topic Re: Restoring my computer in Tech Outpost

Restoring my computer

rjsut — Thu, 05 Apr 2012 20:48:55 GMT

I have a Dell XPS desktop that has a backup image on it that was installed by Dell; I cannot restore it with the Ctrl - F11 function key. With Norton Ghost I can see it, that it’s there on the C: drive, as DellRestore Fat32, Primary –Bootable. I want to restore my system back to factory specs. Does any out there know how I can do this?? rj

Re: Restoring my computer

mp3jo — Thu, 05 Apr 2012 21:09:35 GMT

Maybe this helps:

When the Dell logo appears, press <F8> several times to access the Advanced Boot Options window.

Re: Restoring my computer

SendOfJive — Thu, 05 Apr 2012 21:13:03 GMT

Did you purchase the XPS after April 22, 2009? If so, see the following:

http://support.dell.com/support/topics/global.aspx/support/kcs/document?c=us&cs=19&l=en&s=dhs&docid=DSN_62A668E1C3A0857AE040AE0AB8E12942&isLegacy=true

Is there some reason you want to return your PC to the factory state, rather than using Ghost to preserve your programs and data?

Re: Restoring my computer

huwyngr — Thu, 05 Apr 2012 23:28:19 GMT

There is a specific Forum called Tech Outpost for Computing problems not involving Norton products so I'll ask for your message to be moved over there or better exposure. You won't lose sight of it because a link will be left here.

Re: Restoring my computer

Brian_K — Fri, 06 Apr 2012 03:10:16 GMT

rjsut wrote:
I want to restore my system back to factory specs. Does any out there know how I can do this?? rj

rjsut ,

That recovery partition contains a .wim file. It's possible to restore it manually if the Dell F key doesn't work. Can you post a screenshot of Disk Management to give us an idea of your partitions?

Re: Restoring my computer

rjsut — Mon, 09 Apr 2012 17:27:00 GMT

Brian, thank you for responding. I did not see a .win file in the recovery folder. I do not know where to go from here....

Attached snapshots.

Re: Restoring my computer

rjsut — Mon, 09 Apr 2012 17:32:45 GMT

Thank you very much!!

Re: Restoring my computer

rjsut — Mon, 09 Apr 2012 17:35:06 GMT

Thank you so much for the move and the link!!

Re: Restoring my computer

rjsut — Mon, 09 Apr 2012 17:54:12 GMT

Thank you so much for the post. I did not purchase my XPS before that date. And thanks for the link.

Further, I had a couple of programs with similar names and deleted the wrong two. I would like to get the two programs back on, and then do a complete backup with an Image of the complete Drive..

Re: Restoring my computer

rjsut — Mon, 09 Apr 2012 17:58:40 GMT

Thank you so much for the post. F8, no Advanced Boot Options . And thanks for the link.

Re: Restoring my computer

DaveH — Mon, 09 Apr 2012 21:33:45 GMT

It's a .WiM file (ends with M).

We really can't see your images because they are to small. Can you attach them again and make them full size?

If the screen shot on the right shows the contents of the recovery partition, the .wim file may be located in a folder called "Sources"

Dave

Re: Restoring my computer

rjsut — Wed, 11 Apr 2012 01:24:47 GMT

Thank you Dave, [NO .WiM file] Attachments = 2 full.

rj

Re: Restoring my computer

Brian_K — Wed, 11 Apr 2012 01:53:53 GMT

The .wim is in the DELLRESTORE partition. You don't need to see it. The booting files are in this partition too.

This was written for Vista.

http://www.goodells.net/dellrestore/vista/vistarecovery.shtml

Re: Restoring my computer

rjsut — Wed, 11 Apr 2012 12:35:03 GMT

Thank you Brian, I went to the link you provided, went through the first step. When it booted with the install disk the following error appeared,

"STOP: 0X0000007B (0xF78d2524,0XC0000034,0X00000000, 0X00000000).

Did I do something wrong??

Re: Restoring my computer

Brian_K — Thu, 12 Apr 2012 07:13:05 GMT

A 7B stop error is usually due to missing storage controller drivers. Did this happen with the Windows CD or the Ghost CD?

Edit .... which OS are you using?

Re: Restoring my computer

DaveH — Thu, 12 Apr 2012 19:50:14 GMT

Looks like Dell with an 80GB hard drive running XP.

It also looks like Ghost is or was installed, it has a "VproRecovery" folder sitting on the C drive.

What kind of disk did you use to boot the system when you got that error, XP, Vista, or other?

Your restore partition has a drive letter, can you open the drive and see whats in it?

Dave

Re: Restoring my computer

Brian_K — Thu, 12 Apr 2012 22:12:32 GMT

DaveH wrote:

Your restore partition has a drive letter, can you open the drive and see whats in it?

Good thought. It might be a .gho file.

Re: Restoring my computer

rjsut — Fri, 13 Apr 2012 04:02:28 GMT

Thanks Dave, yes you are right! It is a Dell 80gb and running XP Media Center. There is a VPro on C: and Recovery drive E:

The Disk I used to try the Boot was Media Center-disk 1. The restore drive is E:.

See attachments for both drivers.

Thank you again!!

Re: Restoring my computer

rjsut — Fri, 13 Apr 2012 04:16:31 GMT

Thank you Brian, I Booted with my Windows CD, XP Media Center-Disk 1. However it is not a restore disk, it's a OEM Full.

The 7B stop error happened when I Booted with XP Media disk.

Thanks again!!

Re: Restoring my computer

Brian_K — Fri, 13 Apr 2012 08:54:10 GMT

rj,

This may apply to you if there is a .gho in the DellRestore partition. It should be called fi.gho (in the img folder)

http://www.goodells.net/dellrestore/recover.shtml

http://www.goodells.net/dellrestore/manualrestore/