Windows 7: Factory restore on Dell Inspiron N5050

hey folks...i need sum help!
u must be knwing tat dell has a restore s/w calld "dell data safe local backup" thru wich u can restore ur system to factory settings.
once i made a fresh windows installation so tat data safe backup s/w is gone...if i try 2 restore by pressing f8 at the boot...dell data safe option duznt cum only.
so im unable 2 restore 2 factore.
ive chekd tat d "recovery" partition still xists on my system(5.09GB free of 14.65GB), but its nt accessible i.e no files r shown in it.
is thr ny possible method to retore my sys to factore?
ive resinstalld the "datasafe local backup" s/w but its unable 2 detect the recovery partion.
please help me!!

You'll need to order Recovery Disks from Dell for your model if you want the preinstalled factory bloatware and utilities which have much better versions built into Windows 7 .

Or you can clean reinstall with the Product Key on COA sticker following these steps: Reinstalling Windows 7

Burn the ISO file below to DVD or write to flash stick using Windows 7 USB-DVD Download Too:
http://msft.digitalrivercontent.net/win/X17-59186.iso Windows 7 Professional x64 English

More info is required. How did you make that fresh Windows installation? Was it from the Recovery Disks or recovery partition or a clean install from any other Windows Installation media ?

Assuming that you still have the factory installation, you may download and install Dell Datasafe Local Backup http://dslbdownload.datasafelocalbac...wnload-en.html and then try Factory Image Restore.

The program will install only if there is a valid Win Recovery Environment and a valid Factory Image meaning a non-corrupt and accessible recovery partition and a valid factory install.

If it fails to install, you may contact DELL tech. support and request for an OEM Reinstall disk - do not ask for Recovery Disks - with which you can make a clean install doing away with the OEM partition and Recovery partition. With OEM reinstall disk no need for any fresh activation. Make sure that you download all the drivers from the Dell website and keep them ready. (The OEM Reinstall media is just the regular Windows install media with OEM activation data builtin so that you need not activate after the clean install)

For a clean install, even if you have the OEM disk, you may prefer to download your version with SP1 integrated from here . This will avoid downloading pre-sp1 updates.

Did you make the OEM manufacturer's Recovery Disks?


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

sir i did a clean install frm d windows cd wich dell gave me alongwith my laptop.
activating windows is not my problem.
after tat d dell datasafe thng was found nowhere.. so i dwnloded it and installed.. tat s/w is nt able 2 access the recovery partition.
but the recovery partition is thr on my sys(screenshot)
i hope ive given all details nw...pls revert!!

I presume that once you do a clean install either with the Dell supplied OEM Reinstall Disk (which requires no activation) or the regular Windows Installation media of the same version (which requires COA key + Phone activation or OEM activation restore with ABR or Advanced Token Manager) the recovery partition becomes redundant and may be non-functional.

With a clean install, I had wiped off the recovery partition and regained the 15 GB space and use only the third party backup software to create and restore the backups. You may use the built-in Windows backup or any other free backup software.

Why do you require the recovery partition now? And forget about the DELL datasafe local backup.

If your DELL has a Seagate HDD {most probable) you may download the Disk Wizard (which is the same as Acronis backup software) and use it for backups and restore. http://www.seagate.com/ww/v/index.js...00dd04090aRCRD

Dell Recovery Partition - restoring F8 link
Dell Restoring Your Computer´s Software to the Factory Settings

If you cannot restore the hotlink to run Factory Recovery then I would boot into free Partition Wizard bootable CD, rightclick on Recovery to Delete, OK. Then rightclick on C to Resize, slide left grey border all the way to the left to take up all Unallocated Space.

As you desperately need more space on C anyway, I would myself delete Factory Recovery to reclaim its space and the existing Unallocated space into C.

If you should then need to run Factory Recovery to restore all the bloatware you can use the disks you should have made when you set up your computer, or order then from Dell. A better Recovery method is using a Windows 7 backup image stored externally in case of HD failure: Backup Complete Computer - Create an Image Backup

Reinstalling Windows 7
Clean up factory bloatware

ok nw lemme be vry frank abt d thng "y i want to restore my sys to factore"
the dell ppl,they gave me mcafee wit 15months subscription....so if i restore it to d factore...the mcafee is installd automatically,..i jus need 2 register it n get 15months subscription again ..so i can do tat and use mcafee for free always ryt?
tis is main reasun!!

MucAfee is the worst possible AV, the cause of performance problems we see here regularly. The only way it works well is uninstalled.

Use free Microsoft Security Essentials or Avast 6 with the Windows 7 firewall for best performance. If you get chronically infected, then buy Malwarebytes real time protection, or at least run the scan monthly which is the very best scan out there.

If you write in txt spk here you will be ignored by most everyone. We use full sentences to communicate fully.

ok thanx and i will keep that in mind from now...hope this one is correct :P