Saving 'Dell Restore' Function

Note: For E1505/6400; E1705/9400 .... Sorry, can't vouch for other models

Update [8 May 06]: Performing a MediaDirect 2.0 Repair may also reenable the Restore function. I have not been able to personally confirm this, but it has been reported to work and in looking at how MediaDirect Repair functions, it makes sense that it would....

When performing a reinstallation of Windows, one of the potentially unintended consequences is that the Dell Restore function no longer works. That is because during a Windows reinstall the Dell-specific boot code is overwritten by Microsoft code. Even though the Dell Restore partition is left in-place, without the Dell boot code, your Ctrl+F11 key combination is not recognized.

This kind of leaves you committed to completing the reinstall as there is no way to 'undo' and start over from a 'factory-fresh' condition.

That said, if you plan ahead and save the Dell boot code along with the Dell Restore partition, you will have to tools in-hand to restore both components.

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What you'll need....

From Symantec download this file

1. Double-click the file to extract the zip file. Put MBRUtil.exe in the root "C" directory of your hard drive.

I'd make it a point to delete the WipeTrk.exe and Wipetrkd.exe files as those are extremely dangerous utilities to have laying around. If you accidentally run them, they will cause VERY serious problems. So delete them now while you remember.

2. From Windows; Start Menu; Run; Type c:\mbrutil /sh=track0 followed by the 'Enter' key

That's c:\mbrutil space /sh=track0

Now in your root directory you should see the track0 file

3. Keep this file somewhere other than your laptop hard drive!!!! It is essentially a record of the Dell boot code and your Partition Table.

You must perform this task BEFORE you reinstall Windows or else you'll be too late and the boot code will be overwritten.

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So let's say you reinstall Windows and for some reason want to 'start over' from scratch and place your computer back to its as-delivered state.

Assuming your reinstalled Windows over-top the original operating system and left the Dell partitions intact, you'll only need to find your track0 file and place it back in the root 'C' directory of your hard drive.....

1. From Windows; Start Menu; Run; Type c:\mbrutil /rh=track0 followed by the 'Enter' key

That's c:\mbrutil space /rh=track0

You won't see much as the process is VERY quick and there are no associated dialog boxes.

2. Now your done and if you perform a reboot, the boot will go thru the standard Dell 'logo' screen and then briefly pause at the www.dell.com 'blue bar' screen [an indication your Dell boot code has been restored].

Note: As I mentioned, mbrutil copies both the boot code AND the Partition Table. When that information is written back to the hard drive it will overwrite both components. If for some reason you took any action that may have changed the Partition Table subsequent to your running the utility, those changes WILL BE DELETED. Just a word of warning...

Hope this is useful info for those that would like some 'extra' insurance when doing a Windows reinstallation and would like to retain the Dell Restore fallback capability.

Mark

 

I just installed Win XP Pro on my E1505 by reformatting the main partition and installing. Afterward neither the MediaDirect nor recovery partition were accessable. I ran Dell's MediaDirect repair utility, which didn't give me access to MediaDirect (it hangs during loading) but it did re-enable access to the recovery partition.

Dave

 

Thanks


Mark

 

Correct, I didn't touch the other partitions. When I hit the MediaDirect button it starts loading with the progress bar showing. The bar moves for about 30 secs. then hangs. I tried re-installing MediaDirect but it get's as far as 10%, pauses and then there's an error message saying it couldn't install a file.

Dave

 

i'm having a similar problem. I didnt mess with any partition sizes. I just re-installed XP MCE over the old. My MediaDirect didnt work, nor my recovery partition. I used the MediaDirect repair utility, and now i can use the mediadirect, but my recovery partition still doesnt work. Is there anything i can do to get it back?

one note, that maybe is my problem? when installing MCE again, after the normal install, it had some flashing red/orange box saying "loading software". Is this software the junk pre-install stuff? I stopped it from continuing. Do you think i should try to re-install again and let the flashing box do its thing?

 

It does take quite a while for MediaDirect the first time. Lots up system set-up going on... Did you first get the black and white 'progress' screen followed by the 'in-living color' MediaDirect 'clock' screen? Once it gets past those two, then you're into the MediaDirect application.

fwiw.... REINSTALL is designed for when you have a 'new' hard drive

Mark

 

Rep points for you dude. This works perfectly on the E1705/9400. I just received my new E1705 and decided to mess with it - reinstalled windows after backing up the track0 file to my trusty MiniCruzer.

Just to test, went forward with your c:\mbrutil /rh=track0 after reinstalling windows. Rebooted and hit the trusty CTRL-11 after the boot logo and it went straight into Symantec Restore.

Nice work!

 

I got the B&W screen, and that's as far as it would go.

I downloaded the MediaDirect repair utility and ran that again. Now when I hit the button it loads XP and I get an error that Dell Media Experience isn't installed (it's not). So I have the Applications disk on the way from Dell, hopefully that will work.

Dave

 

That's 'normal' as I assume you do not have XP MCE. The Applications CD may have Dell MediaExperience on it and that will act as a surrogate for Microsfot MediaCenter, but it will not do anything wrt MediaDirect from Power OFF....

Mark

 

hai every one
i have a dell inspiron 630m, and i installed windows vista on it
no i have no acesess to the recovery partition. can anyone hepl me. please please please

my email is [email protected]

 

Did you leave the Dell partitions in place and install Vista in the original system partition?

Mark