O.T. - Connection Problem:

If you mean does it matter when I click the Admin or User
account sooner, does it affect performance, no but connecting
to the internet, yes because the slowness has remained
throughout all of this. Previously, the 8500 connected
as fast or faster than the 780.

The 8500 came up with Malwarebytes not started again. I
tried restarting and then powering off (3) times with the
same result.

http://i66.tinypic.com/2ef0sc7.jpg - Malwarebytes not started

and connected with no other issues aside from still
being slow.

The 780 connected immediately with no problems
or issues.

At this point since we seem to be out of options, maybe we
should re-install the OS? However, Dell didn't give me any master
disks only (2) drivers and utility disks. So how do I go about it?
and I just extracted the bookmarks and put them on the patriot key.

This also means all the Clones and Mrimgs files are useless because
they are also corrupted and have to re-do everything, including opening
the 8500 for the first test boot once I re-clone the spare drive, correct?.

Thoughts/suggestions?
Robert

Since refreshing FF didn't work and nothing
else has, how about I do a system restore
with a date as far back as I can go?

What do you think?

Robert

Unfortunately, when I refreshed FF
it must of wiped the restore points
clean because it only has yesterday.

hmmmmmmm maybe try a mrimg restore?
or try the re-installing the OS?

Robert

Mark Twain wrote:
If you mean does it matter when I click the Admin or User
account sooner, does it affect performance, no but connecting
to the internet, yes because the slowness has remained
throughout all of this. Previously, the 8500 connected
as fast or faster than the 780.

The 8500 came up with Malwarebytes not started again. I
tried restarting and then powering off (3) times with the
same result.

http://i66.tinypic.com/2ef0sc7.jpg - Malwarebytes not started

and connected with no other issues aside from still
being slow.

The 780 connected immediately with no problems
or issues.

At this point since we seem to be out of options, maybe we
should re-install the OS? However, Dell didn't give me any master
disks only (2) drivers and utility disks. So how do I go about it?
and I just extracted the bookmarks and put them on the patriot key.

This also means all the Clones and Mrimgs files are useless because
they are also corrupted and have to re-do everything, including opening
the 8500 for the first test boot once I re-clone the spare drive, correct?.

Thoughts/suggestions?
Robert

Getting Win7 images now is a bit of a problem. The COA sticker
on the 8500 and on the 780, the key from that will not
make the Microsoft download page for Windows 7 work. I
tried this using the COA from my laptop. The system builder
license key off my Test Computer, that one worked. But OEM
(Dell) keys are no good for getting reinstall ISOs.

To fix that, use the tool on heidoc.

First, check that they support the version you need.

https://www.heidoc.net/joomla/techno...download-links

Windows 7 Professional x64 SP1 U (media refresh) X17-59186.iso
latest and greatest

The download tool is this thing. There is a link on the
page for this.

https://www.heidoc.net/php/Windows%2...Downloader.exe

Note that, the tool doesn't actually download anything.
What the tool does, is "generate a URL for the browser".
The instructions are here.

https://www.heidoc.net/joomla/techno...-download-tool

On the right-hand side in the picture, below the "Choose Version"
table, is a gray rectangle "copy link for 64 bit". Once you've
made your selection following the instructions, the gray button
should activate. When you click the button at that point,
it's like doing a Copy&Paste kinda thing.

Right after clicking the button, flip over to your
browser, and Paste the URL into your browser URL bar.
When you hit return in your browser, your download
should start immediately.

What the tool does, is convince the Microsoft download
page to provide a copy of the OS. The link is valid for
24 hours. You must complete the download
within 24 hours, as after that period of time,
the temporarily generated file on the Microsoft
server you are downloading, will be deleted.

You can compute a checksum of the disc later, and
Google it. To see if it is valid.

For example, you can use Microsoft fciv checksum tool.

https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/kb/841290

cd /d C:\users\rob\Downloads

fciv -sha1 X17-59186.iso

and it will compute a SHA1 checksum. If you Google
that checksum value, you can figure out after
a bit of work, whether it seems legit. Since you
are downloading from the Microsoft site, chances
are good that it is. When you paste the link
into the browser, the URL will give you some
idea where it is coming from.

