Randem Systems Support Board

In Windows Vista / Windows 7 / Windows 8 you may need to boot from a repair disc or start your computer with F8 to get to the recovery menu (Start-Up Repair). If the recovery menu does not show you may have to crash your system on purpose by turning off the power while Windows is booting to get the menu to show. The first thing you should check to see if your computer has a recovery manager inside Windows. If so you may be able to recovery your system from there. If all else fails...
 
 
Process A
 
The first thing that you should do is to set the recovery partition active using partition manager software such as EaseUS Partition Manager. After you set the recovery partition active (take note of which partition is marked active before you change it, you may need to reset that partition active again), restart the computer, If the partition is set to be bootable then the recovery manager should start and you can recover your PC from here. If not then you may need to use other options. If it does not work then reset the original partition to active then use another process.
 
Process B
 
This option to recover you PC is more complicated but if you have no choice... use this process. Using this process with the /append parameter will overwrite your OS preserving the data. This however is not the Over-The-Top type installation that you would have in XP, currently installed programs may not work when done. To make a new install just format the drive first before attempting the install or use the /apply option on the imagex line command.  
 
1 - Boot from the Vista Repair Disk / Windows 7 Repair Disc or any boot disk that supports the type of OS that you have installed (32/64 bit Windows environment with a DOS prompt).
 
2 - Get to the DOS (Command Prompt), then get on the D: or the drive letter that contains the recovery partition.
 
3 - Go to d:\dell\image\ (cd \dell\image), then type in DIR at the prompt. You should find a file named Factory.wim or Restore.wim. This is the Windows Image file of the factory settings. In some cases the file is hidden but it is still there most likely by the name of factory.wim. Proceed to step 4.
 
4 - On some installations you may need to do a reformat of drive c: first to totally erase all information on the c: before recovering the partition.
 
Go to the Tools folder (cd \Tools). Type in the following command:
 
imagex /apply d:\dell\image\factory.wim 1 c:\
 
Now if you have in the D:\dell\image\ folder files like Factory.wim and Factory2.wim (spanned files) use the following command:
 
imagex /apply d:\dell\image\factory.wim /ref d:\dell\image\factory2.wim /verify 1 c:\
 
Of course if the name of the .wim file is Restore change factory.wim to restore.wim. Your computer will start the restore, it will take some time for the progress to show (this is a DOS environment, no GUI).
 
Let it chug away and when it is complete you will have your computer restored to factory settings.
 
5 - Exit the DOS prompt and restart the computer in  the normal fashion.
 
You have now completed a complete PC Recovery. Now all that is left is to complete the installation setup and you are done.

Process C
 
If you do not have the tools folder on your recovery partition for ANY reason, you can download it from here:  
 
You will have to go the round-about way of getting it onto the recovery partition.
 
1 - Create a Tools folder on your system partition then copy the contents of the downloaded file into this folder
 
2 - Boot your computer using a Windows Startup Repair Disc or another Disc that you can run a command prompt from. you can also use the F8 boot function then select Startup Repair or Repair your Computer. LAST RESORT: If using F8 and you do not get the Startup Repair option you will need to abruptly shutdown windows with the power button to get this selection on your next boot.
 
3 - Log on as an Administrator
 
4 - Select the Command Prompt Option
 
5 - Go to the Recovery partition drive. The one with the Dell folder (Could be C: or D: )
 
6 - Create a folder named Tools then copy the contents of the Tools folder from the System Partition.
 
7 - Go to the Tools folder on the recovery partition then type PCRestore and let the Dell program complete the process.

Hello _ I have a 64bit OS so need the 64bit recovery tools.  Are they available anywhere?  this post has so far been extremely good. Thanks

Here is the 64bit imagex.exe for Intel Itanium Processors



Here is the 64bit imagex.exe for AMD Processors

Great thanks.  Do you have the Dell PC recovery tools as well?  I get a platform error with the recovery tools above.  I already got the imagex's from Windows AIK.

