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Experience re-formatting a Dell from scratch?
I have a Dell Inspiron 1720 that was running Vista. I upgraded to Win 7 and had some problems, so I tried to do a restore. However after upgrading I no longer can access the Dell factory restore ( the <F8> option). So I tried to use the restore disk, but that won't work either, it only goes so far and then stops. So now I have a $900 doorstop.
My real question is, has anyone had experience re-formatting a Dell from scratch, in other words, formatting the HD and installing a new OS w/o any of the Dell stuff? What if any are the issues? Should I keep the recovery partition?
MB - very interesting
Joe - they changed it on the new Dells. They don't use Symantec anymore. Now you have to hit <F8>, not ctrl -<F11>.
4 Answers
- MBLv 61 decade agoFavorite Answer
If the Recovery Partition no longer works, then there's no reason to keep it, is there.
You can wipe the drive completely with a third party program like Dban or Killdisk. This will erase the boot sector also, which may be your problem. If the boot sector is corrupted then a reinstall and format with the Windows disc fails because it doesn't wipe the boot sector of the hard drive. A low level format wipes the entire hard drive.
Reinstalling Windows on a clean hard drive with just an upgrade disc can be an issue. A retail disc can be used for this purpose, a Dell upgrade disc I have never tried. Here's a link on how to use an upgrade disc for a clean install. Read the comments also, especially the one from jimmynemo2. It's basically the same trick that worked for Vista upgrade discs.
http://www.maximumpc.com/article/howtos/how_use_yo...
No warranty expressed or implied here, but if it's a doorstop then you don't have much to lose.
- JoeLv 71 decade ago
You still have the recovery partition, but can't get to it at boot time? You may be able to fix the boot time access. This guy has a great page:
http://www.goodells.net/dellrestore/fixes.htm
I see something right away, actually. You need to hit CTRL-F11 to get to factory restore, not F8. So try CTRL-F11 immediately upon seeing the blue Dell bar on the top line. If that doesn't work, go read that "goodells" page.
- Anonymous1 decade ago
If I remember the things I have seen about Windows 7, when you install it on a computer it takes the current Windows on the computer and puts it in a directory called Windows old. Your original Windows should still exist. How to bring it back may require a web search to get the answer. There may be something in the menus to do this or something in the control panel to revert back to Vista. I really don't know, since I don't intend to try Windows 7 until it has matured at least a year from the retail release date. Hope you will get an answer that is correct.
Link explains reverting back to Vista.
Source(s): http://support.microsoft.com/kb/971762 - 1 decade ago
I haven't got a clue!! Sorry. I guess I would have to call in the 'geek' squad.
