Restoring Vista to a Windows 7 laptop

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  1. Posts : 7
    Windows 7 Home Premuim 64bit
       #1

    Restoring Vista to a Windows 7 laptop


    Hello,

    I'm trying to restore my Dell Inspiron 1750 to its factory condition. I installed Windows 7 awhile back but am giving the laptop to my mom and want to restore the factory settings.
    My recovery, E drive is still intact with the factory.wim file.
    Dell tech support told me to eff off so I turned to the internet.
    I found another thread on this from the dell support forums,
    Problems with Factory Image Restore on Dell Inspiron 1750 - Microsoft OS Forum - Software & Operating Systems - Dell Community
    but I couldn't follow the command prompt portion.
    Thanks for any help you can give me.
      My Computer


  2. Posts : 16,130
    7 X64
       #2

    That should work, but you may find there is an easier way.

    Best to have some kind of bootable disk to hand - just in case ( I assume you have the win7 install dvd ).

    1. boot into windows 7

    2. look in disk management and check the dell recovery partition is a Primary partition ( dark blue )

    3. Assuming it is, then rt click it and mark it Active.

    4. Reboot pc - you should boot straight into Dell recovery/restore program.
      My Computers


  3. Posts : 7
    Windows 7 Home Premuim 64bit
    Thread Starter
       #3

    I wasn't able to understand anything past this: "If you have installed Vista on the C:\ drive, then you can simply boot up your system. Locate the file name factory.wim on the Factory Image partition. Make a note of the drive letter and path to that file."

    on that link I posted.



    I don't have a windows 7 disk handy any longer but I'm sure I could create a bootable USB.
      My Computer


  4. Posts : 16,130
    7 X64
       #4

    You probably won't need it just now - but always handy to have - d/l one from here:

    Windows 7 Recovery Disc

    You should only need to do steps 1 to 4 in my post above - no dvd needed for that.
      My Computers


  5. Posts : 7
    Windows 7 Home Premuim 64bit
    Thread Starter
       #5

    Giving it a shot now, I'll post the results in a second.
      My Computer


  6. Posts : 7
    Windows 7 Home Premuim 64bit
    Thread Starter
       #6

    BOOTMGR is missing

    I assume this means that the recovery partition doesn't work or was corrupted?
    I'll bet I need that recovery disk now, haha.
      My Computer


  7. whs
    Posts : 26,210
    Vista, Windows7, Mint Mate, Zorin, Windows 8
       #7

    Here is the Dell procedure for reinstallation: Restoring Your Computer´s Software to the Factory Settings | Dell
      My Computer


  8. Posts : 16,130
    7 X64
       #8

    Yes, you do need the recovery disc - is there a boot.wim on the recovery partition?

    You also need this:

    DISMGUIx86x64.zip

    and This:

    GIMAGEX-X86-X64.zip

    D/L the recovery disc iso - extract it to your HD with e.g. 7-zip.

    run dismgui - browse to extracted iso\sources\boot.wim and mount it in any EMPTY folder

    copy the correct bit version of Gimagex into mount folder\windows\system32

    Click Unmount - com.

    Put it on a flash drive - boot it up, after it finds window installation - click on it to highlight it and select NEXT - select command prompt - type GIMAGEX, then press enter.

    Click the Apply tab - then for the source browse to the dell install.wim

    for the destination - browse to your windows partition ( don't worry about drive letters -they are different seen from the boot media ).

    Apply the image. Should only take a few minutes.
    Last edited by SIW2; 21 Apr 2011 at 22:12.
      My Computers


  9. Posts : 7
    Windows 7 Home Premuim 64bit
    Thread Starter
       #9

    I just loaded a fresh copy of windows 7 on to the laptop. I had to relabel the recovery partition but it still is intact.
    There is no boot.wim file on the recovery drive.
      My Computer


  10. Posts : 7
    Windows 7 Home Premuim 64bit
    Thread Starter
       #10

    what if i can find a download for windows vista. Would loading that back on to the computer temporarily allow me to extract the factory.wim file?
      My Computer


 
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