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Problems with Factory Image Restore on Dell Inspiron 1750
Using the document at http://support.dell.com/support/topics/global.aspx/support/dsn/en/document?docid=362066 (I have Windows 7), I tried to restore my Dell Inspiron 1750 to the factory image. I hit F8 to get to the Advanced Boot Options, and then chose Repair Your Computer. However, after I hit return, Windows loaded normally. After some looking around, I found that there is definitely a Recovery partition on my computer. Is there an alternative to restoring it since F8 isn't doing it? Thank you!
Nitricpyro
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October 6th, 2014 11:00
THIS IS A VERY GOOD POST!!!
There are some things to note here though. Running the process listed above as described above will most likely give you one of two errors; but it is on the right path.
Things to note:
1) In my case I loaded a 64-bit version of the OS instead of the 32-bit version that was in the restore. This is part of the problem with getting the errors.
2) I deleted and then formatted ONLY the partition with the OS on it. It's this deletion that causes the F8 not to work.
To solve the problem I did the following:
1) Downloaded a copy of the same 32-bit version of the OS
2) Installed it ONLY on the OS partition
3) Once installed I did not do any of the updates or install any of the drivers... instead I put the disk back into the computer and booted from it again.
4) When prompted to "Install" instead select "Repair my computer"
5) Let the repair try to do it thing and tell it no or cancel.
6) You will then be brought to a screen with a bunch of options on it like "Restore from a previous save" etc. The last option is command prompt.
7) Select Command Prompt
8) THIS IS WHERE YOU NEED TO navigate to your USB drive and run the command above. It SHOULD complete for you.
9) When completed restart the computer and let it boot into the now (SAME) 32-bit OS that you installed in step 1.
10) NOW and only now will you have the F8 option.
11) Press F8, select Vista, let it load (Yes, it looks like it's loading the OS but it's not)
12) You will be presented with a VERY similar screen to step 6) except there will be another option "Restore from Dell Recovery Partition"
13) Choose that option and let it run.
14) Wha laa! You're back to original factory condition!
Mary G
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20.1K Posts
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December 29th, 2009 12:00
Was Windows 7 the OS that was on the computer when you received it? If so, did you ever change, backup to or add to the Recovery Partition? If you upgraded to Win 7, the recovery partition will not work. If you changed anything on the D partition, it won't work. Make sure you are using the arrow key to select Repair and not the mouse.
The only alternative is to do a manual restore from disk if you cannot get PC Restore to work.
mombodog
12.7K Posts
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December 29th, 2009 13:00
Actually that statement is wrong.
See this, it should work for W7 also. Scroll down to "Run PC Restore From a Microsoft® Windows Vista DVD"
http://support.dell.com/support/topics/global.aspx/support/dsn/en/document?c=us&cs=19&dl=false&l=en&s=dhs&docid=298A2E89689E13C2E040A68F5B280AA4&doclang=en#2
Here is yet another method: Works for Vista, I have not tested it for W7, but should work if you get the proper file path for the wim file located on the restore partition.
Here's how to reinstall your Factory Image manually as long as the Factory Image partition is intact.
First, go here: http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/details.aspx?FamilyID=696dd665-9f76-4177-a811-39c26d3b3b34&displaylang=en
Download the Windows 7 Automated Installation Kit. Burn the WAIK ISO image to a DVD by right clicking on it in W7 and select "open with"> windows disc image burner
Now, insert the DVD in a computer running W7. Install the WAIK.
Navigate to the Program Files folder where WAIK was installed. Find the Tools subdirectory. Under it you will see four folders: AMD64, IA64, SERVICING, and X86. Copy these folders to a USB drive. They total less than 100Mb, so you can use a 128Mb USB flash drive if need be.
If you have installed Vista on the C:\ drive, then you can simply boot up your system. Locate the file name factory.wim on the Factory Image partition. Make a note of the drive letter and path to that file.
Open an elevated command prompt. Navigate to the Tools\x86\ folder on your USB flash drive.
Type the following command: imagex /apply d:\dell\image\factory.wim 1 c:\ your file path may be different, use the one you noted earlier.
Your system should be restored to its original "as-shipped" configuration in about 30-45 minutes.
Note that this restores Dell's Proprietary Master Boot Record so that in the future will be able to access the Factory Image by pressing F8 while booting up.
.
mombodog
12.7K Posts
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December 29th, 2009 16:00
yes the path may be different for W7, you need to know the path to the wim file on the D drive
.