I got a couple ISOs off DigitalRiver while it
was still open, but those days are over now.
With any luck, you might be able to convince
Microsoft to give you a copy :-)

Paul

Mark Twain wrote:
Unfortunately, when I refreshed FF
it must of wiped the restore points
clean because it only has yesterday.

hmmmmmmm maybe try a mrimg restore?
or try the re-installing the OS?

Robert

When you reinstall the OS...

1) You have that MRIMG you've been using
to restore C: so far. That can serve
as your repair source if the installation
doesn't work well.

2) You can make a backup of what you've got now,
if you are at all concerned about losing
some data files or whatever.

3) It is a very good idea to have your driver
files all queued up.

When a Dell tells you to burn recovery discs,
one of the discs has "driver collection". And
that disc has most of what you need.

The video card you added to the computer, you'd
probably want to keep the file for that handy on
a USB stick.

Another thing you can search for now, is a copy
of the RealTek NIC driver. That would be especially
useful, if you don't have a Dell driver disc.
So besides acquiring a Win7 Pro disc, that's another
project you will need to work on. You cannot
easily "bootstrap" yourself, if the NIC driver
is missing. Sometimes Win7 DVD has the NDIS driver
on the media, and something will install for you.
But like a Boy Scout, you have to Be Prepared.
If I was doing it, I'd track down a driver.
(The 780, because it has Management Engine, it
probably has an Intel NIC. While the 8500 might
be RealTek. Check Device Manager and see.)

The PCI Express RealTek NICs are here. This would
be my best guess what the 8500 could be using. Maybe
you can confirm the part number of the NIC somehow ?

http://www.realtek.com/downloads/dow...&GetDown=false

HTH,
Paul

Seems every time I ask a question, I
open a Pandora's box,......

I have to think about all of this,....

We've already been at a long time....

Robert

Mark Twain wrote:
Seems every time I ask a question, I
open a Pandora's box,......

I have to think about all of this,....

We've already been at a long time....

Robert

I don't think installing OSes is all that difficult.

But it is work and takes time.

Practice makes perfect.

You have two computers, and the 780 can be used
to download drivers as required.

If you only had one working computer, then
you'd have to be *much* more prepared before
starting. You're living in luxury with two :-)

My record so far, is I have managed to break
two computers (at the same time), requiring
a third to get the materials I needed. But
that was some years ago :-)

Even if you had zero drivers, the machine should
come up after the installation is complete. The
purpose of having driver materials available, is
to reduce the interval until things are in decent
shape.

Only the hard drive receiving the OS should be
present during the install. And I think your
machine is set up that way anyway (the external
can be disconnected).

Paul

So if I understand you correctly, that
even if I do this it may or may not be
a verified copy of Win 7 and then I'm
back where I started. Worst, then I
would have to do a Mrimg to restore.

What about buying a hard copy? I would
much rather buy a hard copy and have
something I could always use.

The only other option is to leave things
as is, just like your problem.

Robert

Mark Twain wrote:
So if I understand you correctly, that
even if I do this it may or may not be
a verified copy of Win 7 and then I'm
back where I started. Worst, then I
would have to do a Mrimg to restore.

What about buying a hard copy? I would
much rather buy a hard copy and have
something I could always use.

The only other option is to leave things
as is, just like your problem.

Robert


You *do not* have to buy a hard copy.

You download an official Microsoft ISO, using a
tool that generates the dynamic URL for it.

Try to make sure it matches the OS type, installed
on the computer already. If you have Dell Win7 Professional x64,
you download a Retail Win7 Professional x64 (and use the
license key printed on your COA sticker).

Then, burn a DVD if you want a permanent disc
to hold in your hand.

What I'm trying to teach you, is when you download
stuff, to use whatever means are available to
verify the authenticity. You can tell in this
case it is authentic, because the URL should
be pointed at Microsoft. But, it never hurts
to checksum the resulting ISO, to make sure it
is complete.

If you were using BitTorrent, to get an ISO
from an unknown source (uploader), it would be
a different matter, and you'd have to be a lot
more careful. The URL in this case, you can look
at it, before you do the download.

