Having Format Problems

I've been looking around online for a possible fix for this, but I've been able to find one so far:

I'm trying to factory reset my M15x. When I choose the "Repair your computer" option from F8, nothing happens. My Alienware came with the Windows DVD and the Resource DVD, so I don't have a Recovery one. The Dell DataSafe doesn't work either, and it's getting on my nerves that I'm unable to format my laptop. The same problem is happening with another M15x laptop that I have and I'm not sure what to do to start a factory reset.

Any suggestions?

 

boot from windows dvd cd. (arrange in bios) and just wipe all. you are a true tsunami

 

You need alienrespawn if you do not have it. you have to create the AlienRespawn Recovery DVD.


http://forum.notebookreview.com/ali...et-alienrespawn-dell-datasafe-software-2.html

 

The (below) attached post, by 'BatBoy/ Moderator' is the most informative for rebuilds.

http://forum.notebookreview.com/ali...-clean-install-windows-7-a-9.html#post7076395

DO NOT USE 'Command Center' from your Resource Disk, as noted in the STICKY Posts above. It has destroyed the lighting on the motherboard.

Finally, your BEST Drivers and Downloads are on Dell Support, NOT the old ones on the Resource Disk.

Drivers and Downloads | Dell [United States]

WELCOME to forums. -hubs-

 

I've tried the BIOS arrange as well, dutchess, along with the boot menu and it skips over the DVD. It does seem like I need to make the Respawn DVD though. Guess I need to get myself some DVD-Rs.

Alright, so I'm trying to install AlienRespawn. It opens up the installer and then quickly closes after with no results.

 

I went to the AlienRespawn webpage and click the link and it didn't work for me I went back a few minutes later and it worked; so maybe it's just a bug with the webpage. If your system passes to check it should work.

 

I have both installers downloaded. The first one runs the error that I need to uninstall the older version, but I'm guessing it's on there. The actual AlienRespawn installer starts up, unpacks the setup.exe and starts it, but after it does the start-up function, it just closes without actually starting the installer. I figured it might of been one of those fast installs, but the folders don't exist in C:/Program Files or the (x86) version.

Alright, after reinstalling and uninstalling it about 3 times it finally decided to work. Thanks again for the help.

Edit: Even with this installed, I'm still getting the same error. "The selected entry could not be loaded because the application is missing or corrupt." I've checked for the missing file, "system32/winload.exe", and it's in the noted location, but I'm not sure what I can do to fix this problem.

 

Have you looked in Device Manager?
A common miss is (was) the R251237_Free Fall Sensor

BTW Congrats on your rebuild

 

I'm not sure what you mean by that, as well, what it would be under. I don't think I saw it anywhere in the Device Manager though.

 

Hola what are your specs ? Can you post them here..

If not yet on bios A09 update that asap.

 

Win 7 Home Premium SP1
Intel Core i3
4GB RAM
Geforce GTX 260M
BIOS A06

I can edit in anything else you may need.

 

grab A09 bios here thats the 1st step.. and see if it boots of ur dvd/cd after the upgrade

Drivers and Downloads | Dell [United States]

 

Just updated to A09 and tried to factory reset again to no avail. I'm still getting the same error as before.

 

sure but can you boot of windows dvd now (arrange in bios)

 

That's what I meant. Booting with the BIOS arrange and from the boot menu just skips the DVD. The other M15x laptop is able to be formatted now, which is good, but this one is still causing trouble.

 

is it the same dvd hardware in both laptops? same drivers?

 

I had to get my DVD drive replaced during the beginning of summer last year, so they both have different hardware.

Perhaps the BIOS isn't reading the DVD drive correctly?

 

aha you might just got a crappy dvd hardware with ur replacement..
zoom into that more closely to solve

 

Check the DVD drive with a movie disc to make sure it's reading DVD disc okay; at start up hit F 12 for boot options. I had the same problem as you turned out my DVD drive had gone bad; do not know if it will help just a suggestion.

 

I can run CD and DVD games just fine, it just doesn't work during boot. I tested it earlier with various CD/DVDs. I can check again to be sure.

Edit: Just tested and the DVD plays

 

google ur hardware search what others experience with it

 

Hmm... I'm not getting a solid name on what brand/type of drive it is besides being CD/DVD-RW

Edit: The only thing the device tells me is that it's a "ARY MFCPURW5QR4 SCSI CdRom Device". Searching that brought up nothing.

 

I'm at a loss to understand why it will not boot off the DVD drive I just tested my system with the alienware Windows 7 DVD I hit F12 at start up with disk in drive and it started reading the disc; if you like there's a thread on how to boot off of USB on the main page.

 

Yeah, I can't figure it out either. The only error I get is that "winboot.exe" is missing or corrupted. It's not missing, I checked it earlier yesterday. Corrupted, I couldn't tell you. I guess I'd have to make a USB Flash boot to get into the System Recovery section?

I'll mention I can already do a USB Flash boot since it's what I had to do to update my BIOS, I'd just need whatever files so I can access the System Restore from reboot.

