Aaargh! Simply want to restore laptop....

PinkLipgloss

Hello,

I have a DELL XPS M1710. I simply want to restore it (due to numerous problems which I won't bore you all with) plus I've bought a new laptop (not a DELL) and OH wants this one. Unfortunately I was not given Windows Vista CD when I bought it (was already installed).

ATTEMPT No 1
Tried to find recovery CD - to no avail. Belongings are all messed up having lived abroad for 5 years.

ATTEMPT No 2
Followed advice on Internet (spent hours googling) only to discover that this particular model does not seem to have a restore partition as I bought it 3 years ago (I believe newer versions of model do).

ATTEMPT No 3
Contacted DELL support who immediately asked me for service number and commented "You purchased it in Japan?" to which I replied yes and they said "okay I'll transfer you". So I got put on hold and transferred to someone who said they couldn't help me and go transferred again to someone who took forever "checking" info and then proclaimed "I can't help you as you have to transfer ownership to the UK on the Dell website" - so that was 25 minutes wasted on the phone to an 0844 number. Not to mention the fact that I couldn't understand them a lot of the time (had to ask them to repeat a lot of things) and they asked me to repeat numerous statements as well *sigh*


Ideas - anyone?

Donnie

You don't need the Recovery CD. You can do a clean install all by yourself. It's just a bit more time consuming.

PinkLipgloss

Thanks for reply.

How do I go about doing that?

Alias_Omega

There is a guy on ebay, who sells recovery disks.

His name is something like "lloydscool" or something to that effect. Email him through eBay, and he will tell you how much for him to supply you with the recovery disks.

I paid about £5 for some delivery for my acer aspire. Ive used him a few times now.

Alias

closed

What have you tried to prove there is no recovery partition?

PinkLipgloss

I was on the DELL website (which is a nightmare to navigate) and it said that the XPS M1710 had some sort of DELL partition recovery on models after April 22nd 2009 - I bought my system before that.

I also tried pressing F8 on start up as other parts of the DELL website say you can do a system restore from there. It brings up a menu thingie - but nothing about restore/factory settings or anything like that. I tried CTRL +F12 and that brought up some sort of systems analysis check.

closed

It came with Vista factory installed?

http://www.ehow.com/how_2134715_dell-windows-vista-factory-settings.html

PinkLipgloss

closed wrote: »

It came with Vista factory installed?

http://www.ehow.com/how_2134715_dell-windows-vista-factory-settings.html

I've tried that - however when I get into the menu there is no options to restore to factory settings! It just has some stuff about SAFE MODE etc

Donnie

PinkLipgloss wrote: »

Thanks for reply.

How do I go about doing that?

See how you go with a Recovery Disc. If a no go, you'll have to run a clean install with a Vista Disc and to install the Drivers manually.
You also have the option of downgrading to XP, if you find it more agreeable than Vista.

If you decide on this course of action, I'll try to guide you through it.

PinkLipgloss

Thanks Donnie,

After spending over an hour messing around on the DELL webpage (and going around in circles as it refuses to let you contact them without a service number - and when I give it it redirects me to Japanese site - argh) I eventually decided to chat to a person in sales using the online chat feature.

I explained my frustration and they claim that someone will call me in next 24 hours to sort it out. I am dubious about this given the problems I have had with them already.

I'll be in touch over next couple of days to let you know.

Thanks again,

Lisa

closed

List what comes up when you hit F8