Paul

Mark Twain wrote:
So if I understand you correctly, that
even if I do this it may or may not be
a verified copy of Win 7 and then I'm
back where I started. Worst, then I
would have to do a Mrimg to restore.

What about buying a hard copy? I would
much rather buy a hard copy and have
something I could always use.

The only other option is to leave things
as is, just like your problem.

Robert


And in terms of your materials in hand:

8500 - doesn't this have the factory recovery
partition still on it ? You can use the
hidden copy of the Dell OS, and restore that.

- restoring the Dell factory OS, requires no
typing of the license key. Only any new hardware
(like, if you replaced the video card) would
need a new video driver. The Dell OS already has
the vast majority of drivers in place for
immediate usage.

- If you use a Windows 7 Pro DVD to do the install,
you would need the license key from the COA sticker
on the 8500. (That's what I did to my OEM laptop,
instead of using the factory restore image.)

780 (refurbished)

- Probably does not have a factory restore partition.

- OS parentage is uncertain.

- An ideal situation, would be finding either a factory
partition, or being given install media in the box.

- To be maintainable, a COA sticker would be nice.
Pulling a key with Belarc Advisor or MagicalJellyBean,
may not find the key to be usable for separate installations.

- If no restoration materials of any kind come with the box,
then using the downloaded Microsoft DVD image is the only
option. No drivers of note would come with it, so you'd
want to have your video driver handy perhaps. You should
download Microsoft media now, in case a day comes where
even that is unavailable any more.

The factory restore is triggered by typing things
like "ctrl-F11" (using the Control key) at startup.

http://en.community.dell.com/support...524/t/19420706

Only if that is broken, do you look at the following
site to try to fix it.

It looks like the restore software assumes the second
partition is C: and it puts a copy of the OS in there.
So you would want to look at the hard drive as it stands
now, to see if the setup at all resembles a factory setup.
(In other words, you want to make sure you haven't messed
up the boot drive too much. The restore does tolerate
a change to the size of C: and all it needs is maybe
20GB of space to stuff the restore back into place.)

http://www.goodells.net/dellrestore/
http://www.goodells.net/dellrestore/recover.shtml

Paul

Here's the 8500:

http://i65.tinypic.com/1gi3gy.jpg - C: drive

How do I access the recovery partition in the 8500 to
restore it?

Joy Systems says they loaded genuine Windows 7 OS
on the 780 To access and type the product key I had to
tap down the down arrow key until it entered the Windows
Boot Manager appeared with two options:

Windows 7
System Restore


I need to remind you of something ,.. I'm disabled and
right now I have a sciatic problem on my left and a previous
sciatic problem on my right that is flaring up so 'practice
makes perfect' doesn't work for me. I'm in pain as I write
this and have been throughout. This is why I didn't want to
delve into the problem not because I'm not interested.


Robert

Mark Twain wrote:
Here's the 8500:

http://i65.tinypic.com/1gi3gy.jpg - C: drive

How do I access the recovery partition in the 8500 to
restore it?

Joy Systems says they loaded genuine Windows 7 OS
on the 780 To access and type the product key I had to
tap down the down arrow key until it entered the Windows
Boot Manager appeared with two options:

Windows 7
System Restore


I need to remind you of something ,.. I'm disabled and
right now I have a sciatic problem on my left and a previous
sciatic problem on my right that is flaring up so 'practice
makes perfect' doesn't work for me. I'm in pain as I write
this and have been throughout. This is why I didn't want to
delve into the problem not because I'm not interested.


Robert

You have some options:

1) Leave the 8500 booted. Wait however long it takes for the
network icon to appear. Use the computer as normal.

At the end of a session, select "Sleep" from the shutdown
menu. (Or even better, but a bit slower, use "Hibernate"
from the menu.) These should be options in the shutdown menu.
This stops the vast majority of power usage of the
computer, and the monitor should go dim when the signal is
lost from the computer.

As long as the Device Manager entry for the keyboard, is
set in the Power Management, to "Allow this device to wake
the computer", you can tap a key to cause the computer to
pick up where it left off.

