Well - so did I think too... But with the backup CD created (no disc was shipped with the computer)
I can only reach things like "restore" "install" "reinstall" "repair" etc when I boot from
the CD. How do I get a functional OS when booting from the backup-CD?
Yes - now I have done it that way. But so I´ve lost all the original Dell-installation...
Wanted to avoid that - by booting from an external device.
btw USB-boot is listed as an alternative in the setup boot-sequense (USB device)
so... are you really shure XP doesn´t boot from USB?
Is there a simpel way (like from somewhwere in the dell - website) to restore their
original istallation on my new partitions..? I think it´s bad they dont ship a CD or
DVD with a copy of the original installation. It´s not only the system-special-setup
that I loose. (I´m doing all this to help a friend - I would never buy a computer
with lots of software installed without having it fysically in my hand aswell)
The Dell-support doesn´t exactly make stars shine and rockets take off...
If your original purpose was to validate the installation CD without loosing the original configuration, a temporary replacement hard drive would be appropriate. If you wish to multi-boot from the original hard drive, accomodation must be made for the dependancies of Dell's special features.
My only aim was to create new partitions on the internal HD - without loosing the original
installation for ever... But since it was impossible to install XP on an external HD and
also to make a backup of the internal content (files not in use were "still in use" and would not copy - even if I booted from the CD(!) like a catch 22 issue), most of it is gone. I think i managed to keep most of Dells PC-restore... I hope it was the Media Direct-partition that I erased totally.
>"If you wish to multi-boot from the original hard drive, accomodation must be made for the dependancies of
>Dell's special features."
That was what I tried, without going out and buy another system CD or a scsi-card and HD...
Probably a DOS-expert or something like it - could have solved this in 3 minutes (hours?) -
but I, a semi-religious MacOS:ist, did not!
But finally, though I have resisted for loooong - it forced me to LEARN quite a lot about Windows.
That will become very useful in the future. (bought me an XP-bible)
Now I´m singing and dancing in the setup and "command-fields" with a relaxed (almost) smile attached
to my face..!
Thank you (two) for trying to understand and answer my strange questions. Coming from a MacOS:ist my perspective might seem weird? (a task like this is really MUCH easier in the apple-world)
My only aim was to create new partitions on the internal HD - without loosing the original
installation for ever... But since it was impossible to install XP on an external HD and
also to make a backup of the internal content (files not in use were "still in use" and would not copy - even if I booted from the CD(!) like a catch 22 issue), most of it is gone. I think i managed to keep most of Dells PC-restore... I hope it was the Media Direct-partition that I erased totally.
The only way to add partitions on the existing drive is to reinstall XP or buy a product like Partition Magic.
ejn63
9 Legend
•
87.5K Posts
0
August 28th, 2006 21:00
Mark Quest
6 Posts
0
August 28th, 2006 22:00
So HOW do I make partitions on the active startup volume?
From what can XP boot? (if not from an external disc...?)
ejn63
9 Legend
•
87.5K Posts
0
August 30th, 2006 00:00
Mark Quest
6 Posts
0
August 30th, 2006 01:00
Well - so did I think too... But with the backup CD created (no disc was shipped with the computer)
I can only reach things like "restore" "install" "reinstall" "repair" etc when I boot from
the CD. How do I get a functional OS when booting from the backup-CD?
ejn63
9 Legend
•
87.5K Posts
0
August 31st, 2006 00:00
Mark Quest
6 Posts
0
September 1st, 2006 00:00
Wanted to avoid that - by booting from an external device.
btw USB-boot is listed as an alternative in the setup boot-sequense (USB device)
so... are you really shure XP doesn´t boot from USB?
Is there a simpel way (like from somewhwere in the dell - website) to restore their
original istallation on my new partitions..? I think it´s bad they dont ship a CD or
DVD with a copy of the original installation. It´s not only the system-special-setup
that I loose. (I´m doing all this to help a friend - I would never buy a computer
with lots of software installed without having it fysically in my hand aswell)
The Dell-support doesn´t exactly make stars shine and rockets take off...
GreyMack
2.2K Posts
0
September 1st, 2006 17:00
In situations where the Dell PC Restore feature is not adequate, the installation CDs can be requested from Dell Support. http://forums.us.dell.com/supportforums/board/message?board.id=sw_winxp&message.id=199162
If your original purpose was to validate the installation CD without loosing the original configuration, a temporary replacement hard drive would be appropriate. If you wish to multi-boot from the original hard drive, accomodation must be made for the dependancies of Dell's special features.
GM
Mark Quest
6 Posts
0
September 1st, 2006 20:00
My only aim was to create new partitions on the internal HD - without loosing the original
installation for ever... But since it was impossible to install XP on an external HD and
also to make a backup of the internal content (files not in use were "still in use" and would not copy - even if I booted from the CD(!) like a catch 22 issue), most of it is gone. I think i managed to keep most of Dells PC-restore... I hope it was the Media Direct-partition that I erased totally.
>"If you wish to multi-boot from the original hard drive, accomodation must be made for the dependancies of
>Dell's special features."
That was what I tried, without going out and buy another system CD or a scsi-card and HD...
Probably a DOS-expert or something like it - could have solved this in 3 minutes (hours?) -
but I, a semi-religious MacOS:ist, did not!
But finally, though I have resisted for loooong - it forced me to LEARN quite a lot about Windows.
That will become very useful in the future. (bought me an XP-bible)
Now I´m singing and dancing in the setup and "command-fields" with a relaxed (almost) smile attached
to my face..!
Thank you (two) for trying to understand and answer my strange questions. Coming from a MacOS:ist my perspective might seem weird? (a task like this is really MUCH easier in the apple-world)
rickmktg
2 Intern
•
11.9K Posts
0
September 3rd, 2006 02:00