Cannot Access System Setup via Installation CD or Bootable USB

Hello everyone.

For some reason, I have lost access to the Installation menu accessible through both the Installation CD and a bootable USB with the same files as the Installation CD. I'm not sure when this started happening but I'm going to say within a couple of months. I had no problems before putting the Installation CD in and accessing the "Repair Computer" menu, the Disk Partition Menu (that one where you can view what's on the HDD such as OEM partitions, your drives, Recovery, etc), and every other menu that is accessible through the Installation disc.

I discovered this a few days ago when I was backing up my system with Windows System Image feature. The system image worked and is accessible but ONLY through "Revert to a System Image You Made Before" menu while running the OS. If I try to access this same menu using an Installation Disc or a bootable drive with the installation media on it, my screen will freeze at the screen where I am supposed to select my language. I also cannot use my mouse or my keyboard. The keyboard light does not appear for NUMLOCK and my mouse has no response; matter of fact, there's no mouse cursor on the screen either.

My PC is an Alienware X52 and it's had at least one clean install before. I don't know if that was a result of why my PC is acting strange but I was able to access the Setup Menus BEFORE this happened and a couple of months ago. I don't know why I can't now. I've checked the Installation CD on another PC and it reads no problem. I can also progress through the menus. I've even tried this with a bootable USB and I get the same results on my "test" PC. No problems found. However, if I try to do it on my Alienware, I get a frozen screen at the time where you select your language, no mouse cursor or response, and no keyboard response.

This is really weird and I don't know what is causing it. Perhaps it is a recovery partition or something that has become corrupted. However, I can't check that because the menu I usually go to freezes. ATM, my PC works fine, but I want to be able to access this screen again god forbid anything happens. Please tell me what I can do to fix this or what might be causing it. Thank you.

RolandJS said:

Was the backup image made onto external media? I'm asking 'cause I'm hoping Windows Backup did not accidentally over-write the factory restore/recovery partition.

Yes. the backup image was made onto a "Passport 600GB" external hard drive.

Anyone?

The PC works fine but I cannot get to the Setup section on either the original installation CD or a bootable USB with the same setup files as the installation CD. I am quite concerned why I can't access this, and am wondering how I can access it if this option isn't available?

If your specs are correct
GET RID of 1 of your AV's.
When you repair install -- UNPLUG any external devices.
suggest you post a copy of your Disk management setup

Roy

torchwood said:

If your specs are correct
GET RID of 1 of your AV's.
When you repair install -- UNPLUG any external devices.
suggest you post a copy of your Disk management setup

Roy

OK. The next available time, I will.

As requested. Here is my Disk Management screenshot. It looks normal though, so why is it that I can't access the Setup screen using either my Windows 7 OS CD or a bootable USB?

Please help.

Also, I have made a backup system image. If I can't access the Setup section, does this mean I wouldn't be able to restore my backup image?