Dell Dimension 2400 Recovery Help!

Callumpy · 09-06-2008, 21:11

I am recovering a dell dimension 2400 for someone (or meant to be) but i am stuck, is there a recovery partition and if i use it will it install all the drivers?

Tightscot · 09-06-2008, 21:53

usually you have a 'Dell recovery CD', which basically is an XP cd. You run this and it formats the drive and does a virgin install of XP - DELETING ALL DATA on C Drive...

The you find the 2nd Dell CD which contains all the drivers - usually marked pretty clearly as 'Dell Drivers' or 'Dell Resource CD' and run that up in windows - it then allows you to install the correct drivers for the board etc...

Dell Laptops usually have a recovery partition which is a bit less painful...

Either way you'll need to backup existing data first.

why do you need to recover the machine - what is wrong with it?

Callumpy · 09-06-2008, 22:04

There is no CD

The person im doing it for wants it to be cleared for some reason, so, any other ideas on how to do it?

Tightscot · 09-06-2008, 22:13

boot the Dell and as it posts, hit F12 for the boot menu...

see if there is an option to boot from recovery partition (i doubt there will be one as per my 1st post)

If there is no partition and you/they have no CD, your gonna have to 'buy' a copy of XP (assuming you want xp) and install from scratch.

Then, once windows is installed go to the dell support site Linkage and enter the system service tag - usually on the back or under a flap on the front of the machine - 5 to 7 digit code

This will then allow you to download all the relevant drivers for your model of Dell..

You'll probably need to download the NIC drivers from another PC first, and transfer them to the Dell using a USB key.

Once NIC is up and running, you can download the rest of the drivers directly onto the Dell.

hope this helps?

Callumpy · 09-06-2008, 22:31

Quote:

Originally Posted by Tightscot

boot the Dell and as it posts, hit F12 for the boot menu...

see if there is an option to boot from recovery partition (i doubt there will be one as per my 1st post)

If there is no partition and you/they have no CD, your gonna have to 'buy' a copy of XP (assuming you want xp) and install from scratch.

Then, once windows is installed go to the dell support site Linkage and enter the system service tag - usually on the back or under a flap on the front of the machine - 5 to 7 digit code

This will then allow you to download all the relevant drivers for your model of Dell..

You'll probably need to download the NIC drivers from another PC first, and transfer them to the Dell using a USB key.

Once NIC is up and running, you can download the rest of the drivers directly onto the Dell.

hope this helps?

, i am really trying to get round this problem, the machine has a recovery partition, but its not in the boot menu, Ctrl+F11 is meant to open a recovery program but at the moment, no luck

Tightscot · 09-06-2008, 22:33

try 'ctrl and F11' whilst the pc posts - if it has a recovery partition that should start it up...

Callumpy · 09-06-2008, 23:43

Quote:

Originally Posted by Tightscot

try 'ctrl and F11' whilst the pc posts - if it has a recovery partition that should start it up...

No, it hasnt worked, its going back to its owner anyway now

Thanks for your help

GTiManDan · 21-01-2009, 18:25

Quote:

Originally Posted by Callumpy

No, it hasnt worked, its going back to its owner anyway now

Thanks for your help

I know you've returned the machine to the user by now, but for future reference you can use this information I've posted elsewhere to help you in this instance. Basically, the MBR is slightly altered for whatever reason and CTRL-F11 cannot access the Dell System Restore Partition. Use the instructions below to repair that functionality

Regards,
Dan

On many Dell PCs, both laptops and desktops, they've include a "Dell System Restore" partition that is hidden on your hard drive. This is the case for most XP and Vista based systems, and some 98 OSes, possibly others.

I do know the Dimension 2400 in question includes that partition, provided you haven't unknowingly gummed up access to the resore partition (more about that later).

On most Dells up to about 2007, while you see the Dell logo you merely hold down CTRL and start tapping F11 until the RESTORE COMPUTER screen shows up. Note that this is a fully-destructive restore that sets the system back to the way it was when it was first unboxed. Any unsaved data will be lost. If you need to recover data first, I suggest try booting in Safe Mode With Networking (in the event you might need internet or network access once booted) by tapping F8 at the Dell logo screen.

LASTLY, if you still cannot access your DSR partition then likely the access to the app that runs it has been damaged. All is not lost, however

A nice gentleman in California has created his own DSRFix repair tool that I've used on several customer's PCs with great success. It analyzes the easily-damaged CTRL-F11 feature and can attempt to repair it.
Click this link and then choose DSRFIX

For Vista machines, you access the DSR by pressing only F8 during the Dell boot screen.

Dell's instructions on accessing and using their DSR partitions is located here:
Dell's DSR Partition Instructions

Good luck!
Dan

Callumpy · 21-01-2009, 19:23

Yes, the machine has been returned now lol, thanks anyways, nice post.