Windows 7: How to restore my DELL lappie to the factory image?

Well, DELL M101z (Inspiron 1120) manual says Press F8 when the DELL logo appears, to bring the Advanced Boot Options.

When I do that ( I have tried a hundred times) it does not happen and the lappie merrily goes on to the first screen to select Ubuntu light or Windows 7 - by default boots into Windows 7 after 5 seconds. (This lappie is one of the few that comes with Ubuntu light preinstalled by the manufacturers. So I have not done anything with the MBR)

Here is the screenshot showing the OEM (FAT16), Recovery,System,Linux partitions.

How do I invoke Factory Image Restore?

(When I press F8 just as Windows starts after 5 seconds, I do get the Advanced Boot Options that only brings the usual Sytem Image Restore and not the Factory Image Restore)

How to use Dell Recovery Partition,make Recovery Disks & how to order Recovery Disks.
Dell - Support

Are you repeatedly press the <F8>?

You may need to highlight Windows 7 and then press F8 again:

My lappie does not have DELL Datasafe local. So no possibility of making recovery disks.

1.The only possible thing as per the manual is to restore it to factory image, by repeatedly pressing F8 when DELL logo appears and then select DELL Factory Image Restore and yes I had repeatedly pressed F8 but it does not take cognizance of it and gets on to the next screen.

2. As I said there is only the first screen with Ubuntu Light icon and Windows 7 icon. By default Windows 7 icon is highlighted and after 5 seconds Windows 7 boots. (There is no Windows Boot Manager Screen as we normally see)

If at the time Windows 7 boots I press F8 repeatedly it does take me to the Advanced Boot Options, but the screen that comes is the one we normally get "Restore from a system Image"( an image taken by me) and not "DELL Factory Image Restore" which should be the item to appear in-lieu, to restore it from the recovery partition.

TVEblen hit the nail on the head on this one. Try his suggestion. You want to get to the typical Windows 7 repair screen, which you can do on a multi-OS machine after you move your selection to the Windows 7 option (without actually hitting enter to start Windows) and then hit F8. If you have a different boot options screen, you may have to select the Windows 7 option and hit enter and then IMMEDIATELY hit F8. I know the Windows boot option requires you to select the Windows 7 option, then hit F8, and then hit enter.

The other thing I'm looking at is "when the Dell logo appears". The logo appears before the BIOS executes it's boot sequence, long before it hands off to the OS.

You could also try repeatedly pressing the F8 key immediately after pressing the power button, or just at the time you anticipate the Dell logo to come up, and continue pressing repeatedly it until the logo disappears.

Your Recovery Partition looks be OK.

Creating Your System Recovery Discs with Dell DataSafe Local Backup 2.0 | Dell



The Dell doc is dated 2009,
Do you have a download link to your manual?

Yes theog. The setup guide here http://support.dell.com/support/edoc...n/sg/sg_en.pdf

Pages 55,56 and 57 not applicable since my lappie does not have Dell DataSafe Local Backup. Page 58: Dell Factory Image Restore.

I presume that I should actually get a screen like in the screenshot below, which I am unable to get. (picked up from here )



If I continue hitting F8, as windows starts I do get the usual System Recovery Option " System Image Recovery - Recover your computer using a system image you created earlier " and this is of no use to me.

TVeblen and writhziden may also please note. (Sorry to repeat the same thing again and again but inescapable for a better appreciation of the problem)

Very odd. Have you tried contacting Dell? Perhaps the recovery sequence is different for a multiple boot system. You could try methods for other vendors (Alt+F10, Alt+F11, F4) when the system first powers on.

OK, I am still experimenting. Signing off for the day.