Using Windows7 Recovery tools on Dell XPS ????

[Vlad Drac]

Hi All

I've just got myself a new Dell XPS laptop. Once I had unpacked it all I noticed that there was no Windows 7 x64 Home Premium Operating System Disc included. After I had read the manual, I have discovered that there is program called "Dell Data Safe Local Backup" which advises to make a OS recovery disc and I have also noticed there is also something that is called "Dell Factory Image Restore".

I'm someone who likes to do a clean install of Windows every 9-10 months to get it running like new again. Which of these 2 options, the Dell Data Safe Local Backup or the Factory image Restore will get the laptop back to its cleanest state??

I've also notice that the Dell Factory Image Restore doesn't seem to ask me to make some sort of restore disc so how does it actually work, is there a partition on the Hard Drive with all the OS Files???

This is my forth Dell laptop and this is the first time I never gotten a Windows OS disc in the box.

There must be some of you that have had the same issue.

Any advice welcome.

 

[Selekt0r]

The XPS laptops come with a recovery partition which can be used to reinstall a 'clean' version of the OS. However if the hard drive dies then you will, of course, also lose the recovery partition.

The Dell Data Safe software can, however, be used to produce some reinstallation DVDs from the recovery partition so you can reinstall from DVD if necessary.

 

[Vlad Drac]

The XPS laptops come with a recovery partition which can be used to reinstall a 'clean' version of the OS. However if the hard drive dies then you will, of course, also lose the recovery partition.

So it is possible to do a clean install of Windows using the System recovery files on the hard drive then. That's good news, if I can ever figure out how to do it.

 

[Vlad Drac]

I think I've got a result today.

Phoned Dell Support and explaned that I thought would be getting a Windows disc in the box with the laptop. Good news is, they said that they would send me out a disc at no cost.

Fingers crossed that it arives now.