new hard drive in dell

[italian]

did I do something wrong? old HD was making clicking noise so I got a new drive same size, partition it the same, make image of both c & d drives and put them on new drive c worked just fine but I tried the F11 to see if the restore to factory worked and it didn't. I use DIX drive image

 

[iisjman07]

I think the reason is because DriveImage XML copies logical partitions, and the MBR will not have been copied. That assumes you imaged the recovery partition as well

 

[JW The Computer Guy]

Personally I would stay away from "Factory Recovery" stuff. Just brings back all the crapware.

 

[italian]

yes I imaged the recovery partition, and I just wanted the factory restore part so it was like it was so if they take it to some one else they don't think I did something wrong, or want to redo it themselves.

 

[iisjman07]

Try this: Using the DellMediaDirect Repair Utility to Fix a Corrupt MBR

 

[vdub12]

yes I imaged the recovery partition, and I just wanted the factory restore part so it was like it was so if they take it to some one else they don't think I did something wrong, or want to redo it themselves.

When I replace the drive in a cookie cutter I never use the factory image. I always load an OEM image and set it up myself. I use my own customizations, OEM info, ect.

 

[tpcg]

If this is the Dell System Restore image it may be corrupt try this.
http://www.goodells.net/dellrestore/fixes.htm

 

[glricht]

When I replace the drive in a cookie cutter I never use the factory image. I always load an OEM image and set it up myself. I use my own customizations, OEM info, ect.

Not trying to argue or be a butt about this, but you NEVER use a factory image? No matter what?

I agree that using the factory restore image also brings along the crapware bundled with the system (which we then proceed to selectively uninstall). But what about the pre-installed non-crap software that the customer is using and wants to continue using that won't be there if you don't use the recovery partition?

I'm assuming we all have our own copies of MS Works (and other commonly pre-installed stuff), but what about all the other pre-installed software, such as different versions of CD/DVD burning software, DVD players, webcam stuff? I don't have an installable copy of all of those - nor would I want to.

Case in point: a few days ago I setup a customer's new Dell laptop and included with it was a product called Push2TV which allows anything seen on the laptop's display to also be wirelessly displayed on an HD TV (was actually pretty neat!). There was a wireless device that connected to the TV via HDMI and pre-installed software to hook into the video and broadcast it wirelessly to the HDMI device. If I ever have to N&P the laptop, I would have no choice but to use the Recovery Partition.