How to do DELL PC Restore in Windows 7, Windows Vista, Windows XP

Caution:- TO DO LIST Before you do Launch DELL PC Restore

Step 1: Backup important files & data.

By performing a Manual Reinstall, make sure that you have backed up all DATA (Documents, Picture, Music etc) from all the user account / HDD. Because once you start with

the Manual Reinstall you wont be able to gett you DATA back on your computer.

Step 2: Remove non-essential peripherals

Except for the monitor, keyboard, and mouse, remove all external peripherals including:

Scanner

Printer

Modem or Network cables

Personal Digital Assistant (PDA)

USB flash drive or other external Hard Drive

Any other external devices (e.g., USB-attached devices)

Remove the computer from the docking station, if you are using one.

Step 3: Restore the computer's software to original condition.

Step 4: Restore your personal files and data from backups.

For Detailed information please refer to the below mentioned link

Windows 7 Manual Reinstall (support.dell.com)

Windows Vista (support.dell.com)

Windows XP (support.dell.com)

How to Manually Reinstall Your Windows Operating System

Windows 7 Manual Reinstall [Article ID : 266457]

Windows Vista [Article ID : 266615]

Windows XP [Article ID : 52068]

Caution:- TO DO LIST Before you do a Manuall Reinstall Your Windows Operating System.

Step 1: Backup important files & data.

By performing a Manual Reinstall, make sure that you have backed up all DATA (Documents, Picture, Music etc) from all the user account / HDD. Because once you start with

the Manual Reinstall you wont be able to gett you DATA back on your computer.

Step 2: Remove non-essential peripherals

Except for the monitor, keyboard, and mouse, remove all external peripherals including:

• Scanner
• Printer
• Modem or Network cables
• Personal Digital Assistant (PDA)
• USB flash drive or other external Hard Drive
• Any other external devices (e.g., USB-attached devices)
• Remove the computer from the docking station, if you are using one.

Step 3: Prepare your computer for reinstallation.

Check to ensure that all your installation media is available. You will need the following:

• The Dell Operating System Reinstallation CD/DVD[OS CD],
• The Dell Resource CD/DVD [Driver CD],
• Any application install disks,
• Any software and/or documentation for your Internet service connection,
• Any install discs for any external devices (such as a printer) and internal devices added to the computer after it was shipped by Dell.

Step 4: Reinstall the operating system from the OS Setup Disk.

Step 5: Install Dell drivers and utilities.

Step 6: Connect your computer to the internet or network.

Step 7: Install critical and recommended Windows Updates.

Step 8: Install your applications.

Step 9: Install your third-party hardware and software drivers.

Step 10: Restore your personal files and data from backups.

For Detailed information please refer to the below mentioned link

Windows 7 Manual Reinstall (support.dell.com)

Windows Vista (support.dell.com)

Windows XP (support.dell.com)

A warning message stating that some of the CPU cores are not enabled may be noticed when customer tries to run PC Doctor from Dell Support Center 2.0.

This occurs due to various reasons, however the two most common reasons are CPU throttling and OS load.

Choose the highest number of processors in Windows by following the below steps.

a) Go to Start > Choose Run > Type 'msconfig' in the text box > Press Key.

b) Select the Boot tab > Click on Advanced options.

c) Under 'Number of processors', choose the highest number of processors.

Stage UI animation may not work and a black screen may be noticed on systems when using the Music home icon to navigate back to Stage UI in 10ft mode.

Workaround :

Follow below steps to use the Task switcher and toggle between top-level windows:

a) Hold > Press the required number of times, to return back to the black screen window after navigating through all the screens.

b) This will result in Stage animation execution and the Stage UI will show up.

Use the Home button on remote control and not the one in music application, to move back and forth between Music application and stage UI in the 10ft mode.

How to Run the Dell™ 32-bit Diagnostics Utility

All Dell computers ship with a utility partition on the hard drive that contains the Dell Diagnostic Utility:

1) Restart the computer.

2) As the computer boots, press when the Dell Splash Screen appears.

3) When the Boot menu appears, highlight the Boot to Utility Partition option, or the Diagnostics option and then press to start the 32-bit Dell Diagnostics.

4) Press the key to highlight Test System Press to continue to 32-bit Diagnostics.

For More information vist (support.dell.com)

HDD error code 2000-0146 may be noticed when performing a Pre-Boot System Assessment (PSA) on systems, if the Legacy PSA / Drive Self Test (DST) identifies previous error entries in the Hard Drive SMART Error log.

Solution :

Replace the HDD only under the below scenarios:

a) The hard drive does not get detected by BIOS even after it has been reseated.

b) PSA/DST fails to detect a drive that is currently enabled and identified by BIOS.

c) Hard drive boot failure is associated with abnormal noise emitted from the drive.

Do Not Replace the hard drive if it shows the error code but no issues are being noticed when booting the system to OS or reading the data.

Inspiron D580 systems configured with 4GB (1GB x 4) or 8GB (2GB x 4) memory, may freeze or randomly restart during normal usage.

Solution :

Verify if the customer system is installed with 1GB x 4 memory modules or 2GB x 4 memory modules.

