[paulcole]

Dear tech staff,

I have been advised to re-post my topic in this forum after the previous moderator was unable to help me resolve my problem.

You can see my previous posts on this link

http://www.geekstogo...05#entry2029305

I am trying to restore my PC to the default factory setting as advised to do in my previous posts but my PC is NOT giving me the option to press F8 and enter the advanced boot option to reset.

Pressing F2 takes me into the system setup, I do not see anywhere the advanced boot option or the option to repair my computer as per the instructions on the link

The only options I am given when I see the blue Dell logo is F2 or F12 if I dont press either of these options my pc gives the following information

Controller Bus#00 device #1F function#02 04 ports, 02 devices

Port-00: Hard Disk, SAMSUNG HD160JJ/P
(This drive is contolled by the RAID BIOS)

Port -01: CDROM, SONY DVD+/- RW AW- Q160s
Port -04: No device detected
Port - 05: No device detected

AHCI BIOS Installed

Drive 0: Disc Drive
Drive 1: DC-ROM Device

Floppy diskette seek FAILURE

Strike the F1 key to continue, F2 to run the setup utility

Please can someone help me fix my PC I have been without it now for nearly 2 months

Appreciate any help received

Paul

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Hi Paul
Can you clarify which default settings you are attempting to restore, the BIOS settings, a blank HDD or both.

[phillpower2]

Hi Paul
Can you clarify which default settings you are attempting to restore, the BIOS settings, a blank HDD or both.

[paulcole]

Hi thank you for answering my email, I really appreciate all your advise.

I am not sure the answer to your question below?

I was advised by the previous moderator to restore the computer's software to original condition by pressing the F8 button scrolling down to advanced boot options and selecting repair your computer.

As I mentioned before I don't have the option to press F8. I only see the blue Dell logo and get the option to press F2 or F12

I have pressed both these options and if I am honest changed a number of options in the hope I would change change something and get my computer to boot? The model is a Dell Dimension E520

If I do not press F2 or F12 I see the following information

Controller Bus#00 device #1F function#02 04 ports, 02 devices

Port-00: Hard Disk, SAMSUNG HD160JJ/P
(This drive is contolled by the RAID BIOS)

Port -01: CDROM, SONY DVD+/- RW AW- Q160s
Port -04: No device detected
Port - 05: No device detected

AHCI BIOS Installed

Drive 0: Disc Drive
Drive 1: DC-ROM Device

Floppy diskette seek FAILURE

Strike the F1 key to continue, F2 to run the setup utility

There is an option in the F2 system setup that allows me to change all settings back to factory settings I have done this but still it has not helped

I have backed up all the information I need and just want to be able to get my pc working again and if this means restoring the BIOS or the blank HDD then this is what I will do?

If you could please offer any advice I would be extremley grateful.

Paul

[phillpower2]

Do you have the XP or system restore disk/s that may have been supplied with the computer?
Are you comfortable opening up your computer as I suggest you clear the CMOS to restore the MB back to the factory default settings, I will help you with this if you like.

[paulcole]

Hi,

thanks for the quick response, I do have the Vista system restore disc that was supplied with the computer. As far as opening up the computer I have done this before to add more RAM but have never cleared the CMOS to restore the mother board?

I am willing to give this a go if you can offer any help

Thanks

Paul

[phillpower2]

Ok below is my canned text on opening your case and clearing the CMOS;
The following checks require the computer case to be opened so take the following
safety precautions 1st, disconnect the power cord from the wall and take anti static
precautions before touching anything inside, you can do this by touching a bare metal
part of the case.
Clear the CMOS by removing the MBs silver CR2032 battery for a few moments and then
replace it, this will restore the MBs factory default settings so upon 1st boot you
will need to enter the BIOS and reset the time and date, Save (F10) and then Y to accept
the new changes.
This should allow you to then change the boot sequence to CD drive 1st and the HDD 2nd.
Below are a couple of pictures to help you;

Thanks to RonShaffer61 for the battery .jpeg
Just a thought but have you tried tapping the Esc or Del key on boot up and if so what happened.

[paulcole]

OK

I have done everything you mentioned and removed the battery to reset the MB

After restarting I have pressed F2 and changed the time and date. When you mention I need to change the boot sequence to cd drive 1st and HDD 2nd this is what I see when pressing F2

system
Drives
Onboard devices
Video
Performacve
Security
power Management
Maintenance
POST Behavior

When I expand the system and go to boot sequence I get the following:-

1. Onboard or USB floppy Drive
2. Onboard SATA Hard Drive
3. SAMSUNG HD160JJ/P
4. Onboard or USB CD-ROM Drive

By pressing the space bar I can change the 1 - 4 sequence but can't change it so the CD-ROM Drive boots 1st and the SAMSUNG HD160JJ/P boots 2nd.

Under the Maintenance tab I get the option to Load Defaults this option allows you to reset every option back to the way it was when the system left the factory.

