Skip to main content
Start a Conversation

Unsolved

This post is more than 5 years old

Closed

F

FayeC

6 Posts

80450

April 28th, 2007 00:00

Inspiron 9400 complete reinstall

I bought my Inspiron 9400 3 1/2 months ago and just this past Monday I was using it normally and pressed the Media Direct button by mistake. It opened a screen saying it was searching for media. Then it prompted for my password. Since I hadn't used the Media DIrect before I had no password to input. I clicked cancel and that caused programs to freeze. I then decided to reboot the computer and that turned out to be a BIG mistake.
After that I got the dreaded blue screen with the STOP error # 0x00000024.
I called support and the only option they gave me was to fully format my hard drive (losing ALL my files!!!) and reinstall Windows.
My question is: will I get all the original programs the computer was shipped with?
I had McAfee installed and I didn't get any McAfee disc with the computer.
How is the computer restored to factory default?

Any help is appreciated.

Thanks,

FayeC

tgsmith

2.9K Posts

April 28th, 2007 03:00

FayeC,
 
See this link regarding Stop: 0x00000024 error message:  http://support.microsoft.com/?kbid=228888&sd=RMVP.
 
Use the chkdsk /r option recommended in the above link.  It will most likely fix your problem.
 
The Dell PC Restore by Symantec will restore your computer to its as-shipped condition, including all pre-installed software such as McAfee Viruscan.  Any software installations, configurations, documents, data files, etc. created by you will be lost.
 
 
Hope this info answers your questions.
 
Tony
 
 

Noxo

2 Intern

 • 

414 Posts

April 28th, 2007 03:00

Also, if you would like a copy of your mcafee disc, you can request one by calling 800-269-6990

FayeC

6 Posts

April 28th, 2007 13:00

I wish I had checked here before calling support on the phone..... They told me to do a clean install and now I am having a hard time getting everything to work as when the computer arrived. They instructed me to delete the partition, create a new partition and install a clean copy of windows. Now...after the installation I tried to install the drivers in the correct order but somehow some of the critical drivers show as installed but they are not....which means that by skipping those that show installed I messed the first installation. So here I am again doing a second reformat....... Any tips on how to get the computer completely restored to factory defaults after a full format. Thanks, FayeC

tgsmith

2.9K Posts

April 28th, 2007 21:00

FayeC,
 
If you deleted all partitions on the 9400, there is no easy way to get it back exactly as it was received from Dell.  Not to worry.  If the hard drive had ever died, you would have to reinstall XP as you are doing now.
 
Once you get Windows XP installed, install the Intel mobile chipset driver first, then video, audio, network, etc.  Once all drivers are installed and working, then install your application software, printer software/drivers, antivirus, antispyware, and so forth.
 
 
Once Windows is installed, there is no need to reinstall it again if something doesn't work right away.  Just post back here with the problem, and we'll tell you how to get it working.
 
Tony

PDM.SAT

2 Posts

May 1st, 2007 10:00

Hi :) I would like to use the "The Dell PC Restore". However, everytime I press "CTRL"-"F11" the system does not proceed to the "DELL PC Restore by Symantec". It just starts to boot WinXP. Please, note that I have not deleted/modified any of the disk partitions. I actually see the following partitions on my disk : 94 MB - EISA Configuration, Primary Partition 105.64 GB - NTFS, Primary Partition 8 MB - Unallocated 4.64 GB - Primary Partition Is there anyway to check IF the "original image" is still available to restore from? Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated. PDM.SAT

matthew9955

4 Posts

May 1st, 2007 13:00

i deleted and formatted all the partitions on my harddrive and i want to know of there is any
to restore my computer and if not how do i do it manually with the dvd's.
do i reinstall all the drivers from the dell drivers dvd or are they already installed from the vista home reinstallation dvd?

tgsmith

2.9K Posts

May 1st, 2007 14:00

PDM.SAT,
 
The Dell PC Restore by Symantec has been installed on all US Dells shipped since July 16, 2004, and on all European Dells shipped since August 30, 2004.  If you have not modified your parititions or master boot record, it should work.  The trick is timing.   Restart computer.  While the Dell logo is on the screen, press the CTRL key, then the F11 key.  Release both at the same time.  If you press either key more than once, or release them separately, the Dell PC Restore will not activate.
 
Additional information on the Dell PC Restore partition is available here:  http://www.goodells.net/dellrestore/index.htm   Note the information regarding the Symantec Ghost 10 image and comparison of it with Dell PC Restore.
 
Hope this info helps.
 
