Well, I'm boned...

Ok I have a really stupid question for everyone that is a direct result of some late night idiocy and partition formating/deleting madness.

So, for a particularly dumb reason, I felt the need to delete a 32g partition of my hard drive that housed a version of Linux that dual boots with my main OS install of Windows Vista on my M17 notebook. However, after many failed attempts to do so in Disk Manager I downloaded the wonderful partition Magic to do the job that Windows seemed to be incapable of doing (Disk Management kept giving errors when I'd try to delete the partition).

After confirming everything under PartMagic, I confirmed the operation and the computer restarted. Upon starting back up, something went wrong in the partitioning and PartMagic canceled the task right in the middle (oh JOY).

Being stuck with a half partitioned PC, I just decided I'd use the Vista reinstall disk that came standard with the computer, and then afterwords use the hidden recovery partition that AlienRespawn to restore my computer to factory config (note I do NOT have the AlienRespawn DVD, just the standard hidden partition on my HD).

Anyway, here is my question : The AlienRespawn partition is still there, but how do I restore my computer without the Alienware programs running in vista? The reinstall disk got rid of all of them unfortunately; Command Center and everything that comes with it, AlienRespawn, etc....

I'm trying to make some good out of the situation, despite losing EVERYTHING on my computer and having only sparse backups here and there. Any help is greatly appreciated!!

 

Oh boy. I hope some of the Alienware folks are around to answer this. Hope that there is some way to reinstall the Alienware programs?

 

Me too

This picked a particular bad time to happen, as the Vista install that I do have conveniently deleted a 5 page paper I was in the process of writing that is due next Monday, along with all my music, movie, random papers, games...

 

Sorry, is the question if you can restore your Alienware programs?

To do so you can do so using the M17 support CD that should be in the back of your instruction manual.

 

Ah if only it were that simple .

I've managed to get some programs reinstalled, but for whatever reason AlienRespawn, the one program I need the most, is not on any of the CD's.

I'd like to get that particular program back the most becuase I still have the Recovery partition on my HD that it can use to restore the PC to factory settings (a good thing).

 

I'd also like to know how to get Respawn back...

 

Sorry, Dan, I made an effor on your behalf, here are the results:

I went to the alienware website here:

http://support.alienware.com/Support_Pages/Restricted_Pages/driver_downloads.aspx

And put in:
Windows Vista
Software
Alienware Corporation (the only option)
Alien Respawn 2.0

And it takes me to a page with nothing on it. Not a blank page, just a page with no software. Thus reinforcing my opnion that Dell/Alienware support royally blows. I would say call them and inform them of this and ask them why it is not availible for download on their website. From what the guys in the order status forum are saying, it is the only way to get Dell/Alienware to do anything.

Sorry I couldnt be more help :/

 

This site says this about your situation:

You might read there for more information, but I think it means that Alien Respawn is in your backup partition somewhere. As far as how to access it, now that is another question.

 

Actually, you can rebuild your partition to get your files back, with forensic software, you can retrieve all your lost data. Just because you format a disk doesn't mean you deleted everything on it. A better way to think of it, is that you just changed the permissions on every file to allow them to be written over. Until the files are actually written over, they are still on your HDD.

PS Partition magic is great for XP, and fails for vista.

 

Can forensic software recovers data from bad drive? For example, the drive makes the click noise when connecting it to my laptop, but the laptop does not recognize the HDD.

 

look all you need is G parted
then boot off that
and make your respawn partition flagged for boot
and the next boot it will boot off respawn and restore it back to how you got it

 

hi bud to get your files back moo is right but if your hdd is clicking each time you try to start it the hdd is nakkerd you can try and remove the hexagon type screws on the drive to free the needle but what you will probably find if the needle hasnt sat right is a small scratch right on the outkirts of the disk so it will be unable to go through the disk ( bit like having lp scratched at the begining) will not go any further. and if im wrong with that then if you got another hdd load windows onto that fresh and get yout info back that way the orginal drive will be just a storage file.

 

I suggest not opening up the HDD as it will void the warranty on the drive. If its a problem with the HDD, call Dell and they will ship a new one out to you which you can install yourself. The replacement drive will include a a shipping label which you will affix to the same box the drive came in and ship your original drive back to Dell.