I generally disable "wake" capability, on both my mouse and NIC.
And enable it on the keyboard. Then, tapping a key on the keyboard
wakes the computer from one of the two states mentioned above.

I cannot predict whether there will be "limited connectivity"
on a restart, but maybe it will come back with the network
working.

This is not a good idea, if you have frequent power outages.
My computer is on a UPS, so sleep is a viable option if I'm
present to do a full shutdown of it, when required. Sleep is
faster to do at shutdown time, hibernate is a bit slower,
hibernate is "power safe" so if the power goes off,
hibernate comes back in any case.

2) It looks like the 8500 might still support the alt-F11
restore, because the 24GB partition looks large enough
to restore the original Dell software.

So you can try the restore if you want to, when you're feeling better.

3) The idea of getting an ISO9660 file for future use, is
still a good one. If it was me, I would acquire Microsoft
media, consistent with the trim level of both the 8500 and
780. (If they both use Professional, get a Professional x64
disc for download.) Then, you will have one more option later.
You can burn a DVD, the day you need it, rather than wasting the
DVD now and needing to store it somewhere. I keep all my
burned media in plastic jewel boxes.

The network icon delay is annoying, but since it eventually
clears, at the moment you don't need to do a thing. And when you're
feeling better, you can review your options again, weighing the
nuisance level of the network icon issue, versus the amount
of work involved dealing with it.

Paul

hmmmmmm whether I use the alt-F11 or download the
ISO966 file to burn a disk to have my Win 7 OS disk
for the 8500 I see that I'll still have to do my
backups and get all the drivers queued up meaning
up to date? Are you talking about Windows update?

Should I make a make a Mrimg to store my data? or?

I can then try and re-install it from that point.


I do feel better now,...... thanks

I think I would like to try the Alt-f11 first, and
then whether it fails or not I would like to burn
a Win 7 Professional OS disk.

Robert

Mark Twain wrote:
hmmmmmm whether I use the alt-F11 or download the
ISO966 file to burn a disk to have my Win 7 OS disk
for the 8500 I see that I'll still have to do my
backups and get all the drivers queued up meaning
up to date? Are you talking about Windows update?

Should I make a make a Mrimg to store my data? or?

I can then try and re-install it from that point.


I do feel better now,...... thanks

I think I would like to try the Alt-f11 first, and
then whether it fails or not I would like to burn
a Win 7 Professional OS disk.

Robert

Well, you have one MRIMG already that you've used
to restore the machine with. Do you still have
that, and does that backup include all the partitions
on the disk ?

As for the version, I thought both of your machines
use Win7 SP1 x64 Professional, so I was hoping one
download would cover both of them.

The alt-F11 (or whatever key the manual says to use),
should be all ready to go in terms of making the
computer work. It's when you decide to install a
Microsoft version of OS (download the DVD),
using the COA key off the computer case, that you
want your driver disc handy.

And if you don't have the driver disk, nothing stops
you from doing it the old-fashioned way (download
the drivers one at a time off the Internet). Dell
support page will have most of them. And if you
want a newer video driver, you could get that
from the NVidia geforce.com site. The advantage
of the driver disc, is it's a good device for
showing you the list of drivers that are
included by the manufacturer. So you don't
have to make the list with a pencil and paper
and staring at Device Manager.

And while you might consider it to be a bore,
I like to burn my media while the computers
are still working :-) Not all media has equal value,
and more than half my collection of discs here
is garbage. But there are some discs that I would
want prepared in advance. In case I needed a way
to boot the computer to fix something. Occasionally,
I might need the services of a Command Prompt, to use
bcdedit or DiskPart, to fix something. And that
Win7 DVD can be used for that. Another disc of value,
which you've already got, is your Macrium disc
for Bare Metal Restore. So those are examples
of "good" ones. Some of my others are so out
of date, they won't boot the Test Computer
(hardware is too new).

Paul

I downloaded the ISO file and put it on
the Patriot Key:

http://i67.tinypic.com/fx45xx.jpg - download complete

http://i67.tinypic.com/5y5f6e.jpg - Win 7 file on Patriot key

Robert