Hi,

This is the message I posted on CA, still not resolved. My queery is if this is not resolved can I simply install W7 in the condition my laptop is now?

Thank you for any help.



Due to my utter stupidity, please don't ask, my Dell Inspiron 1720 laptop, Vista HP, will not boot into the OS.
A message pops up that tells me to insert the Windows Cd and click on "repair", but of course I don't have such a thing. I have a Dell " Drivers and Utilities" DVD but that doesn't give me the option to reinstall anything.

I have also run the Dell diagnostic cd and that reports my Hard Drive "C" is fine.
I had previously made a recovery cd using Acronis but that tells me it cannot locate any disks. It would appear that my C drive is not being seen. So, would any kind soul know how I can get my OS back or at the very least be able to restore my laptop to factory condition?

I cannot boot into F8 only F2 and F12

If all your hard ware is OK and can run 7 the answers yes.
It's worth it as well.
Doesn't F12 send you to recover factory settings?
I think F2 sends you to the bios.
Can you not get into safe mode F8 on start up and do a system restore?
Is it your "utter stupidity"that provides the answers.

Some motherboards require you to tap F5, rather than F8,to get to Safe Mode.

Hi,

First thing I tried was F8 "safe mode" have tried F1 thro to F12, F2 displays System Information....F12 is basically SI but does allow me to option of entering the Bios. Nowhere is displayed the option to restore to factory settings. I wish! Can anyone see why W7 would not install?

Thank you all for your input.

I haven't received the W7 disc yet, not a matter of giving anything away, if there was a better way of explaining myself I would, just trying to forsee any problems that may or may not arise.

Now I understand ("IF" it doesn't work)
No problem, and I can understand your concern.

Providing you have run the "MS Compatibility program) I don't see why it should not work.

Have you tried looking at the DELL website for any instructions on how to use the restore facility?
Or is there a help file on the disc you have that may explain it.

***************
>> It would appear that my C drive is not being seen.

Yes, this is possibly so.
Some manufactures (Medion for one) actually load the recovery files onto the first part of the HDD which would be reserved for C:\, and the OS onto the next partition which would normally be D:\.
However, in My Computer/Explorer we actually see the C: drive being the OS disc.
Which is why Acronis now can't find it.
Take a note of the partition sizes when trying to find the drive for Acronis to restore to.
(Very confusing I know)

**********
When selecting the F12 option, are there any choices at all?

Hi oldfogy,

The only option I can see in F12 is to "load defaults" but there is a warning that my SATA operation is being changed, and that may require a reinstall, so left that alone. That's why I figure it may be best to install W7, I should have said earlier that the W7 disc was on it's way, and as long as no-one can see any problems that's what I hope to do.

No explanation for the SATA notice, but you may know if you have set anything up, such as RAID etc, (That's all beyond me)

I would have thought that "Load Defaults" the restore Factory restore facility.

To be on the safe side, is it possible to disconnect the SATA drives?

>> my Dell Inspiron 1720 laptop, Vista HP, will not boot into the OS.
Assuming this is still the case, I don't see you have anything to lose.

Except to try your previous Acronis backup again, this time taking note of where to install it.

From search:-
http://www.google.co.uk/search?q=how+to+restore+dell+inspiron+1720+to+factory+settings&ie=utf-8&oe=utf-8&aq=t&rls=org.mozilla:en-US:official&client=firefox-a

The first option on the list is:-
http://answers.yahoo.com/question/index?qid=20081125161123AAn2U7s

(I have Slightly tidied up, to make it easier to read)

Quote:

Restoring the Computer to the Default Factory Configuration The Dell Factory Image Restore option allows you to restore your hard drive back to its original factory configuration as when you first ordered it from Dell. This option appears on Dell computers that were originally pre-installed with Windows Vista™ and does not include computers purchased through the Express Upgrade promotion or computers that were upgraded to Windows Vista from another version of Windows. NOTICE: When you restore the computer to the default factory configuration, all data on the C drive is deleted. Before performing this procedure, back up personal files. If you do not back up personal files, the data is lost. 1 Restart the computer. To do this, click Start → → Restart. 2 As the computer restarts, press until the Advanced Boot Options menu appears on the screen. NOTE: You must press the key before the Windows logo appears on the screen. If you press after the Windows logo appears on the screen, the Advanced Boot Options menu will not appear on the screen. If you do not see the Advanced Boot Options menu, restart the computer, and then repeat this step until you see the menu on the screen. 3 Press to select Repair Your Computer on the Advanced Boot Options menu, and then press . 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 Select the Yes, reformat hard drive and restore system software to factory condition checkbox. 9 Click Next. The computer is restored to the default factory configuration. 10 When the restore operation is completed, click Finish to restart the Source(s):

_________________
If it ain't broke.
Don't fix it.

Hi oldfogy,

Unfortunetly there is no option in either F2 or F12, the only two boot options I have, that gives me the option to do any of the above. I have full backups stored on an external, so as you say I have nothing to loose by giving the "restore to default settings" a try.

Thanks again.

I don't know if you are doing something wrong or not, but I have never heard of any-one not being able to boot into F8 (or possibly F5)
(If and when into F8, there is also the option of pressing F5 for slightly different choices, although these are Windows choices)

Which is why it's very important to start and keep the key "intermittently" about twice every second.
IF you miss the vital moment, then you have to try again.

I would still think that your F12 is the way to go.