Computer Hope
Microsoft => Microsoft Windows => Windows Vista and 7 => Topic started by: fuzzypumpkins on September 03, 2009, 05:15:39 PM
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I am trying to restore my laptop (studio xps 16) to factory settings using the recovery image. If I look in my computer, i can see C and D drives. D is my recovery partition with 7gb full out of 10gb. This is good and dandy except when i open the D drive, there is one folder that says RECOVERY that is empty. Why is it empty when there are 7gb's of files in there? I already have hidden files shown. I don't know how else to restore my laptop. Any ideas?
Also, I downloaded partition wizard home edition and i was able to view the files on the recovery partition. For some reason this program lets me see them, so i know they are there. But, when using regular windows explorer to look in the recovery folder there are no files.
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I'd visit the Dell site and look up the recovery procedures for this machine...
WARNING: All your data and apps will be gone after the Recovery process...
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its much more deep that what you think.
the factory image restore option is not there, so i have to do it manually. But, i am stuck because the files i need are 'hidden' in my recovery partition.
the program i talked about earlier will let me see the files i need to access, so i know they are not lost. I just need to know how to get to them
i am talking about factory.wim........this file is the jackpot if i could get to it.
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I'd visit the Dell site and look up the recovery procedures for this machine...
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i already looked at the recovery procedures and they do not help at all.....they are asking me to do something in a menu that i dont even have.
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You have to boot to the recovery partition. It is usally an F-key. Try tapping F11 as the computer is starting up. If that doesn't do it, try F10 and so on untill you find it.
Good luck!
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I'm stunned and amazed the keyboard commands aren't mentioned at Dell's site on how to access the Recovery Partition...
You didn't go there did you ? ?
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CTRL+F11
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sorry guys, ctrl+f11 and f12 and f2 and f8 all do not get me where i need to be.....
i need to figure out how to manually do it without using those menus at all....this is not easy like you are thinking.
i found this, maybe this will help you to get where my heads at...
http://www.1-script.com/forums/HELP-Dell-MBR-Factory-Restore-Image-option-lost-article43744-1-25.htm
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It's not easy because your making it that way.
the recovery partition doesn't just magically become inoperative.
And unless you messed it up with the partition editor program, it will be bootable. Worst case scenario change the boot order to boot from the recovery partition.
and yes, it is as "simple" as it sounds, when your able to see the forest through the trees.
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Why is it empty when there are 7gb's of files in there?
It's normal. You can't access those files from within Windows.
What is the reason, you want to restore laptop?
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Turn the computer off.
Turn it back on and as it starts up (before windows loads) hold Ctrl and tap F11. If you get to the windows screen, turn it back off and try again.
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It's not easy because your making it that way.
the recovery partition doesn't just magically become inoperative.
And unless you messed it up with the partition editor program, it will be bootable. Worst case scenario change the boot order to boot from the recovery partition.
and yes, it is as "simple" as it sounds, when your able to see the forest through the trees.
so how do i use the image restore when the image restore option is not there, and apparently my recovery is bootable because i can see the files although not directly
i think what i have to do is boot from a live cd, which isn't a problem. I have to make sure i installed imagex correctly. Then, I think I just have to use the command prompt to reinstall the factory.wim hopefully this works. But first, i need a disc to burn the live cd to. That all sounds simple right.
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apparently my recovery is bootable
well then I'm not understanding the dilemma. Booting from the recovery partition IS the "restore" option, and boot options are provided by the BIOS.
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bootable as in still able to save what dell set as the factory settings using the image file.....meaning the files are still intact. But, not bootable using the menus from f12, f11, f8, etc. The option simply is not there. But the manual way is what I'm after. It is possible, but its gonna take some work.
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Contact Dell and ask them to send you a restore disk.
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will the restore disk have everything on it that my laptop came with, (drivers, software, etc) ?
thanks
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Yes.
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nevermind, through some tricky workarounds using live cd's, third party programs, and dos commands, I finally restored the factory image...
these guides really helped out for anyone else that has this problem in the future....
http://smsoftdev-solutions.blogspot.com/2009/03/how-to-restore-dell-factory-image-when.html
http://www.notebookforums.com/post3049150.html
http://www.bleepingcomputer.com/forums/lofiversion/index.php/t106779.html
thanks guys, marked as solved
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Thanks for posting back :)