UNSOLVED
M
malenurse00
1 Message
0
7074
March 25th, 2008 23:00
Lost recovery CD!! Help!!!
I currently own an Inspiron B130. I am wanting to upgrade my 40 gig hard drive. The problem is that I cannot locate my recovery CD so that I can re-install the factory software on the new hard drive. I know that there is recovery area on my current hard drive, as I have already "reset" my laptop to factory hardware and software settings. My question is how do I copy or transfer this data to a CD or DVD, so that when I install a new hard drive, I can just run the recovery program from the disc??? Any help would greatly be appreciated.
James201,
It's a tad different than the other one, but I get a 500 Server Error when I click the Request Backup Discs button.
You may have to call Customer Support at the number on the top of the above link.
Tony
Alexandra_P
4 Apprentice
•
2554 Posts
164
0
Posted March 26th, 2008 21:00
A while back a member found a link to the UK disk request form, but it doesn't work when I try it:
You may just have to call Dell UK directly and ask.
Message Edited by Alexandra_P on 03-26-2008 03:16 PM
tgsmith
2862 Posts
164
0
Posted March 26th, 2008 07:00
Malenurse00,
You can request backup discs for your system here: http://support.dell.com/support/topics/global.aspx/support/dellcare/en/backupcd_form?c=us&l=en&s=gen&redirect=1
The Dell PC Restore by Symantec uses a proprietary master boot record to implement the Ctrl F11 access to the Restore Partition. Some use imaging software such as Acronis True Image to image their systems independently.
The method I prefer is as follows:
Purchase a USB laptop drive enclosure or adapter.
Connect the new drive to the USB adapter.
Clone the existing laptop drive's partitions to the new drive.
Install the new, cloned drive in the laptop.
Use Dan Goodell's dsrfix program to restore access to the PC Restore partition on the new drive.
This method can be tricky to implement correctly. The reason is that most cloning software will give you the option to automatically resize the partitions of the smaller, old drive to the larger, new drive. Obviously, the Dell Utility Partition and the Dell PC Restore partition do not need to be resized since this would partially defeat the purpose of installing a larger drive. Additionally, whether you resize those partitions or not, you will have to use the dsrfix program to regain functionality of the Dell PC Restore by Symantec.
Therefore, I clone the old drive to the new drive one partition at a time, resizing only the Operating System partition. This is the tricky part. The first partition is the Utility partition. Cloning it without resizing it is no problem. The second partition is the Operating System partition. Resizing it during cloning requires that you leave adequate space for the third, PC Restore partition.
Once the three partitions are cloned, the fun begins. You then install the new drive in the laptop and boot the system with a DOS disk containing the dsrfix program. If you can read and follow instructions, the dsrfix program can restore functionality of the Dell PC Restore by Symantec. It's not an easy task, but well worth the effort when you succeed.
Dan Goodell's discussion of the Dell PC Restore is here: http://www.goodells.net/dellrestore/
Some have reported success cloning Dell systems using Casper. See this for more info: http://www.fssdev.com/
I hope this info helps.
Tony