I have had it. Now they don’t include a CD version of windows, and use Norton Ghost as a backup. The problem is that they only include a trial of the Nortons software. Now I am downloading the trial in hopes that it works to fix my main office computer.

Sorry just had to blow off a little steam.
:-)
[Reply]

They dont include a copy of windows? You are licensed for it, what do they expect you to do if the drive crashes?
[Reply]

They make you burn your own copy when you buy the PC...and the license # should be on the PC itself.
[Reply]

Send it to them for warranty repairs. You can get a copy of the CD/DVD, but it costs extra and you need to ask them to include it and pay extra for it - they default to not doing so.
[Reply]

At this point I hope Nortons has a bootable disk I can use to reload off of the partition that is on the backup drive. Windows is toast on the main drive. If that dosen't work I have a disk somewhere I will just have to try and find it, and hope it has all the drivers I need on it.
[Reply]

What's wrong with the comp?

BTW, if you have a CD of Norton Anti-virus sitting around, that should be bootable.
[Reply]

I am just having horrible luck with computers at the moment, and had to vent. I have had 4 computer go bad in the last 3 weeks. Two Dells and Two IBMs.

Dell 1 Bad video so no display
Dell 2 hard drive crashed
IBM 1 motherboard is toast due to my son dropping it
IBM 2 video display went bad in it as well.

I am going to tear apart the two IBMs to see if I can combine the two to get one to work.
[Reply]

We don't use Nortons we have to use McAfee due to company requirements.
[Reply]

Sounds like me. I recently had to give my Apple MacBook to Apple to fix a dent caused by TSA dropping it while I was going through security (not covered under warranty). So I decided, since I was working from home, to use my home computer (a Dell 5150). I ordered some extra memory yesterday and decided, in a fit of "upgrading" to do the BIOS. Well, apparently that fried the memory sticks.

I called Dell to see if the error I was getting (3+4 were lit green and the computer was "buzzing" -- although I'm told it's a beep) was limited to the memory and not the memory slots or motherboard. The technician kept re-iterating that they would send me replacement sticks (2GB) but I said it didn't matter since I have 4GB on the way. He goes on that he can't refund the amount, which is fine. I asked again whether the motherboard could be an issue and he goes on about the refund. I get the manager explain it 3 times before he clues in. Now, I've worked Global Support for a few years for a large software company (no not M$) and even I understand what a customer is looking for when asking a question like that or know enough to probe further as to what is going on (i.e., it's useless to send new sticks if the motherboard is fried anyways, no? :P )

Sigh.

The quality of the systems and the quality of support has gone way downhill. It's not the economy that's killing Dell; it's Dell that's killing Dell.
[Reply]

Unfortunately that is the way a lot of things are going now.

I have the new hard drive in it now, and am loading the OS off of an old copy of it. Now I just have to find the other software to get loaded on it.
[Reply]

If the disk is still usable, you should have another partition that has a copy of WinPE or WinRE on it that is bootable. Without an install or recovery CD (DVD) it may be a moot point, but some things are quite happily recoverable from Win/PE and RE.

You can also use that environment to snap an image of your main boot partition while it is not in use.
[Reply]

They used Ghost on that partition. I use Tru Image, and will as soon as I get it all reloaded again.
[Reply]

Well I think I have every thing running again. It only took changing out the hard drive, and reloading all the software again. It only took all afternoon, and part of this morning.
[Reply]

I found this trick a while back working on people's computers. As long as the partitions are in tact, you can boot with Grub (Yes a linux loader), on either a USB, CD, 3.5" disk, whatever.. and the image on the partition of the hard drive that is not normally seen will be a bootable image under the grub auto loader.

I've never tested this with Dell's, but I know it works with HP/Compaq. Might be worth a shot :-)


To to recap the issue. If you have a ghost image on a hidden partition that you didn't burn to a CD and the drive partitions are still in tact. Use grub to boot the recovery partition :-)

But I see you fixed it... hopefully this can be of use to someone else.
[Reply]

I have used Knopix in the past to recover files from a hard drive, but will have to check out grub.

The new drive is in the process of a Tru Image back up as I type this. Maybe that will make this a much simpler process if I have to do it again.
[Reply]

Make sure you test the back up. I use Acronis True Image but sometimes the backups look like they backed up fine then wont work.
[Reply]

I am now doing a mirror on a backup drive, unlike before.
[Reply]

Junior,

So you tried using the restore that is default? I believe it is CTRL+F11 at boot. I have used that before with no problems. IF you do this, you will lose your data on the system.

As far as the trial Norton software, are you sure it isnt the anti-virus that is trial?

PM me if you need help.
[Reply]

In the last year I have purchased two machines (XPS notebook and an Inspiron desktop), and both came with backup discs for Windows...

Are you looking for a disc that doesn't have their bloatware on it?
[Reply]

Mine came with a CD but it is a standard Windows Vista install. It does not restore to original with the restore partition. I called Dell and they sent me the DVD with the image I needed. Not sure if they still do this though.

If you were to ask me today about support, I have always been happiest with HP support. So, I guess no more Dells for me either :-)
[Reply]