Restore second-hand computer help

[Rustyrbb]

I recently traded a friend for his computer. Its an Alienware X51. He said I only needed to get a antivirus and it would work fine. Turns out the virus is a lot more intense than he let on. It makes normal system restores practically impossible. It also has somehow managed to lodge itself somewhere in the system, so that even when it is removed by the antivirus, it will re-appear in a few days. Now, because I bought this from a friend, I have no windows discs. He also didn't create a point to restore to factory settings. I want to do a full wipe while leaving the OS intact if possible to avoid, naturally, having to pay to but another one. Any help would be appreciated.

 

[Rustyrbb]

some extra info on the virus...

-It has the capability to change settings in antiviruses. I have tried two different antiviruses. AVG and Panda. It will turn off the antivirus and create errors if you try to run a scan. I have used a cloud cleaner through panda, which will detect and eliminate the virus.... until either A. the computer is shut down, logged off, or restarted or B. a time of about 8 hours passes.

-Not effective in safe mode, but can still stop restores while in repair mode. (F8 at BIOS)

-Slows all computer activities while windows is regularly booted. Almost to a halt. Takes about 10 minutes for control panel to load.

 

[fireberd]

The Dell PC Restore, F8 at power on, may be your only option (if that works). The Dell PC Restore will restore it to the original factory condition and should remove any viruses as it does a reformat of the hard drive.

Dell has has an Alieware forum section, on their support forums. May be best to post there since there are people there familiar with Alienware's.

Alienware Club - Dell Community

 

[Rustyrbb]

I'll definitely post up there as well. As for the F8, it doesn't give me an option to restore to factory settings without a disc to do so with

 

[Berton]

More about the "factory restore": There's 2 things one can do, one is during the setup or maybe later create the factory restore discs [or USB Thumb/Flash drive] and the other is to determine which key to press to get to the usually-hidden partition on the HDD to start the process, may be F10, F11 or F12. There's usually also a procedure to be used when booted into Windows to do the factory restore. Different OEMs do it differently. Names of the processes may be a bit different, have even seen a CD/DVD burning program have the capability to do it. If that restore partition has been deleted it's back to having the discs or contacting the OEM to order them. Or if not wanting all the 'bloatware' associated with the factory restore buy an OEM or Retail disc which should have a Product Key with it.

 

[fireberd]

If the boot record on the hard drive has been changed from the original factory installation (e.g. another Windows version installed) then the Dell PC Restore option, which does not require any discs, will not run. If that is what is happening the only way to restore is to reinstall using a Windows installation disc.

The same version is all that is needed (e.g. if it came with Windows 7 Home) then an "activateable" Win 7 Home using the Dell Windows 7 Product Key (usually in the battery compartment of a Dell laptop) is all that is needed. Dell will supply the disc, at a nominal price, but unless they have changed their requirements you must be the registered with Dell owner to get that.

 

[Rustyrbb]

Yeah that's the big problem I have. Not sure how to locate the owner to transfer ownership either. My brother never transferred it to himself. And has no way to get in contact with the person who he bought it from. Can Dell contact the person on record to have it transferred that way?

 

[fireberd]

Dell won't do anything in that regard. Its up to the owner to initiate any transfer.

The only thing you can do is get an OEM copy of the same version of Windows that is installed and do a clean install, if the Product Code sticker is still there and visible. If the Product Code sticker is gone or unreadable, you will have to buy a new copy of Windows with a (you can buy an OEM version that is cheaper than a full Retail version)

Otherwise, I would suggest undoing the swap and getting your old PC back. Its a "boat anchor" to you.