How to invoke Dell's System Recovery
Disclaimer
Windows XP 
Windows
XP recovery on Dell PCs is typically done by Ctrl-F11 during boot
time.
Control-F11 will bring up a menu to restore to factory condition
(and wipe out all your programs, documents, pictures and music, DO a back up
first).
Control-F11 works if the DSR (Dell System Restore) partition is not wiped out and the MBR (Master Boot Record) has not been modified.
Notes:
-if you have a floppy drive, remove any floppy in the drive because
Control-F11 does not like floppy 
.
-if your Dell-specific MBR is changed and you loose Ctrl-F11 function, use DSRFIX to fix.
Windows Vista 
Dell PCs shipped with Windows Vista operaControl-F11ting systems do not use
Ctrl-F11
During boot time (immediately when the
Dell Logo
appears), press F8
If the Dell-specific MBR has not been modified from
factory condition, a selection item labeled "Repair Computer" appears.
However, if the MBR is overwritten by an operating system upgrade, the
"Repair Computer"
selection may disappear.
A work around to invoke a Dell Vista Factory
Restore is presented here.
Power up, when the Dell
Logo appears,
press F8.
Select "Safe
Mode with Command Prompt"
You need to know the
username and password (of a user with administrative privilege)
When the command
prompt appears, type
|
d:
cd tools
PCRESTORE.exe
|
Disclaimer
© 2009-2010 Nicholas Fong
Revised: June 9, 2010
