If you've done a clean install from a Windows CD, or anything else that has changed the MBR, you've lost access to the recovery partition by hitting Ctrl-F11.
If you have not reloaded windows xp or formatted the hard disk there is a good chance the dell restore will work. Sometimes it takes three or four attempts to get the restore program to launch, be persistant, it will start. Press ctrl+F11 when you see the blue bar at the top of the screen. When the program starts, follow the instructions on screen, if you get an error message about the MBR don`t panic because there is a simple workaround for that. I have used the dell restore several times and it works great. I even got the MBR error once. Give me more information about what happens when you try to start the restore by pressing ctrl+F11.
Thanks for the reply, I get the Dell screen when it says Dell in big letters in the middle, but I don't get the blue bar at the top screen. I've tried CTRL F11 and I've read that pc restore instruction page, by doing it 20 times and it not working I just need to find the right time to do it. I've not uninstalled anything so MBR files untouched. The computer is still new works great. Thanks again for help. If I can't get that blue bar on top of screen which else is a good time. I'll try different times
You can check to see if the dell restore partition is on the hard drive by going to control panel>administrative tools>computer management>disk management. There should be two hidden partitions(no drive letter), one is fat and is about 40MB, the other is fat 32 and is about 3-4 GB. The fat 32 partition is the dell restore image, if you see it chances are good that ctrl+F11 will work. On some computers the blue bar flashes so quickly that if you blink you miss it. When booting hold down ctrl and tap F11 every second or two should do the trick.
Ok my first partition is fat Healthy (EISA Configuration) 39 MB 32MB 82% No 0%
My second partition is NTFS Healthy (System) 148.96GB 133.05GB 89% No 0%
I don't get the Dell Blue Bar at the top during startup. My system is new I did'nt remove anything. I still can't do a pc restore and I know the blue bar shouild come after the screen that says Dell in the middle. I have done CTRL F11 repeatedly. Technical service is'nt helping they say its a software problem and want to charge me for it. Any ideas?? Please help =). Because I want to be able to do a PC restore whenever I want.
I also only have those 2 partitions, but I reinstalled XP shortly after I received the computer. Apparently that also changes the partition table and that recovery partition is gone.
To me that's no big deal. If you have the Windows disk, Dell Resource CD, and the assorted application CD's with the original programs that came with the computer you can recovery any time you want. It won't be the same as originally shipped, but most would consider it better as none of the junk Dell installs will be included.
Has anyone else reformatted, reinstalled XP, and still has the recovery partition?
Thanks for your reply, I've done nothing to my computer, it was shipped like this and I don't like using the resource cds or tearing through stuff, I want it just like my friends computer and the funny thing is when I bought it over the phone I asked the Dell representative if I could do pc restore with the xps I was about to buy and he said yes. Ah well please keep sending your thoughts.
davejohn
2 Intern
•
2.5K Posts
0
December 28th, 2005 20:00
If you've done a clean install from a Windows CD, or anything else that has changed the MBR, you've lost access to the recovery partition by hitting Ctrl-F11.
See here for a possible work around.
Dave
Message Edited by davejohn on 12-28-2005 05:45 PM
Pat1
176 Posts
0
December 28th, 2005 22:00
shanemichael
If you have not reloaded windows xp or formatted the hard disk there is a good chance the dell restore will work. Sometimes it takes three or four attempts to get the restore program to launch, be persistant, it will start. Press ctrl+F11 when you see the blue bar at the top of the screen. When the program starts, follow the instructions on screen, if you get an error message about the MBR don`t panic because there is a simple workaround for that. I have used the dell restore several times and it works great. I even got the MBR error once. Give me more information about what happens when you try to start the restore by pressing ctrl+F11.
Pat
shanemichael
4 Posts
0
December 29th, 2005 03:00
Thanks for the reply, I get the Dell screen when it says Dell in big letters in the middle, but I don't get the blue bar at the top screen. I've tried CTRL F11 and I've read that pc restore instruction page, by doing it 20 times and it not working I just need to find the right time to do it. I've not uninstalled anything so MBR files untouched. The computer is still new works great. Thanks again for help. If I can't get that blue bar on top of screen which else is a good time. I'll try different times
Dell XPS600
p4 proc.640 . 3.2ghz, 800FSBw/HT
1GBDDR2 SDRAM
Windows XP Media Center
Pat1
176 Posts
0
December 29th, 2005 11:00
shanemichael
You can check to see if the dell restore partition is on the hard drive by going to control panel>administrative tools>computer management>disk management. There should be two hidden partitions(no drive letter), one is fat and is about 40MB, the other is fat 32 and is about 3-4 GB. The fat 32 partition is the dell restore image, if you see it chances are good that ctrl+F11 will work. On some computers the blue bar flashes so quickly that if you blink you miss it. When booting hold down ctrl and tap F11 every second or two should do the trick.
Pat
shanemichael
4 Posts
0
January 4th, 2006 04:00
Ok my first partition is fat Healthy (EISA Configuration) 39 MB 32MB 82% No 0%
My second partition is NTFS Healthy (System) 148.96GB 133.05GB 89% No 0%
I don't get the Dell Blue Bar at the top during startup. My system is new I did'nt remove anything. I still can't do a pc restore and I know the blue bar shouild come after the screen that says Dell in the middle. I have done CTRL F11 repeatedly. Technical service is'nt helping they say its a software problem and want to charge me for it. Any ideas?? Please help =). Because I want to be able to do a PC restore whenever I want.
davejohn
2 Intern
•
2.5K Posts
0
January 4th, 2006 10:00
shanemichael
4 Posts
0
January 5th, 2006 04:00
Thanks for your reply, I've done nothing to my computer, it was shipped like this and I don't like using the resource cds or tearing through stuff, I want it just like my friends computer and the funny thing is when I bought it over the phone I asked the Dell representative if I could do pc restore with the xps I was about to buy and he said yes. Ah well please keep sending your thoughts.
Shane