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General discussion

Unable to access Dell Vista Restore Computer

Feb 19, 2011 3:48AM PST

Following the below directions I get as far as #3, but instead of asking about language I get a screen saying "other user", I have no other choice but to hit Enter, which brings up two boxes asking for "User Name" and "Password". I put in my username and I never set up the computer with a password so I just hit enter. This is the message I receive "The specified domain either does not exist or could not be contacted". I am the only user account on the computer and have the administrative rights.

Any suggestions welcome!


1 Turn on the computer.

2 As the computer starts, press <F8> on the keyboard until the Advanced Boot Options menu appears on the screen.

3 Press the <Down Arrow> on the keyboard to select Repair Your Computer on the Advanced Boot Options menu, and then press <Enter>.

4 Specify the language settings that you want, and then click Next.

5 Log in as a user who has administrative credentials, and then click OK.

6 Click Dell Factory Image Restore.

7 In the Dell Factory Image Restore window, click Next.

8 Click to select the Yes, reformat hard drive and restore system software to factory condition check box.

9 Click Next.
The computer is restored to the default factory configuration.

10 When the restore operation is completed, click Finish to restart the computer.

The software is now installed as it was when the computer was first received.

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Discussion is locked

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Since it seems to have failed that password, let's reset it.
Feb 19, 2011 4:03AM PST

Go get NTPASSWD (see google) and reset the admin password. Remember this is free software and is SIMPLE to use. Just answer the questions and reset the password. Plenty of documentation out there.

Now repeat the above but for name and password use administrator and for the password press the return key.

Hope this gets it done.
Bob

PS. I can't find the make, model of this machine. Might matter, might not.

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Password for Restore
Feb 20, 2011 3:16AM PST

There is not a pasword to reset, when I set up the computer I just put
in my name and skipped any password. Should I go into accounts and give my
account a password? or should I set up another user account and give it
Administrative priviledges?

The computer is a Dell Inspiron desktop.

I can use the other options on that page such as safe mode with no problems.
I'm trying to reformat the computer as I have a virus/malware that
redirects, stops things, pops up things and none of the programs I've
downloaded can even find it.

Nancy

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Which Dell Inspiron model
Feb 22, 2011 1:04PM PST

From what I have seen, the Dell's have a password jumper on the MOBO. You can clear it following the instructions at Dell. Also, for less than $20 you can order the OS DVD from Dell.

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That F8 seems strange to me
Feb 19, 2011 8:06PM PST

I've had a couple of Dell computers and I don't remember F8 giving me Dell's own recovery options.

In most computers pressing F8 after POST but before Windows begins to load gives a list of "SAFE MODE" options, like these;
http://i.ehow.co.uk/images/a04/qg/au/boot-windows-vista-safe-mode-1.5-800X800.jpg

There may be some differences between computers, but I thought Dell would have offered access their own recovery options using different key combinations, eg F10 or ALT F10, and so on.

Can you tell us why you are trying to access Dell's recovery options anyway?

Also, what happens if you try the other options in the F8 list, eg the first option, Safe Mode?

Mark

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Vista startup repair.
Feb 19, 2011 8:14PM PST
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Ahh could be right.
Feb 20, 2011 3:25AM PST

But my Alienware, (owned by Dell), had the normal Safe Mode options, and it's Recovery partition was accessed via ALT + F10 during POST.

Mark

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Still no go
Feb 20, 2011 10:29AM PST

I gave my account a password and that did not work,
I also created a new account and gave that user admin rights
and that doesn't work. It keeps saying

"The specified domain either does not exist or could not be contacted".

What does a domain have to do with the user or password?

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Let's try a different approach.
Feb 20, 2011 8:07PM PST

Since this is not working let's forget about reformat and reinstall for a while and concentrate on fixing what you have got.

In your own Admin account download and install both the free versions of Malwarebytes Anti-malware and SUPERAntiSpyware.

Open both and update their anti-malware definitions. Them one after the other starting with MBAM, run full scans with each. See if they remove all this malware.

If you are unable to download and/or install these, we have other options to get them downloaded and installed.

Mark

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That did not seem to help
Feb 21, 2011 3:06AM PST

I got both the programs and ran them.
Malwarebytes said all clean and Superantispyware
found 226 Adware tracking cookies which I got rid
of and rebooted. But alas they didn't work,

Next?

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What do you mean they didn't work?
Feb 21, 2011 4:54AM PST

So what is the issue with this machine now?

Mark

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I'll be more blunt.
Feb 21, 2011 4:11AM PST

The account we want to use during restore is the one called:

administrator

It sometimes has a password no one knows so I use NTPASSWD to clear it.
Bob

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your still avoiding the question
Mar 3, 2011 10:37AM PST

Been following the dialogue. You have offered the words "Restore" and "Repair your Computer" in the original post. Neither are truly the same.
In would be helpful if you would answer the 2 key questions:
1) What Dell inspiron model
2) What is the actual problem that directed you to perform a "repair".

Dell offers a repair the OS that is non-destructive.
Dell offers a restore (bad choice of word on Dell's part) that is a total format and re-install of the OS. It should be called "recovery".

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Dell Recovery
Mar 3, 2011 12:59PM PST

It appears that each model Dell has their own way of doing a recovery.
I tried to help a friend who has a Inspiron 530S do a recovery and never could get it to work from the recovery partition on the hard drive. The computer had Vista 32 bit.
Ended up using the Re installation DVD and Drivers and utilities DVD that came with his computer.
I have a Dell XPS 435T that I did a recovery by following the same instructions as nroberts66 has listed and had no trouble at all. The only difference is where it asked for a password I just hit the enter key and it went on through. He might try that rather than trying to figure out a password.
Using the Disks that came with the computer (if he has them) is the sure way, but it is a slow process.