® DVD procedure Dell Support
Just some notes regarding Dell OEM preinstalled Windows & Factory Image Restore
Windows XP – it’s the Ctrl + F11 key function to boot to DSR factory image
Windows Vista – it’s the F8 key function to boot to ImageX format factory image
Vista (ImageX format) factory restore is not available on some computers purchased through an Express Upgrade promotion or a computer upgraded from XP version to Windows Vista
Jesse L (retired)
10 Wizard
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69016 Points
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Posted March 13th, 2009 05:00
orlando1,
Thank you for using the Dell Community Forum.
When you press F8 and at the menu choose the option that reads "Repair your Computer" and follow the menu to restore the system.
This utility formats the operating system hard drive partition prior to restoring the factory image. This means data on that partition is deleted and cannot be recovered.
If you create a second partition with a third-party utility, Dell Factory Image Restore is not affected as long as the image partition is not removed.
Jesse L (retired)