Nothing will open (programs, files, etc..)

[Stevethaboss]

1. To reinstall a Dell from the recovery partition, this is the procedure:

· Unplug all the devices and drivers from your CPU (except the keyboard and the mouse), including your printer, camera and memory stick.

· Shut off the computer and then turn it on, or simply restart it.

· As soon as you see the Dell logo at the start keep on hitting the F8 key repeatedly. Do not stop until you see the screen that says "Repair your computer." There will be other options too but chose this option and hit Enter.

· Next you will see a prompt window giving you options to select the keyboard layout select from the drop-down menu "US" and click "OK."

· On the next screen you will be asked to select the user ID and the password of your Windows account. Select your user account, but make sure your user account has administrative functions. Type in your password. If you don't have a password, leave it blank and click "OK."

· Now you will come to a window with multiple options. Choose the one at the bottom that reads, "Dell Factory Image Restore." By clicking "Dell Factory Image Restore" , it will generate an operation that will take about 45 minutes to complete.


2. Saving programs makes no sense. You will have to reinstall those programs. If you have not saved the product keys, you will have to get them from the companies that own the programs. Next time, run Belarc advisor and store it in a safe place. That lists all your product keys and more. Try to run the advisor in safe mode, maybe it works.

3. For saving your data files, you need some live CD with which you can boot the dead system. This is a popular one:

http://www.sevenforums.com/software/198909-lucid-puppy-way-recover-files-non-bootable-computer.html

But you need access to another computer to burn the CD.

But here again, if you can copy them to your stick in safe mode, that would be the easiest.

ahh, I see. Can belarc adivsor find product keys you previouslly entered or not?

 

[Stevethaboss]

1. To reinstall a Dell from the recovery partition, this is the procedure:

· Unplug all the devices and drivers from your CPU (except the keyboard and the mouse), including your printer, camera and memory stick.

· Shut off the computer and then turn it on, or simply restart it.

· As soon as you see the Dell logo at the start keep on hitting the F8 key repeatedly. Do not stop until you see the screen that says "Repair your computer." There will be other options too but chose this option and hit Enter.

· Next you will see a prompt window giving you options to select the keyboard layout select from the drop-down menu "US" and click "OK."

· On the next screen you will be asked to select the user ID and the password of your Windows account. Select your user account, but make sure your user account has administrative functions. Type in your password. If you don't have a password, leave it blank and click "OK."

· Now you will come to a window with multiple options. Choose the one at the bottom that reads, "Dell Factory Image Restore." By clicking "Dell Factory Image Restore" , it will generate an operation that will take about 45 minutes to complete.


2. Saving programs makes no sense. You will have to reinstall those programs. If you have not saved the product keys, you will have to get them from the companies that own the programs. Next time, run Belarc advisor and store it in a safe place. That lists all your product keys and more. Try to run the advisor in safe mode, maybe it works.

3. For saving your data files, you need some live CD with which you can boot the dead system. This is a popular one:

http://www.sevenforums.com/software/198909-lucid-puppy-way-recover-files-non-bootable-computer.html

But you need access to another computer to burn the CD.

But here again, if you can copy them to your stick in safe mode, that would be the easiest.

ahh, I see. Can belarc adivsor find product keys you previouslly entered or not?

Sorry for being so ignorant, but is the lucid puppy a physical disk or just a download? If it is a download can I fit most of my files into a 4gb flash drive?

 

[whs]

Yes, Belarc Advisor finds all product keys of all installed programs that have such keys, including the OS key. But the OS key is only good for that particular installation.

If you reinstall from the recovery partition, you do not have to worry about the key of the OS. It is automatically detected.

 

[Stevethaboss]

Yes, Belarc Advisor finds all product keys of all installed programs that have such keys, including the OS key. But the OS key is only good for that particular installation.

If you reinstall from the recovery partition, you do not have to worry about the key of the OS. It is automatically detected.

Okay cool. I have the Belcarc Advisor now. It says to mouse over the blue "i" but that doesn't show the product keys. Are they located somewhere else?

 

[Stevethaboss]

Yes, Belarc Advisor finds all product keys of all installed programs that have such keys, including the OS key. But the OS key is only good for that particular installation.

If you reinstall from the recovery partition, you do not have to worry about the key of the OS. It is automatically detected.