Tony

tgsmith

2.9K Posts

May 1st, 2007 14:00

Matthew9955,
 
Nope.  If you deleted and formatted all partitions, the Dell PC Restore function is gone.  You would need to clone an identical system's identical hard drive bit-by-bit to your hard drive to regain the Dell PC Restore functionality.  In your situation, I would simply restart the computer from the Dell Reinstallation DVD for Vista and do a clean install.  Once Vista is up and running, you can then use the Dell Applications and Drivers DVD to reinstall your Dell drivers and applications.  Check www.support.dell.com for updated Vista drivers for your system.
 
Tony

FayeC

6 Posts

May 1st, 2007 15:00

Hi Tony,
 
Thank you for your replies to my message. I ended up spending a long time on the phone with tech support since when trying to install my video and wireless drivers the files on the provided cd didn't work. Video was saying that the package was missing a file and the wireless said it wasn't the correct driver for my hardware.
The file wasn't available for download from the site (it wasn't on the server at all - browsed the ftp server for the file name and nothing...) so the tech guy told me to "wait a couple of days" and then try the site again....he didn't even mention the fact that I could very easily get the driver directly from Intel, which I did and got my wireless working right away.
I do have one thing to say...it was hard finding information on the timing trick for the Control + F11 key press for the PC restore.
The tech on the phone told me to hold control down, turn computer on and whenever I saw the logo to press the F11 key 2 times....no wonder I wasn't able to reach the PC Restore....
I think it's just a question of provinding the support gys/girls with the proper information so they don't provide the wrong information to begin with....
I ended up finding information on the PC Restore key press trick while I was looking for some other information on the FAQs.
In any case...I do appreciate the replies I got on the forum and for sure will come here first if I need help with my system again.
It is reinstalled and running beautifully. I actually have a more streamlined machine now because I got rid of the trial software that came pre-installed. The only thing I am still hurting about is the whole week of graphic work done that hadn't been backed up but that's life...it could have been worse....
 
Thanks again,
 
FayeC

tgsmith

2.9K Posts

May 1st, 2007 15:00

FayeC,
 
You're welcome.  Thanks for posting back.  It helps everyone reading these posts who are having similar problems.  You're right.  Could have been worse.  I do data recovery work quite often for clients who have no current backups.  I've got a hard drive sitting in front of me that worked fine last Thursday, but literally threw a rod (spindle motor locked up) when switched on last Friday morning.  Fortunately, that client has a week-old backup.  Looks like we'll be restoring it.
 
Lots of luck.
 
Tony

tgsmith

2.9K Posts

May 1st, 2007 15:00

Matthew9955,
 
Since the Notebook System Software is specific to Dell Notebooks, it should be included on the Applications and Drivers DVD.  The Dell Reinstallation DVD for Vista will install Vista default drivers so that you can then install drivers specific to your system.
 
Tony

FayeC

6 Posts

May 1st, 2007 15:00

Hi Matthew,
 
I am not sure about Vista but with my XP machine I got 3 DVDs...1 the Operating System, 2 the drivers and 3 the Dell Media.
If you do have the Operating System disk (mine was orange) and the drivers disk (mine was blue) then you need to resintall Vista first then after the installation is completed you have to use the drivers dvd to reinstall the drivers. There is a specific order of installation for the 2 main items, first you install the Dell Notebook System Software and then the chipset.
As for the other drivers, Dell recomends that you follow a specific order, try your best to follow it but in my case it didn't really mattered that I installed my audio driver before my video driver, nor my network adaptor before my video driver since I had to go online in order to download the proper files from the site.
 
Good luck,
 
FayeC

matthew9955

4 Posts

May 1st, 2007 15:00

Thanks,
but do you know if the vista reinstallation dvd will install drivers such as the notbook system software or if i should just install all the drivers pertaining to me on the resource cd?

matthew9955

4 Posts

May 1st, 2007 20:00

thanks guys for your help. i reinstalled the OS and the drivers in the correct order( hopefully) and everything seems to be working.
BTW. do you know what type of ram i should buy to upgrade my dell. what brand will work on a dell 9400 and does the MHZ really make a difference cause some alienwares only use 400 MHZ. what do you' recommend
 
thanks Matthew

tgsmith

2.9K Posts

May 2nd, 2007 01:00

Matthew9955,
 
The Inspiron 9400 has two SODIMM memory slots.  You can use two 256Mb, 512Mb, 1Gb or 2Gb SODIMMs (1.8 Volt SODIMM DDR-II up to 667Mhz).  Maximum memory capacity is 4Gb.  Best case is when both SODIMMs are of the same manufacturer and speed.
 
Tony

View All

No Events found!

Top