How Does A Dell Default Factory Image Restore Work? I Need Computer Help. Please!

[getlynched47]

I have a Dell Studio 1535 laptop. I want to perform a Dell Factory Image Restore, but I'm a little scared.

A few months ago, I was forced to do a complete install of Windows Vista, and then the drivers and and all the programs. I DO NOT want to go through this nightmare again .

However, I might have done a few things wrong because many of my computer functions do not work properly. I just recently heard about the Dell Factory Image Restore, which supposedly brings my laptop back to the settings and everything it had when I opened it fresh out of the box.

Is that how it works?

I have a Recovery (D partition that is roughly 4 GB's. Inside I see a few files, which include a Factory Restore image ending in .wim

However, the Program Files folder in that partition is pretty empty, and I can't find a driver's folder anywhere.

Wouldn't the default programs and drivers be in that partition as well, so that this could be reverted to the way it came to me?

I'm confused.

Any help would be greatly appreciated. Thanks so much.

[LordTrychon]

Hey!

Let me know how that works for ya!

I'm going to have a similar question in a few weeks!

[LordTrychon]

http://support.dell.com/support/topics/global.aspx/support/dsn/document?c=us&l=en&s=gen&docid=336966

[getlynched47]

http://support.dell.com/support/topi...n&docid=336966

See, this is what confuses me:

Restoring the original factory image erases ALL existing data. This includes files, folders, programs, drivers, E-mails, photos. Before performing a PC Restore, back up all personal files. If you do not back up your personal files, the data will be lost.

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

My computer wasn't first received without drivers and other essential software

Is this basically a clean install of Vista? Or is my system reverted back to when I got it? Soooooo confused

[LordTrychon]

See, this is what confuses me:





My computer wasn't first received without drivers and other essential software

Is this basically a clean install of Vista? Or is my system reverted back to when I got it? Soooooo confused

See, I was hoping you'd be my test dummy and figure that out for me.



I'm ASSUMING that the factory restore will have all drivers and pre-installed software included.

I don't know for sure.

I'll probably be installing Windows 7 on my laptop after I get my new computer (and can have everything double specially backed up) and know that I won't be screwed if something gets messed up and takes a day or two to fix.

I'd love to start completely fresh, but as you said... the drivers and such are needed. For the most part, Windows can find the drivers on its own for your hardware... but stuff like the fingerprint reader (which I don't use) have their own software.

I'd call Dell and just ask them if that all should be included.

[getlynched47]

See, I was hoping you'd be my test dummy and figure that out for me.



I'm ASSUMING that the factory restore will have all drivers and pre-installed software included.

I don't know for sure.

I'll probably be installing Windows 7 on my laptop after I get my new computer (and can have everything double specially backed up) and know that I won't be screwed if something gets messed up and takes a day or two to fix.

I'd love to start completely fresh, but as you said... the drivers and such are needed. For the most part, Windows can find the drivers on its own for your hardware... but stuff like the fingerprint reader (which I don't use) have their own software.

I'd call Dell and just ask them if that all should be included.

Smart guy!

Yeah I called Dell a few days ago, but I'm out of warranty, so those doogie-heads wouldn't answer my question unless I gave them a credit card number.

How lame is that? One quick, easy question and they can't help a brotha out!

--------------------------------------------------------
Starting fresh was cool at first, but then stuff like my WiFi catcher and my MediaDirect button aren't working properly.

Not sure if I screwed up when putting in the drivers, so I figured the safest way to start over is getting my computer back to Day 1 status.

I HATE installing drivers

[theMileHighGuy]

It's basically going to give you Vista again with everything you changed from the last clean install you did not being there anymore. I would just do it. Do you really have a lot of things you can't get back?

The reason those folders are relatively empty, I think, is because the recovery drive hasn't unpacked yet.

[getlynched47]

It's basically going to give you Vista again with everything you changed from the last clean install you did not being there anymore. I would just do it. Do you really have a lot of things you can't get back?

The reason those folders are relatively empty, I think, is because the recovery drive hasn't unpacked yet.

So that image file, 4.73 GB, will have the drivers and programs that came preinstalled with my laptop when I first bought it?

I have no idea how/what an image file is and does. Supposedly, the Restore is an image file that says "Factory.wim"
Does that unpack to be the files and programs that came preinstalled?

I guess I'm just having a hard time understanding what the Dell Factory Image Restore does, even when I can't find drivers or other Program files in that Recovery partition.

[JakeNbake]

So that image file, 4.73 GB, will have the drivers and programs that came preinstalled with my laptop when I first bought it?

I have no idea how/what an image file is and does. Supposedly, the Restore is an image file that says "Factory.wim"
Does that unpack to be the files and programs that came preinstalled?

I guess I'm just having a hard time understanding what the Dell Factory Image Restore does, even when I can't find drivers or other Program files in that Recovery partition.

YOu'll have all your drivers and crap. I've done it before.

[LordTrychon]

So that image file, 4.73 GB, will have the drivers and programs that came preinstalled with my laptop when I first bought it?

I have no idea how/what an image file is and does. Supposedly, the Restore is an image file that says "Factory.wim"
Does that unpack to be the files and programs that came preinstalled?

I guess I'm just having a hard time understanding what the Dell Factory Image Restore does, even when I can't find drivers or other Program files in that Recovery partition.

The image file will include a bunch of files and programs, etc. It's just up in the air about whether or not it will have ALL of them. Think of the image file as a zip file or a boot CD, only really large.

I would imagine it DOES have all of that on there... although if you had options for other software that wasn't part of the base package (McaFee, Office) they may not be included. I'm not sure. Anything that they would ship out on ALL of their computers of that model should be on the Factory Image Restore, I would think.

Probably.

'n stuff.

[getlynched47]

YOu'll have all your drivers and crap. I've done it before.

Really? I hope hope hope so. Looking at the partition scares me though:


There's the partition.


Everything looks fine and dandy after opening up the Recovery partition.


Normally, the drivers are in the dell folder (at least they are on my C drive). What happened?


Program files on the Recovery partition. Where are all the programs that came preinstalled?

I might be paranoid

[JakeNbake]

Really? I hope hope hope so. Looking at the partition scares me though:


There's the partition.


Everything looks fine and dandy after opening up the Recovery partition.


Normally, the drivers are in the dell folder (at least they are on my C drive). What happened?


Program files on the Recovery partition. Where are all the programs that came preinstalled?

I might be paranoid

They should be on other disks that came with your Computer!

[getlynched47]

They should be on other disks that came with your Computer!

My head hurts

I want to avoid reinstalling the drivers, programs not so much, after I do this. That's why I thought when they advertise that it's "restored back to the way it came to you" it meant that everything it came with would be restored with this Factory Image Restore.

I may be wrong thinking about it this way, but is the Dell Factory Image Restore basically a clean install of Vista plus drivers? (I hope).

Why the hell do they have to make this confusing for computer-illiterate people like myself?

[JakeNbake]

My head hurts

I want to avoid reinstalling the drivers, programs not so much, after I do this. That's why I thought when they advertise that it's "restored back to the way it came to you" it meant that everything it came with would be restored with this Factory Image Restore.

I may be wrong thinking about it this way, but is the Dell Factory Image Restore basically a clean install of Vista plus drivers? (I hope).

Why the hell do they have to make this confusing for computer-illiterate people like myself?

How many CD's do you have in your box?

[getlynched47]

How many CD's do you have in your box?

7 CD's

Five were preinstalled software.

One's the Vista reinstallation DVD

The last one is "Drivers and Utilities" (this is the one I want to avoid using to individually reinstall all the drivers)