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General discussion

Dell Studio - Multiple issues with restore and HDD partition

by Mindstyle06 Jan 17, 2010 11:55PM PST

Hello folks,

I need some help from you with regards to restoring my Dell Studio 1537 laptop. I have tried support from Dell but it hasn't been of much use. My suspicion is, all the reps did was to copy and paste without looking into machine specs. This post is rather long and I apologize for that in advance. I have avoided blah blah blah as much as I could.

The specs of the machine is question are as follows -
Studio 1537 : Intel Core 2 Duo Processor P8600(2.40GHz,1066MHz,3MB)
Display : 15.4in Widescreen WXGA+ with TrueLife - LED
Camera : Integrated 2.0 Mega Pixel Camera - LED
Resource DVD : Studio 1537 Diagnostics and Drivers
Memory : 4096MB (2x204Cool 800MHz DDR2 Dual Channel
Hard Drive 320GB SATA (5400rpm)
Optical Drive : 8X DVD+/-RW Drive including software
Graphics : 256 MB ATI Mobility RADEON HD 3450
Wireless : Intel Wireless Card Label - Core 2 Duo
Wireless : Intel WiFi Link 5100 (802.11 a/b/g/n 1X2) 1/2 MiniCard European
Operating System : English Genuine Windows Vista SP1 Home Premium including Media
Dell Video Chat
Dell Support Center 2.0
Dell Dock 1.0

The problems -
1. I always partition my HDD to separate OS and the data. Have done it loads of times before using trusty old Partition Magic 8.0 without any hassles. Hence tried with this machine. After I rebooted the machine for the partitions to take effect, it went into an endless loop of rebooting (nothing happened to the HDD). Only option I was left with was to perform system restore. DellDiagnostics could not find a solution to the problem and I was suggested to restore the system. I don't remember the message quite clearly now. Hard disk had a partition to perform system restore but I could never invoke system restore from the disk (after 2 hours of attempt). Hence I restored using the discs. I followed the method suggested by Dell on their website. This method did not restore the machine to the factory defaults but I could work with it. I wrote to Dell support detailing this event but wasn't of much help. I was told that I will never be able to use system restore from HDD as the files essential to perform such restore have been deleted when I used discs.
My feeling is this is super super weird. HP machines have similar system but never had 'this' issue. I admit that they could be two very different styles of system restore but isn't this common sense that no matter how badly you mess up your OS, you should be able to restore machine using restore partition?
2. I tried partitioning HDD using 2 other different partitioning softwares from Paragon and other one I don't remember but same issue in both the cases.
3. Finally, I gave up partition idea and decided to get machine in final working shape. Hence I "restored" the OS using the discs and it was workable until yesterday when I tried to partition my newly bought external hard drive using Disk Management console in Vista.
When I installed OS after failed partition attempts, I had to format the HDD before proceeding to OS installation. So all files on HDD were erased, as per the definition of formatting and as per the support rep from Dell. BUT something went wrong and machine rebooted with text, NO OS FOUND. My suspicion is, this partitioning thing messed up with MBR but I am not geeky enough to play around with it, neither do I have time for the same.

Now, I am super super frustrated as I have data on this machine that I don't want to lose. Backups were not yet done and this external HDD was bought for backup purposes. I am planning to use Ubuntu Live CD to save that data but don't know how far I will manage. On the top of that I have no clue what is the status of that external HDD that I was partitioning.

The questions,
- I am curious if anyone of the experts here know any better, non command line method of getting data off this HDD? I will follow the guide at http://www.howtogeek.com/howto/windows-vista/use-ubuntu-live-cd-to-backup-files-from-your-dead-windows-computer/ and it involves some tricky command line parts for a non-geek like me.
- Weather I manage to get that data off HDD or not, I would like to restore this machine to the factory settings and then partition the HDD. Two Dell reps responded my request differently (with regards to system restore methodology) and I am sure, none of them looked at machine specs before replying (Evidence - Their replies). From my experience with this machine, I am certain that performing a system restore with discs will never restore machine to the factory defaults. Does anyone know how I can use the system restore partition to restore it to factory defaults? I have hard time buying that formatting removed some files from OS partition and hence I can not use restore partition to restore the system. I formatted only C drive and D drive i.e. system restore partition, hasn't been touched at all.
- Once the system is restored (in either way) and all programs are installed, I would like to create a system restore DVD that if any time in future, such thing happens, I can restore system using my own system restore DVD so that I don't have to spend time in installing updates or programs and stuff. I know Acronis True Image is a program that claims to do so. I have tried it once with my HP machine but it failed to restore machine. I followed instructions as given in the program manual/help. Any other recommendation?

