Solved Factory Recovery Media

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junglee

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Since there is no "Backup and Restore" Forum as yet, I am posting this message here. I am sorry if this is not right.

I got the new Windows 8 Dell Laptop over a week back. The Laptop did not even have a sticker at the bottom for the Product Key and I had to extract it using a third party applet. No Recovery Media came with it and there was only a Recovery Partition. I realized much later that I had to make the Factory Recovery Media myself and I did that on a thumb drive. But by then I had uninstalled some of the bloatware the Laptop was saddled with and installed a few of my favourite programs.

My question is whether the Factory Recovery Media is the same irrespective of when it is made or keeps changing with time as one installs and uninstalls programs? My gut feeling is that it does not change with time.
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 8.1 Single Language
    Computer type
    Laptop
    System Manufacturer/Model
    Dell Inspiron 3521
    CPU
    Processor Intel(R) Core(TM) i3-3217U CPU @ 1.80GHz, 1801 Mhz, 2 Core(s), 4 Logical Processor(s)
    Motherboard
    Intel
    Memory
    4 Gigabytes
    Graphics Card(s)
    Intel(R) HD Graphics 4000
    Sound Card
    Realtek High Definition Audio
    Screen Resolution
    1366 x 768
    Hard Drives
    One, 500 Gigabytes
    Mouse
    Touchpad
    Internet Speed
    4 megabits per second
    Browser
    Internet Explorer (Latest) and Google Chrome (Default)
    Antivirus
    Avast! Free Antivirus
Factory recovery should get you back to the way it shipped from the factory (bloatware included).
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 8
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
Thanks Norepli. So my gut feeling was right. Does that mean that the Factory Recovery Media uses the Recovery Partition to build itself?
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 8.1 Single Language
    Computer type
    Laptop
    System Manufacturer/Model
    Dell Inspiron 3521
    CPU
    Processor Intel(R) Core(TM) i3-3217U CPU @ 1.80GHz, 1801 Mhz, 2 Core(s), 4 Logical Processor(s)
    Motherboard
    Intel
    Memory
    4 Gigabytes
    Graphics Card(s)
    Intel(R) HD Graphics 4000
    Sound Card
    Realtek High Definition Audio
    Screen Resolution
    1366 x 768
    Hard Drives
    One, 500 Gigabytes
    Mouse
    Touchpad
    Internet Speed
    4 megabits per second
    Browser
    Internet Explorer (Latest) and Google Chrome (Default)
    Antivirus
    Avast! Free Antivirus
The Dell factory recovery image/partition is accessible by hitting F8 on boot (follow the prompts) and will restore it to day 1 status. I think the backup you created will restore the laptop to the state at the time you made the backup discs.
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 8
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
I got the new Windows 8 Dell Laptop over a week back. The Laptop did not even have a sticker at the bottom for the Product Key and I had to extract it using a third party applet
Click to expand...

You have no need for the Product Key, as any reinstall of Windows 8 will pick up the Product Key in the UEFI/BIOS firmware.

information   Information

We always assume you have made your Recovery Disks using the OEM manufacturer's Recovery Media Creator app the first day you had your new PC.
& made the Startup Repair CD.
http://www.eightforums.com/tutorials/5132-recovery-drive-create-usb-flash-drive-windows-8-a.html
http://www.eightforums.com/tutorials/2855-system-repair-disc-create-windows-8-a.html
​




You can use the DELL version of
http://www.eightforums.com/tutorials/5132-recovery-drive-create-usb-flash-drive-windows-8-a.html

Did you make the OEM manufacturer's Recovery Disks?


How to order Dell Recovery disc:
RouteTo
Dell - Support
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    ME, XP,Vista,Win7,Win8,Win8.1
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    Other Info
    Notebooks x 3

    Desktops x 5

    Towers x 4
junglee said:
The Laptop did not even have a sticker at the bottom for the Product Key and I had to extract it using a third party applet.
Click to expand...
That is a change with Windows 8. The COA is no longer put onto a machine, the key is embedded in the BIOS, so if you reinstall, it will magically just use your key.
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 7
    System Manufacturer/Model
    Self-Built in July 2009
    CPU
    Intel Q9550 2.83Ghz OC'd to 3.40Ghz
    Motherboard
    Gigabyte GA-EP45-UD3R rev. 1.1, F12 BIOS
    Memory
    8GB G.Skill PI DDR2-800, 4-4-4-12 timings
    Graphics Card(s)
    EVGA 1280MB Nvidia GeForce GTX570
    Sound Card
    Realtek ALC899A 8 channel onboard audio
    Monitor(s) Displays
    23" Acer x233H
    Screen Resolution
    1920x1080
    Hard Drives
    Intel X25-M 80GB Gen 2 SSD
    Western Digital 1TB Caviar Black, 32MB cache. WD1001FALS
    PSU
    Corsair 620HX modular
    Case
    Antec P182
    Cooling
    stock
    Keyboard
    ABS M1 Mechanical
    Mouse
    Logitech G9 Laser Mouse
    Internet Speed
    15/2 cable modem
    Other Info
    Windows and Linux enthusiast. Logitech G35 Headset.
Thank you so much for the clarification. That is a big relief. I opened the BIOS after reading your message. However I couldn't locate the embedded Product Key.

In fact even after dabbling with BIOS for nearly two decades, the BIOS of the new Laptop was all Greek and Latin to me. Couldn't even find out how to change the boot order which at present has the C:\ Drive as the first boot devise. Not only that but I felt diffident fiddling with the BIOS.

pparks1 said:
junglee said:
The Laptop did not even have a sticker at the bottom for the Product Key and I had to extract it using a third party applet.
Click to expand...
That is a change with Windows 8. The COA is no longer put onto a machine, the key is embedded in the BIOS, so if you reinstall, it will magically just use your key.
Click to expand...
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 8.1 Single Language
    Computer type
    Laptop
    System Manufacturer/Model
    Dell Inspiron 3521
    CPU
    Processor Intel(R) Core(TM) i3-3217U CPU @ 1.80GHz, 1801 Mhz, 2 Core(s), 4 Logical Processor(s)
    Motherboard
    Intel
    Memory
    4 Gigabytes
    Graphics Card(s)
    Intel(R) HD Graphics 4000
    Sound Card
    Realtek High Definition Audio
    Screen Resolution
    1366 x 768
    Hard Drives
    One, 500 Gigabytes
    Mouse
    Touchpad
    Internet Speed
    4 megabits per second
    Browser
    Internet Explorer (Latest) and Google Chrome (Default)
    Antivirus
    Avast! Free Antivirus
As there is a difference of opinion between Norepli and Mark the correct status shall be determined only after I have restored the image that I created. Just that after reading the details from the link provided by Mark, I tend to agree with him.

Thank you everyone for your helo.
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 8.1 Single Language
    Computer type
    Laptop
    System Manufacturer/Model
    Dell Inspiron 3521
    CPU
    Processor Intel(R) Core(TM) i3-3217U CPU @ 1.80GHz, 1801 Mhz, 2 Core(s), 4 Logical Processor(s)
    Motherboard
    Intel
    Memory
    4 Gigabytes
    Graphics Card(s)
    Intel(R) HD Graphics 4000
    Sound Card
    Realtek High Definition Audio
    Screen Resolution
    1366 x 768
    Hard Drives
    One, 500 Gigabytes
    Mouse
    Touchpad
    Internet Speed
    4 megabits per second
    Browser
    Internet Explorer (Latest) and Google Chrome (Default)
    Antivirus
    Avast! Free Antivirus
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