Okay cool. I have the Belcarc Advisor now. It says to mouse over the blue "i" but that doesn't show the product keys. Are they located somewhere else?

Nevermind I found them.

 

[whs]

1. The Lucid Puppy link in the tutorial is a download for an .iso. That you have to burn to a CD - e.g. with ImgBurn.

Download ImgBurn 2.5.7.0 - FileHippo.com

Then you boot your PC with that CD and the rest is explained in the tutorial.

2. The question whether your files will fit on a 4GB stick only you can answer. I have no idea how big your files are. A bigger stick (e.g. 16GB) would be a small investment you may consider. They cost as little as $10.

Kingston DataTraveler 100 Generation 2 16GB USB 2.0 Flash Drive - Newegg.com

 

[gregrocker]

If you own those Adobe programs then you'll need to be sure you have their Product Keys and locate the installers to reinstall them. Did you buy them from Dell or elsewhere? I would call them to find out how to secure an installer if you don't have one. Those are expensive programs so you should have preserved their disks and Keys so you could reinstall them.

You said you really don't understand a Clean Reinstall. Did you read the tutorial to try to understand it, because you didn't ask back any questions? You own a copy of Win7 which can either be reinstalled using Dell Recovery which includes a lot of factory bloatware that interferes with Win7, or you can Clean Reinstall just the OS which gives much better performance.
Dell Windows 7 PC Restore
Clean Reinstall - Factory OEM Windows 7

It's your choice. We will help you with whatever you decide.

 

[whs]

Print the Belarc Advisor page and copy it to your stick so that you have the data for later when you reinstalled.

 

[Stevethaboss]

If you own those Adobe programs then you'll need to be sure you have their Product Keys and locate the installers to reinstall them. Did you buy them from Dell or elsewhere? I would call them to find out how to secure an installer if you don't have one. Those are expensive programs so you should have preserved their disks and Keys so you could reinstall them.

You said you really don't understand a Clean Reinstall. Did you read the tutorial to try to understand it, because you didn't ask back any questions? You own a copy of Win7 which can either be reinstalled using Dell Recovery which includes a lot of factory bloatware that interferes with Win7, or you can Clean Reinstall just the OS which gives much better performance.
Dell Windows 7 PC Restore
Clean Reinstall - Factory OEM Windows 7

It's your choice. We will help you with whatever you decide.

I want to do the clean install but when i download the thing from the first step it makes me pick a drive and it just opens my cd drive and I have no cd to save it to... I want to use my usb, so i have no idea what to do from step one

 

[whs]

If you own those Adobe programs then you'll need to be sure you have their Product Keys and locate the installers to reinstall them. Did you buy them from Dell or elsewhere? I would call them to find out how to secure an installer if you don't have one. Those are expensive programs so you should have preserved their disks and Keys so you could reinstall them.

You said you really don't understand a Clean Reinstall. Did you read the tutorial to try to understand it, because you didn't ask back any questions? You own a copy of Win7 which can either be reinstalled using Dell Recovery which includes a lot of factory bloatware that interferes with Win7, or you can Clean Reinstall just the OS which gives much better performance.
Dell Windows 7 PC Restore
Clean Reinstall - Factory OEM Windows 7

It's your choice. We will help you with whatever you decide.

I want to do the clean install but when i download the thing from the first step it makes me pick a drive and it just opens my cd drive and I have no cd to save it to... I want to use my usb, so i have no idea what to do from step one

This is not going to work for you. As I said, Ideally one would do that if one had all the equipment. But a reinstallation from the recovery partition is going to be a lot easier.

But first you have to secure your product keys and your data. And for that you will need a CD or DVD to burn the Lucid Puppy program.

Maybe you should first go out and buy a few DVDs (not CDs). Those you can then also use to save your data. Here is a small pack you can get at BestBuy:

http://www.bestbuy.com/site/Dynex%26%23153%3B+-+25-Pack+16x+DVD-R+Disc+Spindle/9270585.p?id=1218072202361&skuId=9270585&st=blank%20dvds&cp=1&lp=13

 

[gregrocker]

Wolfgang doesn't feel you can do the Clean Reinstall so he will help you complete Dell Factory Recovery.

After it completes you can Clean Up Factory Bloatware to get nearly the performance of a Clean Reinstall.

If for some reason Recovery doesn't run or you don't like the way it turns out I can still help you do the Clean Reinstall. I will be monitoring the thread.

