Can't install Dell DataSafe Local Backup under Vista

Question

I have acquired a used Dell Inspiron 530 desktop computer.

I did not receive any installation DVDs with the computer.

The computer has Vista SP1 installed.  I would like to do a complete restore back to factory.

There is restore partition on the disk drive.  The restore partition appears to be intact, including a Factory.wim file.

I have not been able to launch the restore feature.  I have tried both the “outside of window” and the “inside of windows” methods described on various pages.

I have booted the computer with F8 to get to “Advanced Boot Options”.  I select “Repair Your Computer” from the list.

The “System Recovery Options” screen appears. Options include  

Startup Repair

System Restore

System Image Recovery

Windows Memory Diagnostic

Command Prompt

There is no listing for

‘Windows Complete PC Restore’ or ‘Dell Factory Image Restore”

In other word, no way to do a factory restore.

Within Vista, DataSafe Local Backup does not appear in programs list.  It does not appears to be installed on the computer.

Dell makes DataSafeLocalBackup_Basic.exe available for download, at this site:

http://dslbdownload.datasafelocalbackup.com/dsldownload-en.html

When I try to install it, it stops with an error which says “Dell DataSafe Local Backup can only be installed on systems running Windows 7".

Is there a previous version of “DataSafe Local Backup” that runs under Vista?   

Is it available for download?

Is there some other way to access the restore partition and set Vista back to factory?

Answer 1

One more time Bill:

I have been working on this more, and I have discovered that there is a Microsoft Utility that can access a restore partition and do a factory reset.

The utility is imagex.exe.

It is contained in Windows6.1-KB2525084-v2-x86.cab and it is available for download at http://thehotfixshare.net/board/index.php?showtopic=15932

It does not erase the original partition and data.  Instead, it reinstalls Windows but keeps what ever else is already on the partition.  It creates a new Windows directory and stores the previous Windows directory in a file called Windows.old. 

On my first attempt, I created a functioning, but cluttered and confusing Vista partition with bits of the old and new installations.

My goal was to create a factory reset with none of the old files or data.  So deleted the primary windows partition and replaced it with a empty primary partition. 

I started the computer with a windows 7 installation DVD.  I do not have any Vista installations DVDs.  The Win7 DVD worked.   From there I went to "Repair your computer" and then to "System Recovery Options" and selected "command prompt".

The syntax is like this:

e:\imagex /apply d:\dell\image\factory.wim 1 c:\

Where c:\ is the target partition, d:\ is the location of the restore partition, e:\ is the location of imagex.

I created a small "e" partition on the disc drive to keep imagex separate from the restore and installation partitions.  Probably not necessary.  Afterwords, I erased it.

Restore took about 15 minutes. 

At first the restored partition would not boot.  I got a NTLDR missing error. 

I again started the computer with the Windows 7 installation DVD and back to "System Recovery Options" and selected "Startup Repair".  It found the problem and fixed it.  After that I was able to boot normally.  I now had a factory Vista partition.

Here a page that describes it in more detail.

http://en.community.dell.com/support-forums/software-os/f/3524/t/19494817

It worked with a Dell restore partition.  I do not know if it works with restore partitions on different brands of computer

Answer 2

Well vista has OS data on a reserved partition,but its not for reinstallation

like xp had..To check all windows files, Sfc /Scannow

Run in cmd,will check & replace any that need to be repaired.Dell sends OS

cds along with the pc on purchase,those you need,get them from dell..At least

most are this way,if you believe that the partition contains all needed,then find

out which hard drive is installed,download the MS-DOS HD utility from its mfg,run

the utility from cd,boot pc to cd,delete the OS on its partition,create a new partition,

format it,exit utility,reboot pc..If what you think is correct,then a new install should

appear on boot option menu...Chk with dell

Also,if the pc has original HD,how much longer will that last,most only run 4 yrs..

Answer 3

Hi,

Dell has been using Recovery partitions, instead of supplying Disks since XP days,

And if you start playing around with your Hard Drive you will end up deleting the Recovery partition.

And I have some 10yo Hard drives that are still working.

Choose "System Image Recovery".

And at the link it tells you how t back up your Data:

How to reinstall from the Dell Recovery partition:

http://www.dell.com/support/troubleshooting/us/en/04/KCS/KcsArticles/ArticleView?c=us&l=en&s=bsd&docid=DSN\_336966

Then manually install the Service Packs as we do not know if SP1 came with it, or not:

Click Start > right click Computer > left click Properties > see if you have Vista 32bit or Vista 64bit installed.

It will also tell you there what SP you have installed.

Then choose the correct "bit" download to use to install the Service Packs, installing SP1 first if it is not already installed.

Vista SP1 32bit (x86): http://www.microsoft.com/en-us/download/details.aspx?id=30

Vista SP1 64bit: http://www.microsoft.com/en-us/download/details.aspx?id=21299

Vista SP2 32bit (x86): http://www.microsoft.com/en-us/download/details.aspx?id=16468

Vista SP2 64bit: http://www.microsoft.com/en-us/download/details.aspx?id=17669

This Microsoft Information may assist you to troubleshoot problems that you are having when installing Service Packs for Vista.

http://support.microsoft.com/kb/947366

Cheers.

Answer 4

Thank you for the reply Bill, but I think you missed the point.

I have a Dell Inspiron computer with Vista installed.  There is a recovery partition present, but Dell Datasafe Local Backup is not installed.  Possibly the previous owner uninstalled it. 

I would like to use the recovery partition to return the computer to factory.   I am not trying to save any of the existing data or programs. 

I am hoping that I can install Dell Datasafe and access the recovery partition.

I have downloaded Dell Datasafe Local Backup from a Dell website, but when I try to install it, it stops with an error which states the software can only be installed under Windows 7.

From what I have read, Dell Datasafe is supposed to run under Win 7 and Vista. 

My questions are: 

Is there another version of Dell Datasafe that will install under Vista? 

If so, where can I find it?

Is there some other way to reinstall Vista from the recovery partition without using Dell Datasafe?

Answer 5

I did not think I missed your point.

I advised you the option that you should select, which is what you were asking about: Choose "System Image Recovery".

Did you use that?

And this may assist you too, as we do not know what type of dell you have:

http://www.dell.com/support/article/us/en/19/SLN147555/EN

______________________________

For further questions about the Dell Recovery process, these are your options as that Recovery process is Dell's, not Microsoft's.

You can contact Dell:

http://www.dell.com/support/contents/us/en/19/category/Contact-Information

Or you could ask in their Support Forums:

http://en.community.dell.com/support-forums/default.aspx

Cheers.