Dell Inspiron 531S (slim vers) .... Ugh.. Help needed

[Swagger897]

Well hello all! I guess this is my last hope before I get a new PC of some sort.. So here we go..
Specs:
Vista (basic student edition)
That is all...

7 (or 8) years ago I was gifted with the above computer, and it was super fast..

7-8 years later, well, it's on its last leg.

Last year I tried to factory restore it and I got so annoyed at it I just haven't used it that much anymore. I read to do so, I would have to hold F8 before the windows logo appears, and hit enter on repair system or something similar. Did that, and then it says "preparing windows" in a lower res than my screen normally puts out. Next I am greeted with a somewhat familiar look. It shows a select user, but the user's picture is blank, and I have to enter a username and a password.

Now my thought on this goes:
If there is no user, and I have to enter a name and password, how will I log in anyways?

So, I have tried my account u/p and of course as I thought, it doesn't work. Rather than saying incorrect, it says:
"The domain does not exist or it could not be contacted" or something of that nature.

And that's as far as I've ever gotten.. My user account is an admin, as it is my personal PC, but other than that, im stuck, and I dont even want to deal with Microsoft ..


Main Q's I have:
What discs do I need for such reinstall?
What the hell is going on with the blank user account?
If no answers for above, how does one factory reset their computer?

Thanks!
Jacob

 

[Furinkazen]

There is a program for getting in a locked out computer or changing account details but I cannot remember it's details...

 

[Swagger897]

It's not so much as me being locked out.

It's rather me doing the factory reset operations, and then I go to the user account login, but I don't have the username or password...

 

[DQuaN]

Main Q's I have:
What discs do I need for such reinstall?

You will need the Windows XP/Vista/7 installation disc. You need to boot off the disc, hitting F8 to do a repair will not factory restore the PC.

What the hell is going on with the blank user account?

The Computer will have a built in Administrator account (which may be disabled). Right click on My Computer/Computer and select Manage. In the left pane, expand users and groups, then users. Enable the administrator and set a password.

If no answers for above, how does one factory reset their computer?

Use the OS installation disc. Make sure you back up all your data first as it will be wiped.

 

[IntensityShai]

If you decide to rebuild the O/S make sure you download all the drivers for that PC prior. Just in case Windows doesn't have the correct drivers for them. Write down your Service Tag number and go to the dell website and download the ALL drivers for that O/S. Just imagine a PC stuck at 800x600 default resolution on a 19" plus lcd...epic fail

Directions to reinstall O/S on Dell.

1. Insert Dell Windows DVD restore disc
2. Press F12 to boot from CD
3. Press Any Key to boot
4. Choose the drive you want to install windows too "typically Sata0" | if confused just delete all Partitions and format new one.
5. After windows installs go to device manager and look for the Exclamation(!) mark next to the device it doesn't have a driver for.
6. Install the drivers you downloaded from the dell website.
7. Don't forget to run windows update.

I hope the direction is helpful for you.

 

[Swagger897]

Hopefully they shall work...


I have kept the many re installation discs so I will ask maybe later tonight for which exact one to use again.

From your instructions @IntensityShai , I install the drivers that I downloaded before the restore?

It is hard for me to see how this will work, because I originally thought I was going to wipe clean my computer, enter the discs, and start all over..

I am busy with some college stuff so I'll get back but thanks for all support.

 

[Swagger897]

So here are all five discs... And what I'd like to know is which one goes first?

The Microsoft disc in the package is just windows vista student edition

 

[Grayfox]

So here are all five discs... And what I'd like to know is which one goes first?

The Microsoft disc in the package is just windows vista student edition
View attachment 152896

View attachment 152897

View attachment 152898

View attachment 152899

View attachment 152900

In this order
Windows Vista recovery DVD
View attachment 152897
Driver and Software DVD
View attachment 152896
Microsoft Office
View attachment 152898
Roxio CD/DVD burning
View attachment 152899
Cyberlink DVD player(optional really)
View attachment 152900

 

[IntensityShai]

Exactly what Grayfox said.

Sorry I wasn't able to respond, I didn't get to login until this morning.

Congrats on saving those disc, most users will either lose it or throw it away. :-)

 

[Swagger897]

In this order
Windows Vista recovery DVD
View attachment 152897
Driver and Software DVD
View attachment 152896
Microsoft Office
View attachment 152898
Roxio CD/DVD burning
View attachment 152899
Cyberlink DVD player(optional really)
View attachment 152900

Exactly what Grayfox said.

Sorry I wasn't able to respond, I didn't get to login until this morning.

Congrats on saving those disc, most users will either lose it or throw it away. :-)

Thanks both very much...

I attempted driver installations and saw I have 45 recommended drivers, but couldn't I just totally redo my computer and then redo all the drivers?

 

[IntensityShai]

I'm not understanding your question.

Re-install the Windows first then after windows Vista is installed you can insert the driver disc and install those.

 

[Swagger897]

Well last night I went to dell support for my PC to download the updated drivers, and it was taking quite the time and so I was wondering if it would be fine to do the updates after I factory image restore the computer..

Not from the CD if that's what you were thinking..

 

[IntensityShai]

Yes - Actually that blue disc you have is the Driver for your Computer. You only need to download drivers from the dell website if you have lost your disc. You're good to go. Just go ahead re-install the windows first and then put in the blue driver disc after.

 

[Swagger897]

Yes - Actually that blue disc you have is the Driver for your Computer. You only need to download drivers from the dell website if you have lost your disc. You're good to go. Just go ahead re-install the windows first and then put in the blue driver disc after.

Ahh... Much better...

Thanks for help, may try tonight. I have a WD external 2 TB which has my storage and back up drives, desktop stuff, and I've backed up my files so hopefully it'll work.. With no problems.

 

[Swagger897]

Well today is the only day I've had enough time to try and so far it isn't going too well...

When I enter the red disc, where do I begin?

I've tried turning the computer off and back on, holding F 12 for boot menu, but where do I start from there?

 

[IntensityShai]

When you first turn on the pc the prompt to press F12 will be a few seconds after the DELL logo on the upper right hand corner. If confused just keep pressing F12 after the DELL logo. After that you will get a option menu asking which drive you want to boot from, you should pick your DVD drive at that point "make sure you put in the reinstall DVD before choosing". When the drive is selected it will start to boot from the DVD.

 

[Swagger897]

Ahh.. Found it.

Thanks.

One question though; since I am re-installing windows, should I delete the Windows.old file?

 

[IntensityShai]

Yes - just delete and format that drive.

 

[Swagger897]

Thank yo all very much and @IntensityShai for staying with me on it....

However, I do plan sooner or later to get a new laptop for college, and maybe keep this old bird as file storage so I'll be on the look.

Thanks

 

[IntensityShai]

You're welcome :-)