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    The Illusive F8 Recovery Menu

    Discussion in 'Alienware M11x' started by Tzser, Jul 21, 2010.

  1. Tzser

    Tzser Newbie

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    Page 86 of the manual states regarding recovery:

    [Step 4] "When the Alienware logo appears, press <F8> several times to access the Advanced Boot Options window."

    Can anyone please confirm if hitting F8 at startup indeed brings up the Dell Recovery Menu?

    I have a brand new R1 that appears to be working perfect. I have read about people messing up their hard drives and destroying the recovery or OEM partition; however, I have not touched the partition or anything else for that matter...just the way she is out of the box. I have tried countless times to access this menu by holding f8 down, tapping it once, several times, etc... nothing works.

    I am beginning to think that this feature does not exist and is a typo in the manual. Perhaps it existed on older builds...I'm not sure.
     
    Tzser, Jul 21, 2010
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  2. josh roberts

    josh roberts Notebook Consultant

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    I was reading a post earlier that was talking about this menu. I believe they said tap the f8 button RAPIDLY after the alienware logo disappears. I have never tried so i am not sure. Worth a try though.

    Ps i think the page i was reading was in the R1 not being able to OC thread.
     
    josh roberts, Jul 22, 2010
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  3. corwinicre

    corwinicre Notebook Deity

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    ^ yeah, you need to hit it after the bios goes through POST (it has gone through POST when the first screen disappears) and before Windows starts to boot (which happens right after POST), so there is a short window
     
    corwinicre, Jul 22, 2010
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  4. Panic AK

    Panic AK Notebook Enthusiast

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    If it's anything like other Dell laptops, you're gonna have to keep practicing it. It never seems to be the same on mine.
     
    Panic AK, Jul 22, 2010
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  5. Tzser

    Tzser Newbie

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    Wow it worked! Everyone's advice was very helpful, thank you. :) I thought I had to press it during the alien logo, not after...you're not kidding about a short window.

    Best bet is to keep pressing it repeatedly once the logo appears..that's how it worked for me.

    Thanks again.

    btw, excellent forum; glad I found this place.
     
    Tzser, Jul 22, 2010
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  6. josh roberts

    josh roberts Notebook Consultant

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    For sure. Just like Vince Vaughn said in wedding crashers, while getting a Hanndy under the table, "people helping people".
     
    josh roberts, Jul 22, 2010
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  7. Naudan

    Naudan Notebook Enthusiast

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    yeah I tried rapidly pressing it and it didn't work. my solution, just hold the f8 key down. That worked on try Number 1 :)

    This is how you can boot to safe mode.
     
    Naudan, Jul 22, 2010
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  8. tk112190

    tk112190 Notebook Consultant

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    spam the button
     
    tk112190, Jul 22, 2010
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  9. Tzser

    Tzser Newbie

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    Holding it down didn't work for me....the pc makes a loud beeping noise. I'm surprised that some are able to hold it down while others can't. :confused:
     
    Tzser, Jul 22, 2010
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