Windows 7: Restoring Factory Default Image to Dell Studio 1558

Hi, I've got a problem which I hope you can help me with.

I received my new Dell Studio 1558 laptop today pre-installed with Windows 7 Home Premium and bundled with a bunch of other programs. I decided to install a copy of Windows 7 Professional I had obtained so had to reformat the HDD (but I left the Recovery partition unaltered).

I have decided however that I would like to return the system back to its factory defaults (bundled with Home Premium and the Dell software and such).



Since I did not remove or alter the Recovery partition I was hoping I could still do the restore however when I bring up the restoration utility it says it can't find an image to use. Any ideas what I should do?

There is a re-installation DVD provided with the laptop but I have my feeling this is just the OEM so will not have bundled software.

Hello mikeyp23, welcome to Seven Forums!


The recovery setup may automatically look for the factory installed OS on the partition that you formatted and not finding it, it may not be able to "find" a place to re-install to. I have no experience with Dell and I hope this isn't the case; I'm sure someone with more info for you will be along to help shortly.

You should be able to get an idea if the bundled software is included by putting it into a drive, and opening it in a file manager to see what is inside. It has been a long time since I've had to deal with an OEM disk, but when I did, it produced a menu allowing one to choose what to restore.

Thanks for the reponses guys! I have now discovered there are no additional programs on the provided re-installation CD, it is strictly the OS.

Hmm, this is a little frustrating because all I really want access to is my McAfee subscription and the DellDataSafe service, I've managed to restore everything else.

Many of us here at the forums use Avast, it's a very good AV and it's free to the home user; at the link below.

You'll have to register with Avast but there's no charge to use it.

avast! - Download Free Antivirus Software or Internet Security

I don't know why you would want McAfee, but have you checked the downloads available on the Dell website. If nothing else, you can probably find equal or better alternatives available elsewhere.

It's just that there was a 15 month subscription bundled with McAfee and it seems a shame that it should go to waste. I have downloaded it again from the provided link on the Dell site but it's only activated a 30 day trial.

It's probably not worth the hassle restoring it back to factory defaults just for McAfee then eh? The Dell DataSafe thing could have been quite useful though..

Don't you have the McAfee activation key you were issued with the purchase of the sub?

I suggest you use MSE. I think you will be much better off than with McAfee. I skipped a 2 year Norton subscribtion and went with MSE (on 4 systems) and did not regret it yet.

Do you have the Dell Application & Driver Recovery DVD?