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Windows Vista forum: Dell Windows Vista Repair

by: gojones71 March 4, 2012 10:33 AM PST

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Dell Windows Vista Repair

by gojones71 - 3/4/12 10:33 AM

I have a Dimension 521 with (regrettably) Windows Vista on it that was given to me. Unfortunately, I am not able to find the restore CD.

I want to restore it to its factory settings, but after pressing F8 to get to the Advanced Boot Menu and then selecting Repair Your Computer, it simply goes back to the main screen and desktop, as if I had never selected the Repair option.

How do I get it to repair?


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Two points

by MarkFlax Moderator - 3/4/12 11:23 AM

In Reply to: Dell Windows Vista Repair by gojones71

I suspect that the "Repair your computer" option in the Advanced Boob Menu would need the original setup DVD.

But in any case, that would not return the system to factory default. It is likely there is a hidden "Recovery Partition" on the hard drive and that would be accessed soon after you turn the computer on and during the BIOS POST process. Often a key or combination of keys have to be pressed, eg F10 or ALT+F10 to get into the recovery partition's software and it is that where the system will be returned to factory setup.

Mark


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Another option

by Jimmy Greystone - 3/4/12 11:47 AM

In Reply to: Dell Windows Vista Repair by gojones71

Another option is to contact Dell, where you should be able to request a set of restore media based off the service tag of the unit.

Also, on Dells F12 is the key Mark is talking about.


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