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View Full Version : Restore to factory defaults after Installing windows 8



jmanwithplan
01-23-2012, 05:37 AM
:(Hello, I am trying windows 8 and I do like it, except that I can't run many of my games, and 3d software that I need for school. (Something about my drivers not supporting windows 8)

Anyways, I installed it over the windows 7 installation by accident. My dell inspiron one 2305 didn't come with an operating system disc, but it did come with "dell datasafe" factory recovery option.

Normally, you would press f8 to access this option, however, the windows 8 has completely removed the standard options you get and replaced it with a blue screen that doesn't have the option for factory restore.

I know there is still a factory restore option, because I can see it in disc management. It's stored in a different part of the hard drive so it's unaffected by windows 8, and it's also 16 GB,,the computer isn't mine yet, so it's very important that I find a way to access the factory restore option. :(

Please help!!

mike lonewolf
01-27-2012, 10:09 AM
That is because you have to press the F8 key before entering Windows, here are the instructions. Just follow them, and you'll be back.

1) Turn the computer power on.

2) Press the "F8" key once the Dell logo appears on the screen to open the Advanced Boot Options menu. The menu must be accessed before the Windows operating system launches. If Windows starts up, let the operating system load as normal before restarting the computer.

3) Use the arrow keys to highlight the "Repair Your Computer" option and press "Enter" on the keyboard. Click on the "Next" button and enter the log-in credentials for the administrator account for the computer.

4) Click on the "Dell Factory Image Recovery and Data Safe Options" button to start up the recovery partition on Dell Inspiron laptops. Follow the instructions in the recovery partition wizard to restore the Dell to factory settings.

jmanwithplan
01-28-2012, 01:49 AM
I'm sorry that wont work, because windows 8 has over written the original start up repair with their own version which doesn't contain that option. However, I was able to fix it by using BCD and adding a windows 7 boot entry which ran a dellrestore.wim file at boot.