C3PO5
2.7K Posts
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December 29th, 2009 16:00
Hi
You need to go to the tools folder in D:\ and post the files names to this thread, it seems you are missing the pcrestore file without it downloading WAIK will not help you at all !
spookyhurst
11 Posts
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December 29th, 2009 16:00
Window 7 is my original OS, so the recovery partition should be untouched.
I've tried this:
path d:\windows;d:\windows\system32
d:
CD Tools
PCRestore
However, when I got to the CD Tools part, I was given an error (I think it said it was an unknown command).
I'll download WAIK and see if that method works.
Thanks a lot for your help!
spookyhurst
11 Posts
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December 29th, 2009 22:00
I found PCRestore in D:\Temp1234\Tools
When I tried to run it, I got an error message stating that the program couldn't run because it was missing oledlg.dll. It's getting late, so I think I'll research that one tomorrow.
C3PO5
2.7K Posts
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December 30th, 2009 10:00
Hi
Remove this folder {Temp1234\} and see if it will work for you ! I am not sure if the 7 D:\recovery is the same as Vista but the vista recovery drive has these folders .
Dell,
Program Files,
ProgramData this may be hidden
sources
tools
Users
windows
in it . any other folders should not be in the recovery drive at lest for Vista !Maybe someone with a 7 D:\Recovery drive can confirm what folders should be in it .
Good Luck
spookyhurst
11 Posts
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December 30th, 2009 14:00
But Temp1234 appears to be the only place that PCRestore is located. The folders in Temp 1234 are:
BOOT
DELL
Program Files
Program Data (hidden)
Sources
Tools
Users
Windows
The files in there are:
dslhold.fil
MASTER (a text file)
setup (an application)
I found a place to download the oledlg.dll file, so I guess I should see if replacing the ones on my computer with this one will help.
C3PO5
2.7K Posts
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December 30th, 2009 15:00
Hi
Instead of using the cd tools try cd temp1234 hit the enter key then type pcrestore.
path d:\windows;d:\windows\system32
d:\
cd temp1234 then pcrestore
spookyhurst
11 Posts
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December 30th, 2009 18:00
Well, I almost had success. I didn't download the new dll, I just followed C3PO5's suggestion with an addition:
path d:\windows;d:\windows\system32
d:\
cd Temp1234/Tools
PCRestore
This got me to the Dell Factory Image Restore window, and I clicked on "yes" to reformat the hard drive and restore the system. The little bar filled up saying that the hard drive was reformatting, and then a second bar filled up saying the image was being restored. Then at the end, I got an error message saying that the image failed to restore. I clicked on okay, and the system just stayed on a blank page. I restarted the computer, and tried going through the whole process a second time, and the same thing happened. The funny thing is, the computer restarts in the same state as it was before all this. It didn't reformat it the hard drive, even though it appeared to do so.
C3PO5
2.7K Posts
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December 30th, 2009 19:00
Hi
It seems the factory.wim file is corrupt at this point your only option is to reinstall win 7 using the DVD and the other disk that came with your computer .
You can delete the partitions and make one partition to installl 7 on
Sorry it did not work for you.
Good Luck
mombodog
12.7K Posts
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December 30th, 2009 19:00
"It seems the factory.wim file is corrupt at this point "
I wonder if running a chkdsk on that partiton would fix it.
.
C3PO5
2.7K Posts
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December 30th, 2009 22:00
Hi
MD after thinking about the factory.wim file it may not be corrupt if it is not in the dell\image folder it will give the same results that the OP had !
What is really getting me about this is why is there a boot folder in the recovery drive something is not adding up here did the op reinstall 7 and had it install to the d:\ partition ?
At this point i can only guess the op did reinstall 7 to that partition the reason i think this is there is a boot loader there and why was the tools folder reset to temp1234\tools?
The d:\ boot loader may pass the boot to c:\ so windows will load in c:\
If the format does not format c:\ windows to it is saying it tried but if the real OS is on the d:\ then it is not going to format the drive because it is the system drive not the real c:\OS partition !
I can only guess as to what is real problem with the OP windows at this point all i have is a lot of question marks ????on my end .
And i do not know that much about chkdsk but i was thinking if it does not see factory.wim as a standard windows file it would just pass it by because it has nothing to compare it to.
spookyhurst
11 Posts
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December 31st, 2009 07:00
No, I've never reinstalled windows. The Temp1234 folder and all its contents were there when I got the computer. Tis a conundrum! I'll try running chkdsk just for the heck of it though.
I did a search for Temp1234 and found someone who also has this file on a new compute running Windows 7: http://www.sevenforums.com/general-discussion/48875-temp1234.html . Unfortunately, no one seemed to know what this file is and why it's there.