I have gone ahead and clicked this but still I get the following message after re-booting

Drive 0: Disk Drive
Drive 1: CD-ROM Device
Floppy diskette seek failure
Strike the F1 key to continue, F2 to run setup utility

Confussed and frustrated

[phillpower2]

When I expand the system and go to boot sequence I get the following:-
1. Onboard or USB floppy Drive
2. Onboard SATA Hard Drive
3. SAMSUNG HD160JJ/P
4. Onboard or USB CD-ROM Drive

By pressing the space bar I can change the 1 - 4 sequence but can't change it so the CD-ROM Drive boots 1st and the SAMSUNG HD160JJ/P boots 2nd.

If you highlight 1. Onboard or USB floppy Drive and press enter what happens.

[paulcole]

Hey,

I have just returned from a holiday and wanted to pick up where we left off if thats still ok?

Just reading thru your last comments and I still have the same screen as before.

I have tried tapping he esc and del keys on start up but nothing happens

Also if I highlight the onboard or USB Floppy Drive as number 1 and leave all the other options blank, save and restart the pc the black screen appears with the message.

No boot device available

Strike F1 to retry boot or f2 for setup utility.

Can I confirm I am doing all of this without the windows Vista disc in the drive?

Even with the windows Vista disc in the drive I get the same message.


Thanks again for your time and patience

Paul

[phillpower2]

No worries we will try and resolve this when you are available.
In post #8 I asked;

If you highlight 1. Onboard or USB floppy Drive and press enter what happens

What is the answer please.

[paulcole]

Hi,

If I highlight the onboard or USB Floppy Drive as number 1 and leave all the other options blank, press enter save and restart the pc the same black screen appears with the message.

No boot device available

Strike F1 to retry boot or f2 for setup utility.

Paul

[phillpower2]

If I highlight the onboard or USB Floppy Drive as number 1 and leave all the other options blank, press enter save and restart the pc the same black screen appears with the message.

No boot device available

This is to be expected.
Can you set the boot sequence as listed below, you must set it to this before saving (F10) accepting the changes by pressing Y and restarting or you will not have a bootable device.
1. CDROM, SONY DVD+/- RW AW- Q160s
2. SAMSUNG HD160JJ/P
3 and 4 can be omitted/blank for now, page up and down will normally scroll through the different devices when an option is highlighted.

[paulcole]

Controller Bus#00 device #1F function#02 04 ports, 02 devices

Port-00: Hard Disk, SAMSUNG HD160JJ/P
(This drive is contolled by the RAID BIOS)

Port -01: CDROM, SONY DVD+/- RW AW- Q160s

AHCI BIOS Installed
Intel Matrix Storage manager option ROM v.6.0.0.1022 ICH8R
Copyright C 2033-06 Intel Corporation All rights Reserved

Press any key to boot from CD or DVD

With the Windows Vista disc inserted into the drive the computer shows a white bar at the bottom of the screen saying Windows is loading files...

It then gives me the option to choose a language

Then options to change the time and currency and keyboard input method all of which I have chosen UK

Clicked next

I am then presented with an option to Install now or at the bottom of the screen it says Repair your computer

If I choose Repair your computer it gives me an operating system Windows Vista home premium location (C:) to pick

It then says if you do not see your operating system listed clcik load drivers to load drivers from your hard disc

Should I choose this option or just click next?

If I click next I am given the following options:-

Startup Repair
System Restore
Windows complete PC restore
Windows memory diagnostic tool
Command prompt

I have left the pc at this point............

I think I got to this point in my last email thread and was advised to choose startup repair which I did but I got the message it was unable to find a probelm, I think I have also chosen system restore and picked a date way back in January the computer restared but still I got the black screen with the cursor blinking and nothing happening?

As mentioned I have left the pc at this point and will wait for further advise, if I need to go back to the screen where it gave me the option to install now then I will restart the pc, load from the disc chose the language and time/currency and choose instal now instead of picking repair your computer

Thanks again for all your effort in helping me try and resolve this frustrating issue

Paul

[The Admiral]

Sorry I'm a bit late to the Dell party...

paulcore, if you select Windows Complete PC Restore from that last menu you mentioned, that should restore your computer back to factory defaults.
The other option, if you are sure you have your recovery partition still on your Hard Drive, would be to get into the Command Prompt from the last menu you mentioned, and enter in imagex /apply x:\dell\image\factory.wim 1 c:\ to manually write the backup image to your hard drive.

Please post back if you have any questions!

[paulcole]

Thanks for jumping in Admiral

I have read your response and have the following questions

The Windows complete restore option you mention only lets me restore the computer from a back up image which I do not have.

Does this mean the only option I have left is to go into the command promt and enter imagex /apply x:\dell\image\factory.wim 1 c:\ to manually write the backup image to my hard drive.

Is this relatively easy to do?

How do I know if I have a recovery partition still on my Hard Drive?

So many questions, thanks a lot for your advice

Paul Cole