Dell Inspiron N5110 has missing recovery partition.

Golden · 06 Jul 2012

Hi,

It sounds like your PC is running better now - is that on account of updating Windows 7?

If that s the case, perhaps a clean reinstall is not needed now, but I would definately follow lee's suggestion about having an image - an image is for all intents and purposes a recovery partition, except its stored on an external drive, which is of course safer.

Your 2 routes for imaging are:
1. Windows in-built imaging, or
2. Free 3rd party application called Macrium Reflect

I've never used the first one, but I have had huge success with the second option. There is no great difference, as long as you have a working image that you can trust.

Regards,
Golden

angiesluck · 06 Jul 2012

I am not sure whether it is due to updating windows 7 but I think it could possible be helping to contribute towards it running better with it repairing .net (something to that effect) on finishing the installation...it took awhile too do the repair thou! So maybe that fault had a contribution to it running slow! who knows....I was told that unticking most of the startup items wouldnt have contributed a great deal in speeding it up but I went ahead any way as that is how it is on our other laptop and that works fine....

If it said it was backing up all files and folders and system image...does that mean it has created one thou! if one was not already done that is? Plus how would I know if it has created it, is there a way I can check this out on the backup I did on the external hard drive? Without it downloading from it of course as it is not needed (as of yet) anyways

Golden · 06 Jul 2012

Hi,

I've nevr used the Windows backup & imaging option, but according to this tutorial, a file is created and stored in this location:

Backup images are saved as backup periods in this format at the selected saved to location like the example below.

(backup location)\WindowsImageBackup\(computer name)\Backup (year-month-day) (time-hhmmss)

For example, if your computer name is Computer, your backup image location is on hard disk or partition (network or local) D: , and you backed up on 11/22/2008 at 1:00:50 PM (It uses 24 hour time), then that backup image would be located in the folder below.D:\WindowsImageBackup\Computer\Backup 2008-11-22 130050

Backup Complete Computer - Create an Image Backup

Check there to see if that file was created.

Regards,
Golden

NoelDP · 06 Jul 2012

Golden said:

Hi,

Are you referring to the Home and Student Office 2010? I have re-installed that even after activation has recognised that all 3 installations have been used - all it takes is a call to MS to tell them you had to reformat and re-install everything on your computer. Since you are installing to the same computer, this is not a problem, but I'll ask NoelDP for some clarification on this too.

Re-installing Windows 7 will require everything to be wiped from the hard disk, so its important to make backups of your data (music, photos etc.) before you start.

Regards,
Golden

Got it in one, Golden. :)
Telephone activation will probably be required, but should not cause a problem (the license is not for three activations, it's for three concurrent installations)

marsmimar · 06 Jul 2012

Just my 2 cents worth again (2 pence? LOL!) If you want to make absolutely sure that the Windows Backup tool also created a system image, try to create a standalone image on your external hard drive. If a previous image was created the Windows 7 system image tool will warn you that the previous image will be overwritten.

As Golden said, the Windows 7 imaging tool creates a file called WindowsImageBackup. This is not to be confused with the backup of individual files. (Personally, I think Microsoft has a stupid habit of using confusing and similar sounding names for its products and features. How hard would it have been to call the file WindowsSystemImage??? But I'm ranting and my blood pressure is rising.)

If you want to keep multiple Windows 7 system images I found the easiest way is to rename each image so it doesn't get overwritten by the next. For example, your first image is WindowsImageBackup. Rename it to something easy like WIB070612. If you make another system image on July 25, your external hard drive will show:

WIB070612
WindowsImageBackup (072512)

Immediately rename the second image to WIB072512 so it won't get overwritten. If you make another system image on August 10, your external hard drive will show:

WIB070612
WIB072512
WindowsImageBackup (081012)

Rename it to WIB081012 and the external drive will show:

WIB070612
WIB072512
WIB081012

If you want to restore your computer back to July 25, rename that image to WindowsImageBackup. The external drive will now show:

WIB070612
WindowsImageBackup
WIB081012

When you restore your computer the Windows 7 imaging tool will see only one file called WindowsImageBackup and use it to restore your machine. Piece of cake ... once you get used to jumping through the Windows 7 hoops. Or you could use Macrium free. Each system image is automatically given a unique identifier with a date. If you ever need to restore your computer pick the image you want and click go. No renaming to save previous images, no renaming to choose an image. Just simplicity. Sorry for the long and probably confusing post.

angiesluck · 06 Jul 2012

No it had none so now....I have sucessfully created a system image backup on my external hard drive and created a System Repair Disc for Windows 7 64-bit.....(as it asked if I wanted to create one after creating image back up ) quite simple to do too

All done by going into the control panel and going too restore and backup

angiesluck · 06 Jul 2012

just a little Marsmimar lol

Thanks NoelDP....so next time I ring to have it activated I can use it 3times I presume

F5ing · 06 Jul 2012

If you're still getting those Dell DataSafe popups you might want to check out:

Learn More About Dell DataSafe Online

Dell's DataSafe Local Backup problem... can't uninstall it. - Microsoft Answers

angiesluck · 09 Jul 2012

I'm not bothered about that dell data safe ..(so far no popups) as it seems its only for 1yr anyways and I wouldnt bother with it after that so I shall just keep updating my own backup of any files I put on from now that I may want to keep to my external harddrive.....Thanks for everyone who gave their input into trying to resolve this problem...much appreciated.:)

F5ing · 09 Jul 2012

You're very welcome. If DataSafe lifts its ugly head again you can follow the instructions in that second link I posted to remove it.

Make sure to follow through with making images!