Thanks a million for taking time to read this post and your help.

Discussion is locked

3 Posts
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. I always partition my HDD to separate OS and the data
by r. proffitt Forum moderator Jan 18, 2010 12:15AM PST

". I always partition my HDD to separate OS and the data "

Right there you left the reservation of Dell support. I would never expect support when you change how they supply it. Sure, complain if you must but they supply these in ready to use, don't change it formats and when you change it, you are now the owner of it and any problems.

OK QUESTION 1!

Try "The LaCie Miracle" at http://forums.cnet.com/5208-7588_102-0.html?threadID=354911&tag=forums06;forum-threads

If the partitions are not too messed up, you'll get your files out. If really messed up this post progressed to other software titles and finally ends at http://www.drivesavers.com

1.2 "but isn't this common sense that no matter how badly you mess up your OS, you should be able to restore machine using restore partition?"

No. It's that simple. If we partition we get to use restore media.

2. "2. I tried partitioning HDD using 2 other different partitioning softwares from Paragon and other one I don't remember but same issue in both the cases."

Yes! Same issue. You are not using a RETAIL WINDOWS ISSUE but some customized cheaper OEM issue. What you can do is LIMITED.

3. "3. Finally, I gave up partition idea and decided to get machine in final working shape. Hence I "restored" the OS using the discs and it was workable until yesterday when I tried to partition"

Again, you went off the reservation to the unsupported land.

I strongly suggest you use other hard drives for files and remember the moderators all tell us "We only lose what we didn't backup."
Bob

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dead drive? Hope not.
by Mindstyle06 Jan 18, 2010 2:09AM PST

Thanks Bob for your quick reply.

Could you please clarify on what makes you think that it broke the drive? Couldn't it be just broken MBR due to partitioning went wrong?

I admit that I didn't know that OEM OSes have a limited functionality. My understanding so far was, they are just customized OSes so that it can be used only for the machines they are supplied with.

Patitioning thing, Dell rep was very clear with me that there will be no support for that. I expected that and its fair enough. I didn't understand
"1.2 "but isn't this common sense that no matter how badly you mess up your OS, you should be able to restore machine using restore partition?"
No. It's that simple. If we partition we get to use restore media."
I have another HP machine, which is always partitioned and I have restored that machine using restore partition at least 5 times so far. That restore deletes partitions I make and restores it to the factory defaults.
When I changed hard disk to higher capacity. I restored using recovery disc and first it made a recovery partition on the new disk and then installed OS. I am sorry I am referring to HP system as I have experience to only HP systems others than Dell. This is my first ever Dell machine.

I restored DVD only because I could not invoke system restore from the restore partition using the method suggested on Dell website. As said earlier, HDD didn't partition. It was just as it was.

If using restore DVDs, provided by Dell, were used to restore the system. I wonder how did I go on unsupported land? Could you please clarify.

Most importantly, I am seeking advice on how do I restore to factory defaults using restore partition which is STILL INTACT, and other questions posed above.

Thanks in advance.

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AFTER you get your data back.
by r. proffitt Forum moderator Jan 18, 2010 5:09AM PST

We can test the drive and see if it has issues. Dell has their own diagnostics and if it fails their test in warranty you get a new drive.

Yes it could be a busted MBR but look at the absent tools in these OEM modified OSes. And how they may blow up when the full retail version OR ANOTHER MAKER'S OEM didn't. No mystery here.

"If using restore DVDs, provided by Dell, were used to restore the system. I wonder how did I go on unsupported land? Could you please clarify."

By modifying the partitions the Dell restore may not handle this. You may have treat this like a broken drive and hope they have not locked the OS license to just the original drive.

"Most importantly, I am seeking advice on how do I restore to factory defaults using restore partition which is STILL INTACT, and other questions posed above."

I think this is not possible given the damage to the partition system. And such may not be repairable. This is where you ask Dell how to restore to a blank drive. Drives fail all the time so that sort of restore is possible.

Or you forget Dell's supplied OS and get your own.
Bob

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