Well there seems to be a timing issue as to when to do it but I eventually
got the Restore activated. BUT...
A window pops up saying...
The Dell system recovery tool has detected an unsupported change in your
Master Boot Record. The tool cannot run at this time.
Ctrl-F11 doesn't do anything. The only two function keys available during boot
are F2 (Setup) and F12 (Boot Menu). The Boot Menu gives options for:
* System Setup
* Hard Drive Diagnostics
* Boot to Utility Partition
Hard Drive Diagnostics just tests the hard drives.
Utility Parition brings up a "Main Menu" with the choice of 4 buttons:
* Express Test
* Extended Test
* Custom Test
* Symptom Tree
When the Dell screen appears press and hold the Ctrlkey on the keyboard, then press the F11key and release them both at the same time. The Dell PC Restore by Symantec window appears.
The Symantec System Restore, only restores the hard drive to the factory condidion, as when you received the system. Dell also ships, a XP reinstallation CD, together with other CDs, that have the drivers and applications that were factory installed for your use.
Thanks again... sorry but I have another question that's related...
There was a "Dell OS Recovery CD" function that I ran and
created it created a CD but I'm not sure what exactly it contains.
Plus it destroys itself and I can't run it a second time.
It's up to you, unlike the PC restore partition, this is a very small one. This EISA FAT32 partition that exists on the drive, contains diagnostic software, that's installed at the factory when the system is built. The reason for this being setup on a FAT32 partition, is so that it can be accessed through a boot disk in case the NTFS partition is not bootable. You do not have to have this diagnostic partition on a system for normal operation, but it may be helpful for some types of technical problems, if you have to call into Dell Technical Support.
As all the same diagnostic tools are on your Dell Resource CD, this partition can be removed without causing a problem, but once removed, it can not be recreated.
That's a new one I've not seen before, but as I will be receiving a new system from Dell this week, guess I'll be finding out. Maybe some other poster can help you about this. Did you check what was downloaded on the CD?
It appears to be a Windows Installer. When system is booted with
the CD, it's "Windows XP Home Edition Setup".
I'm just curious as to what it all contains. Is it basically the
same thing as the "Reinstallation CD" that came with the new system
and is bare bones? Or does it contain (1) the additional drivers
that were installed when I created the CD and/or (2) any additional
software that I installed when I created the CD.
That's a new one on me, I've always used Dell's operating system reinstallation, etc, CDs. But like I've said, I will find out this weekend. I understand now that Dell does not send a paper manual anymore, it's on the hard drive. The last new Dell I set up was in August '04 and that came with the paper manual, but the Symantec PC Restore was on the HD.
brucehh
57 Posts
0
January 19th, 2005 19:00
and software CDs that came with the system?
Does it contain any other stuff that I couldn't rebuild with all
the given CDs?
ejn63
9 Legend
•
87.5K Posts
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January 19th, 2005 19:00
shesagordie
10 Elder
•
46K Posts
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January 19th, 2005 19:00
brucehh.
The D4700 has these factory installed partitions.
http://support.dell.com/support/topics/global.aspx/support/kb/en/document?dn=1090195&c=us&l=en&s=dhs&cs=19
The instructions for using the above are here :
http://support.dell.com/support/topics/global.aspx/support/kb/en/document?dn=1090151&c=us&l=en&s=dhs&cs=19
The small partition is Dell's Hidden EISA Partition that has diagnostics.
Bev.
brucehh
57 Posts
0
January 19th, 2005 20:00
got the Restore activated. BUT...
A window pops up saying...
The Dell system recovery tool has detected an unsupported change in your
Master Boot Record. The tool cannot run at this time.
Is this because I ran Partition Magic?
brucehh
57 Posts
0
January 19th, 2005 20:00
are F2 (Setup) and F12 (Boot Menu). The Boot Menu gives options for:
* System Setup
* Hard Drive Diagnostics
* Boot to Utility Partition
Hard Drive Diagnostics just tests the hard drives.
Utility Parition brings up a "Main Menu" with the choice of 4 buttons:
* Express Test
* Extended Test
* Custom Test
* Symptom Tree
I see no "Restore" Utility
brucehh
57 Posts
0
January 19th, 2005 20:00
the F12 Utility functions, so I should leave that?
Thanks for your help Bev...
bruce
shesagordie
10 Elder
•
46K Posts
0
January 19th, 2005 20:00
brucehh.
When the Dell screen appears press and hold the Ctrl key on the keyboard, then press the F11 key and release them both at the same time. The Dell PC Restore by Symantec window appears.
Bev.
shesagordie
10 Elder
•
46K Posts
0
January 19th, 2005 20:00
brucehh.
Yes, since you have used MP and this does change the system's MBR, the Symantec's PC Restore utility is no longer usable.
Bev.
shesagordie
10 Elder
•
46K Posts
0
January 19th, 2005 20:00
brucehh.
The Symantec System Restore, only restores the hard drive to the factory condidion, as when you received the system. Dell also ships, a XP reinstallation CD, together with other CDs, that have the drivers and applications that were factory installed for your use.
Bev.
brucehh
57 Posts
0
January 19th, 2005 21:00
There was a "Dell OS Recovery CD" function that I ran and
created it created a CD but I'm not sure what exactly it contains.
Plus it destroys itself and I can't run it a second time.
What is this?
shesagordie
10 Elder
•
46K Posts
0
January 19th, 2005 21:00
brucehh.
It's up to you, unlike the PC restore partition, this is a very small one. This EISA FAT32 partition that exists on the drive, contains diagnostic software, that's installed at the factory when the system is built.
The reason for this being setup on a FAT32 partition, is so that it can be accessed through a boot disk in case the NTFS partition is not bootable.
You do not have to have this diagnostic partition on a system for normal operation, but it may be helpful for some types of technical problems, if you have to call into Dell Technical Support.
As all the same diagnostic tools are on your Dell Resource CD, this partition can be removed without causing a
problem, but once removed, it can not be recreated.
Bev.
shesagordie
10 Elder
•
46K Posts
0
January 19th, 2005 22:00
brucehh.
That's a new one I've not seen before, but as I will be receiving a new system from Dell this week, guess I'll be finding out.
Maybe some other poster can help you about this. Did you check what was downloaded on the CD?
Bev.
brucehh
57 Posts
0
January 19th, 2005 22:00
It appears to be a Windows Installer. When system is booted with
the CD, it's "Windows XP Home Edition Setup".
I'm just curious as to what it all contains. Is it basically the
same thing as the "Reinstallation CD" that came with the new system
and is bare bones? Or does it contain (1) the additional drivers
that were installed when I created the CD and/or (2) any additional
software that I installed when I created the CD.
bruce
shesagordie
10 Elder
•
46K Posts
0
January 19th, 2005 23:00
Bruce.
That's a new one on me, I've always used Dell's operating system reinstallation, etc, CDs. But like I've said, I will find out this weekend.
I understand now that Dell does not send a paper manual anymore, it's on the hard drive.
The last new Dell I set up was in August '04 and that came with the paper manual, but the Symantec PC Restore was on the HD.
Bev.