Dell XPS 210 desktop will not boot to WIndows Vista
After pressing F12 to go to the system menu, I can run the diags, and it says the hard drive is bad. I have tried to press F8 to try to restore the system to its "out of the box" configuration, but that doesn't seem to have any effect. I can only bring up the boot menu and the (F12) system menu.
By setting up Windows on a new HDD from Fry's, I was able to see the old drive and get the data from it. However, it's missing all the programs that came installed on the system originally. Sadly, it's out of warranty.
I'm much more familiar with WIndows XP, and recall that I used to be able to try to fix the master boot record using FDISK /MBR, and that fixed problems many times. However, Vista no longer uses FDISK. I'd like to know how to view the partition information using the command lines, if possible. Then I could partition the new HDD and copy files from the old drive to the new drive. Or if there is just some way to access the restore files from the old drive and restore everything back to the OOTB condition, that would be great, too.
Other resources: I have a new HDD which I plan on using to replace the old HDD. I also have a 500 GB backup drive, to which I could copy old files.
All help is appreciated.
By setting up Windows on a new HDD from Fry's, I was able to see the old drive and get the data from it. However, it's missing all the programs that came installed on the system originally. Sadly, it's out of warranty.
I'm much more familiar with WIndows XP, and recall that I used to be able to try to fix the master boot record using FDISK /MBR, and that fixed problems many times. However, Vista no longer uses FDISK. I'd like to know how to view the partition information using the command lines, if possible. Then I could partition the new HDD and copy files from the old drive to the new drive. Or if there is just some way to access the restore files from the old drive and restore everything back to the OOTB condition, that would be great, too.
Other resources: I have a new HDD which I plan on using to replace the old HDD. I also have a 500 GB backup drive, to which I could copy old files.
All help is appreciated.
here a guide for how to install vista : http://www.petri.co.il/install_windows_vista.htm
you can partition the drive also in vista, or resize it in disk management
if you want a 3rd party tool, i suggest Bootit-ng (free for what you want) : www.terabyteunlimited.com/
you can partition the drive also in vista, or resize it in disk management
if you want a 3rd party tool, i suggest Bootit-ng (free for what you want) : www.terabyteunlimited.com/
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I do have the OEM Vista install disks.
And the apps are stored on the recovery partition of the old drive. I can actually see them when using the command prompt from the OEM install CD. I was hoping for a command line version of Diskman or similar. But if I can repartition it, then copy the files over, that would do as well. I just went to Fry's to get a SATA power splitter, so I can have two HDD's on the unit at once, so I'll try that.
Is there an easy imaging program I can get for free out there? Maybe Ghost or similar?
And the apps are stored on the recovery partition of the old drive. I can actually see them when using the command prompt from the OEM install CD. I was hoping for a command line version of Diskman or similar. But if I can repartition it, then copy the files over, that would do as well. I just went to Fry's to get a SATA power splitter, so I can have two HDD's on the unit at once, so I'll try that.
Is there an easy imaging program I can get for free out there? Maybe Ghost or similar?
clonezilla?
Just press the start button and type it in the search bar, an icon should appear..
Alternatively, right click on the my computer icon and select manage.
Or, in advanced tools, under control panel, look for computer management.
You can create/remove/edit partition information from here, its called 'disk management'