Solved Can't access Boot Option screen or Safe Mode

[truckinguy]

Don't know why I can't access Boot Option screen via F12 or Safe Mode which I think is F8. I have tried about 12 times in one way or another.

 

[belikexp]

Try this. http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/139810-sfc-scannow-run-command-prompt-boot.html

This shows how to start the PC and open a command prompt at boot so the Windows system files can be checked and repaired if possible, if the PC will not start to Windows normally or in safe mode.

 

[Bare Foot Kid]

Hello truckinguy.



Try this, restart the PC and immediately start continually tapping the space bar, this forces the Windows boot manager and you may / should get the F8 safe mode screen.

Why are you trying to get the safe mode?

 

[truckinguy]

On a fourm for E6520 Latitudes there is some confusion as to if there is a recovery to orignal software condition in this laptop. Some one pointed out there might be (didn't have a 6520 but 6410) and said in Advanced Boot Options there was a choice to restore to original software. I was curious to see if I had that in case I'd like to do that someday. But either F12 or F8 doesn't do anything. Quite a while ago I did access F12 Boot options so I know it worked back then. Others had said it was a Latitude and they didn't have the recovery software as they are bare bones system. I see a recovery partition on my drive though. It say's .2 gb of .7 gb used.???
Everything is great with this new Notebook. No issues except no boot option or safe mode access for me.

 

[theog]

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

 

[truckinguy]

Thanks for the replies. I'm glad I found Win7 fourms.
I got into the advanced recovery options by tapping and from there into F8 and no sign of a "restore to oringal software " so I don't think this 6520 Latitude has it in it but I'm going to keep reading and researching the replies above.
I would like to get back the F12 boot options to work on restart in case I might need that someday. Or learn how to do it someother way in case of a big crash.

 

[Bare Foot Kid]

Have you explored theog's #5 post above?

 

[truckinguy]

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

I don't have the program in the link but I sent for the discs. I do have disc's that came with this notebook new and I paid extra for other discs needed to restore other software when new and wonder if these will be any different.
But once way back when I first got this I had it messed up while I was learning Win7 and wanted just to start over so I tried to used those cd's and it didn't really work well. They only seemed to have Win7 and the drivers. Any way I quit as the learning curve from going down that road was too much and used a system image I had saved.
I should always be all set since I have 3 cloned discs as backup's but it would be nice to help others posting with a E6520 who didn't have a system image right off ( I was smart enought to do this) to get back to orignal "like new" operations.

 

[Bare Foot Kid]

Have a look through this information below.


After you have copied out or made back-ups of the data you need to save to external media; if you can find an exact Windows version that the PC shipped with you can do a clean install using the activation key on the COA sticker attached to the PC though it may require a robo-call to MS to sort the OEM batch-key.

How to Activate Windows 7 by Phone


If you can't find an exact same version, you could use the info in this tutorial to create an "all versions" installer of any version Windows installer, to install using the same method I posted above.

Windows 7 Universal Installation Disc - Create


After you have made backups of everything you care to save, the best method is to do a complete wipe (secure erase) of the entire Hard Disk Drive first, it over-writes everything, all the old Windows code including all the old drivers/programs, giving you the best possible space to install Windows to.

SSD / HDD : Optimize for Windows Reinstallation

 

[gregrocker]

Here: Using the Dell Backup and Recovery Manager

When you get to F8 Advanced Boot Options is there a Repair console on it? There should be if Windows has not been damaged. On that menu should be the way to restore to factory settings from boot.

You should also have a way to restore from the desktop, in the All Programs list.

It sounds like you were one of the last to get the valuable Win7 Installation DVD which Dell no longer ships, due to their bloatware sponsors' pressure. Here are steps if/when you want to get the cleanest possible installation for the best Win7 performance: Reinstalling Windows 7

Meanwhile you can gain back some performance from the factory preinstalled bloatware by following these tips to Clean up factory bloatware

 

[truckinguy]

Here: Using the Dell Backup and Recovery Manager

When you get to F8 Advanced Boot Options is there a Repair console on it? There should be if Windows has not been damaged. On that menu should be the way to restore to factory settings from boot.

You should also have a way to restore from the desktop, in the All Programs list.

It sounds like you were one of the last to get the valuable Win7 Installation DVD which Dell no longer ships, due to their bloatware sponsors' pressure. Here are steps if/when you want to get the cleanest possible installation for the best Win7 performance: Reinstalling Windows 7

Meanwhile you can gain back some performance from the factory preinstalled bloatware by following these tips to Clean up factory bloatware

There is a Repair option and when choosen it shows an error screen basically asking for a disc.
Why is the Win7 install dvd valuable? I had a spare HDD so I tried the DVD and all it loaded was win7. Nothing resembeling my original soft ware was there. No Office,etc. It was very strange. I figured it was just Win 7 bare bones.

 

[gregrocker]

Having a WIn7 installation DVD is valuable to many tech enthusiasts so they can get a clean reinstall of just the OS without the factory bloatware which can throttle WIn7 and corrupt the OS even by uninstalling.

Unless you ordered it originally and should have received an installer, Office on the Recovery DIsks is a trial version which lets users get started for 30-90 days then slaps them with a $250 bill, at which time its too late to convert to free comparable Works - although Open Office is just as good.

The preinstalled AV is often bloatware which works best when uninstalled. We recommend free MS Security Essentials or Avast 6, or if you really need to pay something use Nod32/ESET.

Any disk burning software, photo programs and the OEM utilities are crapware which have much better versions built into Win7.

Of course all of this is up to User preference. But we have helped thousands go completely clean to enjoy native featherlight, instantaneous Win7 not larded with crapware so we want you to be aware of the option.

 

[truckinguy]

Thanks
I have gotton rid of a few bloatware last night. Don't think I'll ever use them like Dell data protection which is for large companys looking to protect there data from being stolen or lost. I have saved external images which is good enough for my needs.
I have Office Starter which has taken a little time to get use to after comng from Office 03. Knowing that starter is limited but free had me wondering wether to get rid of it and install Office 3 which I have on disc but so far Office starter seems good enough for me.
Peace

 

[Bare Foot Kid]

Good to see you got it sorted and thanks for the update.

 

[gregrocker]

Be aware that some laptops have hard drive protection which parks the HD for safe transport. It will show as a driver in Device Manager if so, and after clean reinstall it will likely be in need of a driver which can be imported from the computer maker's Support Downloads webpage under Drivers.

 

[theog]

Well done.