Trying to restore to factory settings.

[Gene24]

I am selling my laptop and want to restore it back to factory settings. I have a Dell Inspiron mini 1012 running Win 7 starter 32 bit. The laptop works fine, no problems at all but again just want to restore it back.
In my manual it says 2 ways to restore to factory.

1) F8 then through the repair my console selection. ( I tried this and whenever I click on this selection it just loads windows normally. I am assuming this partition got messed up.)

2) By creating a USB or CD using the Dell Datasafe local backup program it came loaded with. THIS IS THE ONE i NEED HELP WITH.

I created the USB using the dell program and when I start my laptop and go to boot menu the computer recognizes the USB i created it on but then I get the all black WINDOWS BOOT MANAGER screen with the following


WINDOWS FAILED TO START. A RECENT HARDWARE OR SOFTWARE CHANGE MIGHT BE THE CAUSE.


1 INSERT DISC


2 CHECK LANGUAGE SETTINGS???


3 CLICK REPAIR COMPUTER


FILE: /WINDOWS/SYSTEM32/BOOT/WINLOAD.EXE


STATUS: 0xc000000d


Info: the selected entry could not be loaded because the app is missing or corrupt.




So what did I do wrong? Any help with this, I just bought the USB today and put it right in so unless I didn't do something right with that? Thanks

 

[gregrocker]

First run Dell Diagnostics to check over the hardware, and know whether that partiition is worth keeping because it works: Dell Diagnostics Utility - How to Run the

Then you can try Dell Recovery Partition - restoring F8 link

If that fails follow these steps to Clean Reinstall - Factory OEM Windows 7 with the installer provided in Step 1. Delete all partitions during booted install, unless Diagnostics run then you can save the OEM Tools partition for that reason.

If that fails report back exactly when and verbatim error message.

 

[VistaKing]

Did you press F12 then pick USB DEVICE

 

[theog]

How to use Dell Recovery Partition,make Recovery Disks & how to order Recovery Disks.
Manuals | Dell US

RouteTo
Dell - Support

 

[Gene24]

VistaKing- Yes I clicked f12 then the little +USB choice. It gave me the little white bar at the bottom of the screen just like it would normally when startup repair or restore would begin to load but then it loads really fast and gives me the all black Windows Boot Manager Screen as explained in the 1st post. So the USB I created starts to load but then just goes right to the error page.

FILE: /WINDOWS/SYSTEM32/BOOT/WINLOAD.EXE

STATUS: 0xc000000d

I plugged the USB and opened it, seems to have installed everything correctly from the Dell Datasafe recovery. Has about 5 different folders including a boot folder. So seems to have installed everything correctly on the USB just keep getting that error above when trying to boot into it?

 

[Gene24]

theog- Again, I have the manual right in front of my face. I followed the directions on how to create a recovery usb through the Datasafe program that came installed with the laptop. But I am receiving the error I have been explaining everytime I try booting into the USB I created.

 

[Gene24]

Greg- Thanks. I will now try the 3rd one and get back to you. F8 Does not work, I think the partition in the drive is either corrupt or got deleted. So not even trying with that anymore.

 

[Gene24]

I looked on the bottom of my notebook and on the OEM product key it is Windows 7 Starter SNPC OA? What is the SNPC OA? Which OS am I looking to install that this OEM key will work with? Thanks

 

[Gene24]

Indiana- Yes done everything he suggested. The recovery partition is no longer working on my drive. So am down to his last option just have to figure out which OEM install will work with my product key, I listed above this answer.

 

[gregrocker]

Download the ISO for Home Premium 32 bit from Step 1 in Clean Reinstall - Factory OEM Windows 7, run the eicfg removal tool on it to unlock all versions, then burn to DVD or write to flash stick using tool provided in Step 2, follow the steps to get a perfect reinstall.

Then choose your licensed version from the menu which will be provided once you boot the installer to reinstall.

During booted Custom Install, at Steps 6/7 of Clean Install Windows 7 delete all partitions, create New as you wish, then format the first large partition to install Win7 upon. Ignore the 100mb boot partition created.

 

[Gene24]

Ok Thank You. Was not sure which to install, was going to go with Ultimate so good thing I waited. Ok will let you know as soon as I am done. So I am assuming my OEM key will work with home premium then? Thanks again.

 

[Gene24]

Nevermind on last question, just seen that tool is to use any product key.

 

[gregrocker]

Do you have a license for Ultimate or Home Premium? If so you can use those versions. If not, choose the licensed version from the menu which will be provided when you boot into installer that has had it's ISO file unlocked with eicfg removal tool

 

[Gene24]

No, no key. I will have to use the licensed version from the sticker on mine. Never even heard of Win 7 starter SNPC OA.

 

[gregrocker]

It is a variant of Starter so should activate with the key on sticker. If not use How To Activate Windows 7 by Phone Step-by-Step Guide.

But first I would attempt to generate Recovery disks as provided by Theog above.

In the worst case you'd have to order Recovery disks if you cannot get it activated due to variance in the installer from SNPC version. I only see installers available for that version via torrents. It is risky to download a torrent installer, but if forced to do so make sure you read the comments and are assured first it has nothing added like an illegal crack or anything else.