[dumfounded]

My son has a Dell Alienware X51 desktop computer running windows 7. The hard-drive is nearly full so he tried to restore to factory settings. He used the disc that came with the computer but somehow he managed to create a new partition instead of restoring the system. When you opened computer after this there were 2 hard disks ( C:OS and G:Recovery ) C: still shows a nearly full. Every time wee restarted the computer it booted up using G: with no programs installed and no internet connection. We tried updating hardware drivers but there are no files. We have deleted the partition to get rid of G: and are now left with just C: which is still showing as nearly full. When we open control panel and go to uninstall programs there are absolutely no programs. We can't get the computer to boot C:

We have looked on youtube where they tell you to use the Respawn program. I have managed to right click on C: and find the respawn program but when I tried to use it it tells me I need to be connected to internet but even though System info says the network adapter is installed I can't get it to work.

I've tried using the f8 key to restore and use the disc but am having no success.

The only thing showing on desktop is the recycle bin.

Everything is obviously still on the C drive but it is not starting.

Please can anyone help me to get this computer to work.

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1. Bootup from any full Windows 7 or Vista installation DVD . All four perform identically in this situation. 
2. Select Repair your computer at the Install now screen. 
   Click No if asked to Repair and Restart. 
   Click Cancel if it looks for a Disk Image.
3. Now in System Recovery Options, 
   click the Command Prompt option. 
   Press ENTER after you type in each of these commands which are not case-sensitive:
   • DISKPART     (to open the partition utility)
   • LIST DISK     (disk number(s) will be shown)
   • SELECT DISK n     (where n is the number of the disk - probably 0)
   • LIST PARTITION     (partition number(s) will be shown)
   • SELECT PARTITION n     (where n is the number of the Primary partition you wish to make Active)
   • ACTIVE     (the selected partition on the selected disk will be made Active)
   • EXIT     (to exit DiskPart)
   • EXIT     (to exit the Command Prompt)

Restart computer.


You can also try this from the command prompt window
1) type Bootrec.exe, and then press Enter.
2) type /FixMbr , and then press enter
3) type /FixBoot , and then press enter
4)  type /RebuildBcd , and then press enter

Edited by techmantrey1, 23 November 2014 - 06:38 PM.

[techmantrey1]

1. Bootup from any full Windows 7 or Vista installation DVD . All four perform identically in this situation. 
2. Select Repair your computer at the Install now screen. 
   Click No if asked to Repair and Restart. 
   Click Cancel if it looks for a Disk Image.
3. Now in System Recovery Options, 
   click the Command Prompt option. 
   Press ENTER after you type in each of these commands which are not case-sensitive:
   • DISKPART     (to open the partition utility)
   • LIST DISK     (disk number(s) will be shown)
   • SELECT DISK n     (where n is the number of the disk - probably 0)
   • LIST PARTITION     (partition number(s) will be shown)
   • SELECT PARTITION n     (where n is the number of the Primary partition you wish to make Active)
   • ACTIVE     (the selected partition on the selected disk will be made Active)
   • EXIT     (to exit DiskPart)
   • EXIT     (to exit the Command Prompt)

Restart computer.


You can also try this from the command prompt window
1) type Bootrec.exe, and then press Enter.
2) type /FixMbr , and then press enter
3) type /FixBoot , and then press enter
4)  type /RebuildBcd , and then press enter

Edited by techmantrey1, 23 November 2014 - 06:38 PM.

[dumfounded]

I followed your instructions but when I typed active it said "the selected disk is not a fixed Mbr disk.

The active command can only be used on fixed Mbr disks."

Nothing changed when I restarted so I went back to the command prompt option and tried your other suggestion and this is what I got

/FixMbr '/FixMbr' is not recognised as an internal or external command, operable program or batch file.

I got the same for /FixBoot and /RebuildBcd.

 

When I typed list partition I got

Partition 1             System

Partition 2             Primary

Partition 3             Reserved

Partition 4             Primary

I typed select partition 4 as due to it's size it is clearly the partition that has everything on it.

Have I done it wrong? Can you suggest anything else I can try?

[techmantrey1]

If that still fails we need to see if on the C drive there is a folder called windows.old 


PS. When you run those commands you need to have bootrec.exe /whatever command

Edited by techmantrey1, 23 November 2014 - 10:07 PM.

[dumfounded]

Again it says "the selected disk is not a fixed MBR disk"

[techmantrey1]

"If that still fails we need to see if on the C drive there is a folder called windows.old "

[dumfounded]

I've retyped the Bootrec.exe commands it now says Successfully scanned windows installations.

Total identified windows installations: 2

[1] C:\Windows.old.000\windows

Add installation to boot list? yes no all

[techmantrey1]

yes

[dumfounded]

[2] C:\windows.old\windows 

add to boot list?

[techmantrey1]

Yes we are almost there 

[dumfounded]

It's switched itself off and I can't find the power button. In the mean time can you tell me what I need to do next please

[techmantrey1]

We kinda need the laptop on...

[dumfounded]

I pressed restart but it shut down and now it won't switch on.  What do I do. It didn't make a noise it just shut down.

[techmantrey1]

Have you plugged it into the charger? 

[dumfounded]

As I said at the beginning it's a desktop so it's permanently plugged in