XPS M1530 Partitionless Recovery!

Hi all,



This website has helped me out no end in the last few months in choosing a new Dell XPS, which is now being built. BUT the very day I went to order my new XPS 15, my XPS M1530 suddenly and rapidly spiralled to its death (I'm sure it must have known!). As it turns out the hard disk seems to have suffered a catastrophic failure but that is by the by.



What I would like to know is if there is anyway I can return my system to its factory settings from its current state. Normally this would be easy as I would have the disks (which I don't) or a burned copy of the recovery partition (which I don't!), or a recovery partition (guess what...I don't!). Part of the reason for this is that I bought the laptop as a refurbished model with 11 months warranty to run, but it would appear that the recovery partition and regular Dell set up was replaced by a more standard Windows Vista set up - so no Media Direct, no recovery partition and no ability to burn the disks.



I have called Dell and they will not send me a disk any more, so my options are short. Is it possible to download the info/OS from Dell in a way that would recognise that it has an OEM license etc? My only other hope is finding someone with a copy of the recovery disks for a similar XPSM1530 and trying to run that. Oh, I guess I could buy a copy of Windows and clean install but that seems expensive considering I had a genuine install of it and it's not worth that much these days and that Ill probably just give it to my mum!



Any ideas welcome and gratefully received.



Thanks for your help!



PS very much looking forward to these hassles being over with the arrival of the new XPS 15!

Reply 1 : XPS M1530 Partitionless Recovery!

Which version of Windows was installed on the M1530 and was it 32 bit or 64 bit?

Reply 2 : XPS M1530 Partitionless Recovery!

It was Vista Home Premium 32bit. Thanks for you reply.

Reply 3 : XPS M1530 Partitionless Recovery!

You can get the disk from Dell, it's called an Operating System Reinstallation DVD and costs about 65 + P&P.







If they won't sell you one let me know and I'll see if I've got a spare one I can let you have.

Reply 4 : XPS M1530 Partitionless Recovery!

I've tried twice and after some umming and arring they said they couldn't send me one for security reasons (I have moved address a lot, not sure if that was the reason) but basically they weren't keen on sending out a copy of the disk. I guess I have had the laptop for three years or more now.



I have to be honest and say I didn't offer to pay them (and they didn't offer the opportunity), but seeing as I have paid them once it didn't seem to make sense when I could just buy a copy of Windows 7 instead. I would probably rather try and find an old XP disk than spend lots on an old machine.



Am I right in thinking that this disk will recognise that it is a Dell XPS 1530 and self-activate?

Reply 5 : XPS M1530 Partitionless Recovery!

Quote:

Originally Posted by Amberama I've tried twice and after some umming and arring they said they couldn't send me one for security reasons (I have moved address a lot, not sure if that was the reason) but basically they weren't keen on sending out a copy of the disk. I guess I have had the laptop for three years or more now. I have to be honest and say I didn't offer to pay them (and they didn't offer the opportunity), but seeing as I have paid them once it didn't seem to make sense when I could just buy a copy of Windows 7 instead. I would probably rather try and find an old XP disk than spend lots on an old machine. Am I right in thinking that this disk will recognise that it is a Dell XPS 1530 and self-activate?

The Dell reinstallation disk will detect the machine and self activate so no key issues as long as the OS is the same as originally installed, it also has the original drivers (same as a slipstream install disk) so you don't then have to spend 2 hours looking for drivers.

Reply 6 : XPS M1530 Partitionless Recovery!

Not laughing at you but this sounds a lot like the day I stopped at the car dealership, just looking mind you then when I got in my car....she didn't want to start! After I ensured her she wasn't getting traded in she started up and off we went. I may have a copy of the disk you need, I'll check and PM you later. No charge, just pay it forward. And yes it will auto activate as long as your machine is a Dell. Windows 7 however depends on your SLIC but Vista shouldn't be an issue.

Reply 7 : XPS M1530 Partitionless Recovery!

Quote:

Originally Posted by LordRasta Not laughing at you but this sounds a lot like the day I stopped at the car dealership, just looking mind you then when I got in my car....she didn't want to start! After I ensured her she wasn't getting traded in she started up and off we went. I may have a copy of the disk you need, I'll check and PM you later. No charge, just pay it forward. And yes it will auto activate as long as your machine is a Dell. Windows 7 however depends on your SLIC but Vista shouldn't be an issue.

That would be brilliant LordRasta! Really kind of you to even look for me.



Re the death of my 1530, I couldn't believe it either. If I wasn't a scientifically minded person I could almost believe it had a soul ("had" being the operative word!). I have since extracted my hard disk and have Active@Undelete running on it for the last 48hours. Luckily it looks like I can retrieve a lot of my docs/photos/music etc that weren't backed up so once my new machine arrives I can find a new home for the 1530. Best get looking for a new hard disk!



Thanks again!

Reply 8 : XPS M1530 Partitionless Recovery!

Quote:

Originally Posted by pinsb The Dell reinstallation disk will detect the machine and self activate so no key issues as long as the OS is the same as originally installed, it also has the original drivers (same as a slipstream install disk) so you don't then have to spend 2 hours looking for drivers.

Thank you very much for the info pinsb. It seems bizarre that people can know so little about something they own like a software license. Not surprisingly, for the sake of 5 I ordered the recovery disk set with my XPS15.



Cheers,

Reply 9 : XPS M1530 Partitionless Recovery!

Sending you a PM mate