Dell Dimension System Restore Discs front/backwords compatible by any chance?

[Snake]

Hey, guys,

Recently we've got hit with a bunch of virus'. I've uninstalled Defender Pro (expired months ago) and downloaded Avast!. It found/deleted a shite-load of virus' and spyware. The computer is working better than it has in a long time, but once in a while, google won't "google" (or any other search engine) and I can't check my yahoo email (has to be done in Safe Mode - like I am right now).

Coincidentally a few days ago, a family member of mine had a computer that died and they are bringing me the restore disc this weekend.

The drawback is that, if I remember right, their Dell Dimension was a 2300 or 2500 (can't remember exactly) and mine is a Dell Dimension 2400.

Would I still be able to do a factory restore? I'm thinking not.

If I can, that would be great. It beats paying a $150 for someone to do something a monkey could do.

Thanks,


--Snake

[scotch]

It seems quite likely it would refuse to install or activate, or at the very least be missing the drivers needed for the different hardware. I'd recommend getting a fresh copy of Windows from somewhere and doing the install yourself. Burn some safety applications (AV, service packs, browser) to disc before you start if you want to be as safe as you can. It's good to download the drivers you need first too, especially network ones, so you can get online to get the rest.

There are versions of Windows around with all the updates slipstreamed in to save you time.

[LimpingFish]

Later Dells can be reset to factory settings by finding the appropriate entry in the bios menu. I did it for my brother. You'd have to back up anything important, though, as it literally restores the hard drive to how it was before it left the factory, and you'd have to reinstall any XP service packs or updates. Not too sure if the 2400 has this feature, and I'm not too sure of the steps I had to take to access it.

It did involve pressing F8 at some point.

[OneDollar]

The short answer is "I don't know".

You have to decide if there is any harm in trying. I don't *think* (but also don't know if) a restore touches the BIOS so essentially all you *might* do is install a broken Windows on a partition of your hard drive that you can just reformat when it doesn't work. The second issue would be if the restore installed a bunch of incorrect drivers what would happen? Would they just not work or would they damage the hardware? Finally would Windows register properly? Dell copies of Windows don't need registering with Microsoft if they're installed on Dell machines, but they still might get picked up at some point if you were running the same windows as a friend.

I'm afraid I can't answer any of those questions, maybe someone else can shed some light.

BUT I have a Dell Dimension 2150 and it DOES have a restore option somewhere during startup, so I assume your computer will also. I can't remember quite how to get to it, but I think its either press F8 or press Delete during startup, then look for a system recovery option or something similar.

If all else fails don't you have a Windows CD that came with the machine? Problems to watch out for with that is finding all the right drivers (most of which you can get from the Dell support page by putting your service tag in, but a better idea would be to backup your drivers folder before you format the windows partition then search for drivers in that when you're adding them later) and losing DVD playback when you don't get a DVD codec installed. Unfortunately I'm going to have to do a restore on my computer shortly after I did a reinstal for exactly these two reasons.


Edit: Here's a link with some more information. It suggests the restore hotkey is Ctrl+F11

Edit 2: Ah no, my PC isn't actually that old. Its a 9150

[LGM]

You could alternatively take the restore disk and slipstream it with http://www.nliteos.com/nlite.html.

It lets you put in the latest SP, any drivers you want, and it also lets you remove anything you want. So you can remove the DELL-specific install folders from the CD without breaking it.

[Snake]

Hey, guys, thanks for the replies.

Unfortunately we don't have any discs with this computer - my girlfriend might have years ago but they obviously never made it in the move since I can't find any.

But, luckily, the only one that I recently found is the "Drivers and Utilities" disc that came with it. From what you guys have said, it sounds like this might be the only thing I need.

Now, if the restore disc that is coming today isn't for a 2400 and if there is infact an option to format from the bios (I think it's F10) will we need a copy of Windows to install manually?

Hmm, that kind of makes since. Why doesn't Dell come with a disc that will format and install windows again? I had a Compaq Presario that did.

Ergh...What a cluster fuck.


--Snake

[OneDollar]

If you completely format the hard drive or if you format the Windows partition and don't have a restore partition then yes, you will need a Windows CD to reinstall. If you have a restore partition on your hard drive as I and Limping Fish mentioned then no, you won't need a Windows CD. If the restore CD works you also will not need a Windows CD, but I would recommend trying to restore from any restore partition you may have on your hard disk before trying that CD.