 

Do you still have windows installed with the faulty laptop ?

if so go to device manager and find the hardware id of ur DVD
GOOGLE THAT ID

:

To get the ID do the following:
-Open your Windows Device Manager
-Right-click over the icon for your DVD
-Select "Properties"
-From the Properties window, select the "Details" tab
-From the drop down "Property" box, select "Hardware Ids"
-Copy the first line shown and paste ito GOOGLE

It would look something like this:
PCI\VEN_10DE&DEV_0A2B&SUBSYS_9072104D&REV_A2

(just an example your hw id will surely be different)

 

Ah, I should of thought about using the Hardware ID. This is what I'm getting: https://www.google.com/search?sourc...S_DVD+-RW_DC-8A2SH___________________3D12____

 

Yes no go study those links and see if you find something usefull to learn about ur hardware

 

It lists the manufacturer as unknown, great. Besides a forum topic about a problem that it doesn't seem like I have, the only possible thing would be to install the latest drivers, if I can find a copy of them. The device manager update option says their up to date, but I know in some situations it can't find the right driver anyways.

 

Firstly, if you have it set in the bios to boot from the cd/dvdrom it can cause installation to loop after the first reboot, as it restarts installation and loops - to fix do this .. when you install Win7 you must not have DVD as your first BOOT device, and simply hit F12 in order to get an instant window asking for Boot Device Choice.
( I bet you set it to boot from the DVD in the bios if you do set it back to c drive and use F12 A restart ) This is a Windows 7 bug which does not affect everyone.

 

I've been changing it back after every attempt so I don't have to worry about it later. It hasn't been done yet currently since I haven't had a need to attempt and see if I can reach the System Restore screen since updating the BIOS. On my next restart i'll be switching it back, but doing it through F12 gives me the same error message that "winload.exe" is missing or corrupted.

If I could figure out why my "winload.exe" isn't responding during the boot process, I should be able to access it. The repair your computer option is a infinite loop as I mentioned, it starts to load the files and goes back to the DOS menu asking if I want to repair or not.

 

Unfortunately I don't seem to be helping you at all if anything probably causing you problems I will sit on the sidelines for a bit and work on this myself with my older PC .. The only other thing I can say is tech-support once had me insert the Resource DVD at reboot to do a system repair but I forgot the details; good luck and I hope someone can help you figure this out.

 

Thanks a lot t_man. I at least have one of the two laptops clear for reformatting, this one just wants to be stubborn. Looking into the error I'm having on Google, it seems like it's a popular problem that's been around since Vista, and even still it doesn't have a real solution as far as I know.

I might have a solution to fix the winboot.exe problem, but without being able to reach the repair screen. I need a way to reach the command prompt from restart and I can probably fix the problem.

 

Well dont install inferior hardware. Its not our kind. Lesson taken I hope

 

safe mode with command prompt ? or try this /



http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/682-command-prompt-startup.html

 

The installation wasn't my doing. It was when someone came out to work on my laptop. I had about 4-5 things replaced, otherwise this laptop would probably be dead by now. Trust me, I wouldn't buy anything unless I knew the company for sure.

Anyways, I'll try out t_man's link and see if it helps any.

Edit: I'm starting to think that my Windows 7 DVD doesn't even work. It doesn't show a inserted CD/DVD under My Computer. I'll test this out on the other M15x to make sure. If it doesn't work, I'll try the other Windows 7 DVD I got with the other laptop.

Edit 2: Turns out the DVD drive just can't read the Windows 7 DVDs. It reads the resource one just fine, but these just don't work. I've decided to use a USB Flash Boot to get into the recovery sector. Hopefully that turns out well.

 

I been having a problem wiping out my alienware clean for a fresh re-installation for this simple reason if anyone can help:

THE DAM DVD DRIVE WONT BOOT THE WINDOWS DVD WHEN I RESART AND ADJUST THE BIOS TO BOOT FROM CD... IT JUST GOES BLANK...DAMIT

 

Download an .iso of Win 7 and burn it to a bootable USB drive, then boot from the USB stick to install Windows. Much faster than installing from a CD/DVD drive anyway. The download links can be found here. Windows 7 ISO x86 and x64 Official Direct Download Links (Ultimate, Professional and Home Premium) My Digital Life. The 64bit Home Premium iso is about 3GB. I recommend using an 8GB flash drive as the boot/installation drive and do a full format as part of the installation process.

 

Well, after a few days of annoyance and anger, everything is finally up and running. I've got a fresh install of Windows 7, a system restore and recovery CD set, but my only problems now are that the OSD for the touch sensor is gone, and my Wifi drivers refuse to install. Other then that, I thank everyone that helped me get my laptops fixed. I'll keep this place in mind anytime I've got laptop trouble.

 

Happy to hear you got it; to get what your missing look at post #4 here..

http://forum.notebookreview.com/alienware-m15x/637072-having-format-problems.html#post8217710

 

Hmm.. sadly that's not what I'm looking for. I can do without the Alienware themed icons and such, but the On Screen Notifications for the touch sensor buttons are gone. That's the only thing missing besides my Wifi not working.

 

Its there ...Drivers and downloads you need to download it the OSD and wifi drivers!! all so on the Resource DVD


Drivers and Downloads | Dell [United States]

 

Ah, no worries. I had all the drivers I needed, but I remembered that there was a certain order they needed to be installed in otherwise they wouldn't work. Everything is running perfectly now.

Thanks again everyone.

 

There should be thread created for formatting M15x, before and after sort of thing. Im really afraid on the alienfx thingy.