No, We don't but you don't need all the tools to recover the image.

The IA-64 file is for Intel Itanium processors only. Those with an Intel Pentium, Core or even Xeon processors should get the AMD64 file. (Unless you have a 32-bit OS)
 
Thank you very much for this by the way. I don't get why would DELL ship a laptop with a broken Factory restore app and not include imagex.exe
 
(Message edited by eldiablo on February 28, 2013)

I know this is old but I ended up here... Its a live search link so this is for the poor souls like me...

for win 7 the imagex is the only way to restore ALL to working order. If you format c: at the wrong time you will lose the factory.wim image. in fact i suggest leaving it til last. I was able to rebuild the dell recovery tools using all sorts of forums so i am updating all i found. This maybe a dead link but im sure someone will end up here as I did so hope this helps.

mombodog on the dell support forums has this.

"First, go here: http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/details.aspx?FamilyID=696dd665-9f76-4177-a811-39c26d3b3b34&displaylang=en



Download the Windows 7 Automated Installation Kit.  Burn the WAIK ISO image to a DVD by right clicking on it in W7 and select "open with"> windows disc image burner



Now, insert the DVD in a computer running W7.  Install the WAIK.



Navigate to the Program Files folder where WAIK was installed.  Find the Tools subdirectory.  Under it you will see four folders: AMD64, IA64, SERVICING, and X86.  Copy these folders to a USB drive.  They total less than 100Mb."

the imagex architecture is vital so having all the choices is a dire need if you're a repair person.

The way I did it was:

1. Open disk management and locate the recovery partition, if it is there you are set. If not, sol.

2. Relocate the 6gb Factory.wim file to d:\Dell\Image\Factory.wim (This is the default location on a inspiron 1464)

3. restart windows and select F8 as it boots.

4. Select repair. It will ask for a language(ok) and a password. Note the admin level account/password is needed.

5. Select command prompt(Note there should be a dell recovery option. If not we will build it.)

you should be at x:\ navigate around the drives. e:\ was my working windows. d:\Dell\Image should have the Factory.wim file.

6. Navigate to your usb drive that has imagex folders on it. Use the command imagex /apply d:\Dell\Image\Factory.wim 1 e:\ (this will take 20 minutes or so)

i.e. mine was in the amd64 folder. If you get an error about subset, you arent using the correct architecture of imagex. x86 vs amd64 is the biggest error when attempting this.

You should be chugging along with the apply in progress. My 1st attempt I was met with a disk full error. It took 12 hours to remove enough kb updates to make room. (remember, DONT FORMAT C:\!)

the apply should take about 20 minutes.(I was greeted with an error about not locating rstui, but it's not needed in my case) If all goes well you will see a flashing prompt with stats about the apply. If not, you might have an error. This is ok if the apply was successful as it will claim. Close the dos prompt window and select restart. If all went well you will be greeted with a Setting up the computer for the first time.

Just get it going so you can verify the apply. (there is an imagex verify command but i suggest not using it.) Setup the bare essentials so windows loads. (username, password, etc) Reboot and select F8 as it reboots. You should now have a Dell Restore option that works!

Select the restore. Select Next as it shouldnt allow you to pick an image. You should now be presented with the format option. This will be the final step in restoring the partition startup options. It will have a checkbox to format the drive. Select it and then Next. If you get an eror it will be about the path. (file not found) You need to install the Factory.wim file and path in your imagex command. (it only took me 2 tries so good luck) For Dells it is usually in the D: drive AND on the hidden portion of the c: drive.

(NOTE: This is why Windows 7 didnt last. Micro$oft seen that the wim files were not encrypted and anyone could take the wim, with a whim and make win 7 machines without need of a COA. Thanks Balmer!)

Aloha faust,

Thanks for your input and effort to keep knowledge alive. Someone else ALWAYS need help and it is good you shared your knowledge!