I accidently deleted Dell's Recovery Partition. How to get it back?

[Tru_Snoop]

Hey guys;

As you may have guessed from the title, I have Dell Inpiron 6000. It had Windows XP Home installed, and was equiped with "Restore System" (by pressing Ctrl + F11, you could restore your system). No CD included. I was trying to install Linux OS, It was Fedora Core 5.0. I asked linux OS to resize the partition automatically. It installed without any problem, but then I couldn't access to my windows XP. Everytime I try to access, some "Hardware Diagonsis" program showed up. So no matter I did, I couldn't access windows XP. I tried to press "Ctrl + F11" at the Dell screen, but it didn't work. I tried several times, but didn't work. So I finally gave up and reformattd the drive and installed Windows XP Pro, Operating system. I installed all the Dell driver after that. However, as I said I think I accidently deleted Dell's Recovery partition.

Is there any way to get that back? I would like to get my original Windows OS back.

Any help would be apriciated. Thank you so much.

 

[PinkPig]

If you have actually deleted the partition, then alas there is no way to get it back - you should probably contact Dell who will hopefully be able to provide you with some sort of CD.

Since you only "think" you've deleted it, though, it might well still be around. If the MBR has been overwritten (perhaps by GRUB) then it just won't be accessible. DSRFix, available at http://www.goodells.net/dellrestore/fixes.htm will let you restore access to the partition if it is still available on your system. You can find out using any software that lets you view partitions - it will be a FAT32 partition, a few gigabytes big with a label along the lines of "Dell System Restore". Or just fun DSRFix and hope, it won't do anything if it can't find the partition.

 

[bledd]

just for information, if you just delete a partition (and don't write data on it) you can get it back using testdisk its freeware, but 100% works, and has saved me in the past any anyone else i've suggested it to on here!

 

[csmager]

I know this kind of restore setup is great for 90% of home users, but if you're going to be doing anything like installing another OS or messing about, it's really not very convenient to have to keep track of a partition because that's the only way or reinstalling windows.

Fortunately, Dell have started offering (for an extra £6) some geniune Windows Installation Discs with their PCs. I just ordered a new PC for home/family use, and made sure I chose that option - not only is it safer when you start messing about, it also means that I can format it as soon as it arrives. Dell put way to much junk in their standard installations - you're desktops normally rammed with trial versions and the system tray full of stuff you'll never use.

 

[Tru_Snoop]

Hey guys;

Thank you so much for your help and information. I finally called Dell. They were really helpful. The person I spoke to will be sending all the required CDs in the mail.

I didn't even have to beg for it. Lol.

Thanks guys.
cheers