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    Need to access "RECOVERY" partition

    Discussion in 'Alienware 17 and M17x' started by Len1304, Mar 12, 2012.

  1. Len1304

    Len1304 Notebook Guru

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    Okay so here's the deal. I need help. I recently installed Partition Magic and it really messed up my partition table for the main drive. In my failed attempt to recover that drive it got wiped. Here's what I'm trying to do. From Ubuntu I can see with the "Disk Manager" the recovery drive as /dev/dm-3 I'm trying to make my "RECOVERY" partition bootable. Any suggestions? I don't have the restore disks as I returned from deployment early and my disks are still downrange. I have to figure out how to restore my computer without using the original disks. I'm in the middle of downloading an ISO of 7 Ultimate then I'll burn that to dvd via my mac. I also have and am currently running A Ubuntu LiveCD. Any suggestions on how to force the system to boot to that recovery partition would be nice. ALSO from Ubuntu I can access the recovery partition and view all the files on it. So I know it's not a goner yet. I just have to find a way to make it bootable. Thank you for any help you people can give. I'm so mad at myself.
     
    Len1304, Mar 12, 2012
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  2. n0¢yph3r

    n0¢yph3r Notebook Consultant

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    I was going to send you a link that would let you download the system recovery disks and tools to help. I still will include the link but it seems that it costs $9.00 U.S. to get a copy due to licensing restrictions.

    Here is the link:

    http://neosmart.net/blog/2009/windows-7-system-repair-discs/

    However, in reading your post again, I see another way to interpret this issue. You want to make the Dell recovery partition bootable, which you cannot do through a Windows Recovery CD.

    Try this:

    Power on your system. The moment you see the Alienware logo; begin tapping F12. This will bring up the one-time boot menu. If the option to boot to the recovery partition is there, attempt that.

    If you are still having issues, post here as I will be up for a few more hours. If nothing else, I can drop you my phone number and walk you through a few different steps that might help.

    I've been in your shoes before, so having someone to call and bounce ideas off of can help sometimes.
     
    n0¢yph3r, Mar 13, 2012
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