Good luck!

 

[Stevethaboss]

If you own those Adobe programs then you'll need to be sure you have their Product Keys and locate the installers to reinstall them. Did you buy them from Dell or elsewhere? I would call them to find out how to secure an installer if you don't have one. Those are expensive programs so you should have preserved their disks and Keys so you could reinstall them.

You said you really don't understand a Clean Reinstall. Did you read the tutorial to try to understand it, because you didn't ask back any questions? You own a copy of Win7 which can either be reinstalled using Dell Recovery which includes a lot of factory bloatware that interferes with Win7, or you can Clean Reinstall just the OS which gives much better performance.
Dell Windows 7 PC Restore
Clean Reinstall - Factory OEM Windows 7

It's your choice. We will help you with whatever you decide.

I want to do the clean install but when i download the thing from the first step it makes me pick a drive and it just opens my cd drive and I have no cd to save it to... I want to use my usb, so i have no idea what to do from step one

This is not going to work for you. As I said, Ideally one would do that if one had all the equipment. But a reinstallation from the recovery partition is going to be a lot easier.

But first you have to secure your product keys and your data. And for that you will need a CD or DVD to burn the Lucid Puppy program.

Maybe you should first go out and buy a few DVDs (not CDs). Those you can then also use to save your data. Here is a small pack you can get at BestBuy:

Dynex 25Pack 16x DVDR Disc Spindle DX-DVDMR25 - Best Buy

Alright so tomorrow I will purchase some of those DVDs from Wallgreens. Then I just follow the puppy steps and I should be good?

 

[gregrocker]

You can also burn a Win7 installation DVD for your version using the Windows 7 USB-DVD Download Tool since you'll need it for repairs, if not reinstall.

Do you have access to an external HDD which you can use as this is the best way to back up files. You can even use the Win7 DVD in that case to Copy & Paste - in Windows Recovery Console.

http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/93347-copy-paste-windows-recovery-console.html

 

[whs]

OK, Make sure you read all the prior postings carefully. The important ones are # 20 and # 26. Print those out so that you have them handy.

Then keep the link to this thread so that you can get back to Greg's tutorials. Those are excellent but you will need more time to digest that.

Get back tomorrow if you need help. I will be here.

And in the future don't run without an antivirus program. MSE is free and from Microsoft. That will do the job:

Microsoft Security Essentials - Microsoft Windows

 

[Stevethaboss]

OK, Make sure you read all the prior postings carefully. The important ones are # 20 and # 26. Print those out so that you have them handy.

Then keep the link to this thread so that you can get back to Greg's tutorials. Those are excellent but you will need more time to digest that.

Get back tomorrow if you need help. I will be here.

And in the future don't run without an antivirus program. MSE is free and from Microsoft. That will do the job:

Microsoft Security Essentials - Microsoft Windows

I just bought the DVDs.. I an trying to get this universal usb installer but it doesnt make sense to me. It has directions to choose "mythbuntu" Whatever that is and then the line under it should turn green but mine stays red.. can you help me?

 

[whs]

Forget the Flash drive installer - unless you want to install puppy on the flash drive.

The easier way is when you download the Puppy .iso and burn it to DVD with this program Download ImgBurn 2.5.7.0 - FileHippo.com

 

[Stevethaboss]

Okay cool. Now I have the lucid puppy on a disc. What do I click now is it boot or initrd with the winrar logo and extract the files ?

 

[Stevethaboss]

Forget the Flash drive installer - unless you want to install puppy on the flash drive.

The easier way is when you download the Puppy .iso and burn it to DVD with this program Download ImgBurn 2.5.7.0 - FileHippo.com

Okay cool. Now I have the lucid puppy on a disc. What do I click now is it boot or initrd with the winrar logo and extract the files ?

 

[whs]

HMM, darn, now you need WinRAR to unzip it. Here are the 2 versions, 32bit and 64bit. Don't know whether you have a 32bit or 64bit system. Pick the one that fits your system: FileHippo.com - Download Free Software

 

[Stevethaboss]

HMM, darn, now you need WinRAR to unzip it. Here are the 2 versions, 32bit and 64bit. Don't know whether you have a 32bit or 64bit system. Pick the one that fits your system: FileHippo.com - Download Free Software

I already have WinRar.. I just extracted it. What's next?