windows 7 is refusing to let me restore my factory image. the option is removed from F8 and if i try from the "restore" drive, windows 7 refuses to let me.i understood the risks with a beta. i did not think microsoft would take the opportunity to destroy my image. forcing me to buy new software, as they offer no support fot the beta.way to go Microsoft. anothe satisfied customer.

you should be able to get CD copies of your systems factory image, from the original mfg, check their website or email them to find out how.

Depending on how you installed the beta, you may have chosen to overwrite your restore partition.Use diskmgmt.msc to see if it still exists.Additionally, the restore option may not be picked up by Win7 (within Windows) due to compatibility issues. Also, depending on the manufacturer, you may need restore disks to access the restore partition.Ifnone of this works,then you'll have to get restore disks from the manufacturer of your system. - John

i used the upgrade option. all the partitions are ok, still there. just on f8 the option to restor factory image is not there. if i go to the restore partition ad run pcrestore, windows 7 says access refused. its on a dell xpx1210, which had vista home premium installed

i'm out of service contract. they want money even to talk or email.

Hi firemouth, Mostly, there are several disks attached when you brought computer. Restore Disk should be included. Thanks.

Hi Firemouth, Not all Mfg's give recovery discs, many now have a program on the computer thatyou need to run to create the discs. If you haven't, you should be able to order these discs from them. On the web site, look at how they sell accessories, if you call ask about recovery discs.(do you have aquariums? I have a type of fish (Chichlids) called firemouths.Jim

hi Jim, yeh i keep fish, oddly though not firemouths.thanks for the comment. sadly Dell consider everyone a cash cow, and wont even help good customers.so the solution is quite simple. boot via a Vista cd, navigate to the tools directory on the d drive. and run PCRestore. or i have a cd that will do the job, from boot to PCRestore interface.what does concern me is the level of Knowledge, amongst the "experts" i have talked too. (not you gang). not one person suggested trying a Vista boot disc. one of the first things i thought of. everyone assumes the Image had been destroyed, yet when you look at the Windows 7 install, that just cant happen, unless you tell it to do so. why do so many look for such complicated solutions to problems, before they try the, simple common sense solutions.windows 7 will not allow the Vista version of PCRestore to run. so boot up in Vista and all is well.

i would point out you only need a cd to boot the dell, all the software is on the HDD.windows 7 does support full backup and restore,. but only for windows 7 backups! it will not restore, so far anyway, an image from another MS OS. to do that you need to boot in the "original/oem OS".imagex, currently is failing to work too. again booting in the original OS sorts the problem.i tend to agree on the "branded" OS. but for DELL there is little problem, all the "DELL" gear can be removed in a few steps, and all at the same time. they do brand IE7 as DELL, but i don't use IE, so it does not effect me. I have an ACER on XP and its a swine to get off all the muck. but it still does not justify the purchase os a second copy, i would rather spend the time removing the offending programs.

firemouth said: so the solution is quite simple. boot via a Vista cd, navigate to the tools directory on the d drive. and run PCRestore. or i have a cd that will do the job, from boot to PCRestore interface. what does concern me is the level of Knowledge, amongst the "experts" i have talked too. (not you gang). not one person suggested trying a Vista boot disc. one of the first things i thought of. everyone assumes the Image had been destroyed, yet when you look at the Windows 7 install, that just cant happen, unless you tell it to do so. why do so many look for such complicated solutions to problems, before they try the, simple common sense solutions.windows 7 will not allow the Vista version of PCRestore to run. so boot up in Vista and all is well. Hi firemouthJust to clarify, were you able to resolve the problem?Let us know. Ronnie Vernon MVP

yes problem solved.boot via a VISTA cd run PCRestore from the d drive. no need to import a new IMAGE its all still there, just Windows7 wont let it work.i do have a "boot" cd that opens the computer with PCRestore running. either way

FiremouthExcellent, glad you were able to fix the problem. Ronnie Vernon MVP