Once confirmed, follow below steps:

a) If system is installed with 1GB x 4 memory modules, replace them with 2GB x 2 memory modules and install them on DIMM slot 1 and 2.

b) If system is installed with 2GB x 4 memory modules, replace them with different 2GB modules of equal or greater specification directly.

Fix for Missing start menu links

Please find below the steps which would fix the missing start menu links due to a possible infection.

Attention : Please don’t run HFN or any other virus removal tool before the folder “SMTMP” is backed up safe.

1) Open Explorer select “C: DRIVE” and type “SMTMP” in SEARCH BOX (TOP RIGHT).

2) Open folder “SMTMP” or directly go to this location “%UsersProfile%\appdata\Local\Temp\SMTMP”.

The folder named “1” would have the missing shortcuts from Start Menu & folders “2” & “3” would have missing icons from desktop & taskbar.

3) Navigate to “Programs” folder inside the folder “1” and copy all & paste in location %AllUsersProfile%\Start Menu\Programs

Issue : Users may report the below Wi-Fi issues on Dell platforms:

a) Intermittent loss of Wi-Fi connection.

b) Inability to initiate a Wi-Fi connection.

c) Poor Wi-Fi connection data performance.

Workaround :

Option 1 :

1) Use Intel PROSet/Wireless Wi-Fi Connection Utility to put Wi-Fi adapter into Continuously Aware Mode (CAM)

2) Click Advanced > Adapter Settings > Advanced tab.

3) Select Power Management and uncheck Default / Auto option and move the slider to Highest / Maximum Performance.

Note : If the slider is already at Highest / Maximum Performance, move the slider to another setting and then back to Highest / Maximum Performance.

Option 2 :

1) Use Network Control Panel settings to put Wi-Fi adapter into Continuously Aware Mode (CAM)

2) Click Start > Settings > Control Panel.

3) Double-click Network Connections.

4) Right-click the wireless connection and click Properties.

5) Click Configure > Advanced tab.

6) Select Power Management and uncheck Default / Auto option and move the slider to Highest / Maximum Performance.

Note : If the slider is already at Highest / Maximum Performance, move the slider to another setting and then back to Highest / Maximum Performance.

Error message "Internet Explorer [IE9] (64-bit) has stopped working" may be noticed on systems installed with Windows7 Service Pack 1.

RESOLUTION:-

Download and install nVidia GPU version A08 (8.17.12.6830, R305946.exe) or later from Dell Support (support.dell.com) to resolve this issue.

DELL 1908WFP monitor USB uplink causing system to not shutdown

Problem: E6500 portable in Eport Plus replicator will not shutdown or reboot if USB uplink cables for 1908WFP monitors are connected.

Discussion: As usual, motherboard and port replicator had been replaced without resolution. Operating system is Windows XP x32, Bios and drivers are all current.

Resolution: As with many USB issues, the resolve was to disable the Power Management of the USB Root Hubs in Device manager (On by default in all versions of Windows) In device manager, right click each USB Root Hub, click Properties, Power Management Tab, Uncheck the top box that allows Windows to disable this device to save power. (repeat on all Root Hubs) OK then reboot.

While Setting up MS-Office 2010 You may get the following error

"There was a Problem setting up Microsoft Office Starter 2010.There was a problem setting up Microsoft Office. try Running Setup again. If the problem continues, contact Microsoft Product Support"

Workaround :

The issue is caused by incorrect value introduced into the registry at the following location:

[HKEY_USERS\S-1-5-18\ Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\User Shell Folders]

"AppData"

This “AppData” location should be “%USERPROFILE%\AppData\Roaming. However on the machine where this bug repro’s this value is set to: “%APPDATA%”.

This creates a sort of infinite loop and end result is CSIDL_APPDATA, and %APPDATA% are no longer defined for system account and App-V connect fails.

Giant cursor on Dell Studio 1558

Issue :

A "Giant cursor issue" may be noticed on Studio 1558 systems.

Solution :

Uninstall old ATI drivers and download and install the latest ATI Mobility Radeon [AMD ATI Mobility Radeon™ HD 4330] (R276519.exe) from Dell Support.

Cursor may keep jumping or perform undesired action when an external mouse is connected to a System

Issue :

Cursor may keep jumping or perform undesired action when an external mouse is connected to a system.

Solution :

Before replacing any hardware, Adjust the touchpad settings as below :

1. Open the Touchpad properties.

2. Choose ''Device select''.

3. Enable the "Disable Touchpad / Pointing Stick'' when external USB mouse is present.

Note: Other options that may cause problems are "Draglock" and "Tap to Click" under Touchpad

settings and the "Scrolling and Zoom settings" in the Touchpad Properties.

The McAfee Personal Firewall is set to OFF on a new computer

Affected Products: Personal Firewall

Affected Operating Systems:

Windows Vista (64-bit)

Windows 7 (64-bit)

Description

Some customers have reported that newly purchased computers show the

McAfee Personal Firewall set to OFF on the first out-of-box startup.

Solution

1. Navigate to the folder below:

C:\ProgramData\McAfee\HackerWatch\Data

2. Delete all the files inside the Data folder.

3. Restart your computer.