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How to start the Dell System Recovery process

  • 28-01-2009 7:21pm
    #1
    shayser
    Closed Accounts Posts: 1,650 ✭✭✭


    Ctrl+F11 doesn't work. If I boot to the CD the typical XP setup starts, no sign of the system restore. The only options after the post are F2 for Setup or F12 for the Boot Menu. Is there a way to start it?


Comments

  • #2
    AlmightyCushion
    Moderators, Education Moderators, Technology & Internet Moderators Posts: 35,125 Mod ✭✭✭✭AlmightyCushion


    Try tapping F8 at startup. That should (hopefully) bring you to a black screen with loads of options in white. One of them should be "Repair your computer". Select that. Then it should give you an option called "Dell recovery" or system recovery or something like that.


  • #3
    shayser
    Closed Accounts Posts: 1,650 ✭✭✭shayser


    Thanks. Running a backup at the minute, so will give that a try when finished.


  • #4
    shayser
    Closed Accounts Posts: 1,650 ✭✭✭shayser


    F8 doesn't bring up any Recovery options. Just the usual Windows Safe Mode options, and Bootlogging, VGA Mode, Last Known Configuration, Boot Normally. Am I missing something? The DSR is supposed to be automated, to circumvent problems like this.


  • #5
    kaizersoze
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 7,042 ✭✭✭kaizersoze


    Try Ctrl + F11 when the Dell.com logo appears.

    I never bother with it though. Just format and install using the windows cd.


  • #6
    shayser
    Closed Accounts Posts: 1,650 ✭✭✭shayser


    I've tried that must be 100 times and it just does not seem to be working!

    I'm not the only one with this problem but a long shot, judging by the Google results for the problem.

    I've gone ahead with a standard XP reinstall.

    EDIT: Just in before me kaizer.


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  • #7
    shayser
    Closed Accounts Posts: 1,650 ✭✭✭shayser


    OK things are getting dirtier. Did a repair intall. Rebooted. Tried ctrl+F11, just to see. Message came up "Cannot Restore". Ran setup again, seleted fresh install. Now the drives letters are swapped when it get to the Select Partition stage. The existing Windows is D: and there's a small 4GB partion that is C: Will I just do the install on D: and then change the letters later in Disk Managment? Or is it not possible to change the OS drive? EDIT: Ok, I see that's not possible? EDIT EDIT: Getting cranky with it so I just deleted all partitions.


  • #8
    shayser
    Closed Accounts Posts: 1,650 ✭✭✭shayser


    kaizersoze wrote: »
    I never bother with it though. Just format and install using the windows cd.
    Definitely! I feel much cleaner now without all those hidden mysterious jokery pokery dell partitions. :)


  • #9
    Sea08
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 85 ✭✭Sea08


    Yes a clean install is the way to go. Most of those partitions are a waste of space anyway.

    The worst setup I ever seen was on a Fujitsu Siemans laptop. It had 3 partitions, one for drivers and crapware that comes with the machine, one for restore, and the windows install. The windows install was only 10G however and on close inspection it was a 72G disk. They had left 20G behind that was not partitioned and the layout of partitions meant it could only be accessed by making another partition or deleting the crapware and backup to grow the partition.

    Thats 20G of space a standard user can't access. I spent a weekend cleaning the bloody thing up so you could actually use it.


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