Dell Vista Recovery Partition

How to invoke Dell's System Recovery

Windows XP

Windows XP recovery on Dell PCs is typically done by Ctrl-F11 during boot time.

Control-F11 will bring up a menu to restore to factory condition (and wipe out all your programs, documents, pictures and music, DO a back up first).

Control-F11 works if the DSR (Dell System Restore) partition is not wiped out and the MBR (Master Boot Record) has not been modified.

Notes:
-if you have a floppy drive, remove any floppy in the drive because Control-F11 does not like floppy

.

-if your Dell-specific MBR is changed and you loose Ctrl-F11 function, use DSRFIX to fix.

Windows Vista

Dell PCs shipped with Windows Vista do not use Ctrl-F11

During boot time (immediately when the Dell Logo appears), press F8

When you hit F8, the timing is critical, experiment with it, sometimes just before the beep, sometimes just after the beep, sometimes press like mad.
Eventually it will boot up to the "Repair" screen.

If the Dell-specific MBR has not been modified from factory condition, the system will ask you login with a username and password (of a user with administrative privilege). Then a selection item labeled "Repair Computer" appears.

However, if the MBR is overwritten by an operating system upgrade, the "Repair Computer" selection may disappear, then you mostly like will need to use the Factory Restore CD/DVD to restore.

Alternate method:

Power up, when the Dell Logo appears, press F8.
Select "Safe Mode with Command Prompt"
You need to know the username and password (of a user with administrative privilege)
When the command prompt appears, type

d:
cd tools
PCRESTORE.exe

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