THIS IS A VERY GOOD POST!!! There are some things to note here though. Running the process listed above as described above will most likely give you one of two errors; but it is on the right path. Things to note: 1) In my case I loaded a 64-bit version of the OS instead of the 32-bit version that was in the restore. This is part of the problem with getting the errors. 2) I deleted and then formatted ONLY the partition with the OS on it. It's this deletion that causes the F8 not to work.   To solve the problem I did the following: 1) Downloaded a copy of the same 32-bit version of the OS 2) Installed it ONLY on the OS partition 3) Once installed I did not do any of the updates or install any of the drivers... instead I put the disk back into the computer and booted from it again. 4) When prompted to "Install" instead select "Repair my computer" 5) Let the repair try to do it thing and tell it no or cancel. 6) You will then be brought to a screen with a bunch of options on it like "Restore from a previous save" etc. The last option is command prompt. 7) Select Command Prompt 8) THIS IS WHERE YOU NEED TO navigate to your USB drive and run the command above. It SHOULD complete for you. 9) When completed restart the computer and let it boot into the now (SAME) 32-bit OS that you installed in step 1. 10) NOW and only now will you have the F8 option. 11) Press F8, select Vista, let it load (Yes, it looks like it's loading the OS but it's not) 12) You will be presented with a VERY similar screen to step 6) except there will be another option "Restore from Dell Recovery Partition" 13) Choose that option and let it run. 14) Wha laa! You're back to original factory condition!
Using the document at [URL] (I have Windows 7), I tried to restore my Dell Inspiron 1750 to the factory image. I hit F8 to get to the Advanced Boot Options, and then chose Repair Your Computer. However, after I hit return, Windows loaded normally. After some looking around, I found that there is definitely a Recovery partition on my computer. Is there an alternative to restoring it since F8 isn't doing it? Thank you!
Problems with Factory Image Restore on Dell Inspiron 1750