Guest bob Posted August 18, 2007 Posted August 18, 2007 My OS is down, has been corrupted, and is not recoverable, according to Dell tech support. They recommend a fresh install but my data is not backed up and I cannot lose it. My question is, is a parallel install a viable option? Or is it too risky for someone who is not technically advanced? Thanks, Bob
Guest phat28vr6 Posted August 18, 2007 Posted August 18, 2007 RE: OS Terminal - Parallel Install? If you can reboot and get into the bios, set the 1st boot to CD and load your OS disc. Wether it be XP or vista X64, both give you the choice or upgrade or fresh install. Choose upgrade and ONLY windows is installed leaving your files intact. "bob" wrote: > My OS is down, has been corrupted, and is not recoverable, according to Dell > tech support. They recommend a fresh install but my data is not backed up and > I cannot lose it. > > My question is, is a parallel install a viable option? Or is it too risky > for someone who is not technically advanced? > > Thanks, > Bob >
Guest Charlie Russel - MVP Posted August 18, 2007 Posted August 18, 2007 Re: OS Terminal - Parallel Install? If you are using a Dell OEM disk, you don't have a parallel option. If you're using a retail disk, yes, you can install to a different drive and pull your data off. But if you have a retail disk, I'd suggest doing a "repair install" (google for details). This should correct the problem AND preserve your data. -- Charlie. http://msmvps.com/xperts64 http://mvp.support.microsoft.com/profile/charlie.russel "bob" <bob@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote in message news:FFA85D2D-9E9D-4BAA-89CC-B49FA62D890F@microsoft.com... > My OS is down, has been corrupted, and is not recoverable, according to > Dell > tech support. They recommend a fresh install but my data is not backed up > and > I cannot lose it. > > My question is, is a parallel install a viable option? Or is it too risky > for someone who is not technically advanced? > > Thanks, > Bob >
Guest Tony Sperling Posted August 18, 2007 Posted August 18, 2007 Re: OS Terminal - Parallel Install? Ahem. . .I don't know about Dell, but my OEM has the Repair option as well. (Good choice!) Tony. . . "Charlie Russel - MVP" <charlie@mvKILLALLSPAMMERSps.org> wrote in message news:B1977454-9E80-4CC8-BC99-A9D550FD05A1@microsoft.com... > If you are using a Dell OEM disk, you don't have a parallel option. If > you're using a retail disk, yes, you can install to a different drive and > pull your data off. But if you have a retail disk, I'd suggest doing a > "repair install" (google for details). This should correct the problem AND > preserve your data. > > -- > Charlie. > http://msmvps.com/xperts64 > http://mvp.support.microsoft.com/profile/charlie.russel > > > "bob" <bob@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote in message > news:FFA85D2D-9E9D-4BAA-89CC-B49FA62D890F@microsoft.com... > > My OS is down, has been corrupted, and is not recoverable, according to > > Dell > > tech support. They recommend a fresh install but my data is not backed up > > and > > I cannot lose it. > > > > My question is, is a parallel install a viable option? Or is it too risky > > for someone who is not technically advanced? > > > > Thanks, > > Bob > > >
Guest Charlie Russel - MVP Posted August 19, 2007 Posted August 19, 2007 Re: OS Terminal - Parallel Install? Dell, so far as I know, doesn't ship a full OEM install disk - just a "repair" disk that actually blows away everything on the disk! Not my idea of a repair option! -- Charlie. http://msmvps.com/xperts64 http://mvp.support.microsoft.com/profile/charlie.russel "Tony Sperling" <tony.sperling@dbREMOVEmail.dk> wrote in message news:OF2ijId4HHA.1168@TK2MSFTNGP02.phx.gbl... > Ahem. . .I don't know about Dell, but my OEM has the Repair option as > well. > > (Good choice!) > > Tony. . . > > > > "Charlie Russel - MVP" <charlie@mvKILLALLSPAMMERSps.org> wrote in message > news:B1977454-9E80-4CC8-BC99-A9D550FD05A1@microsoft.com... >> If you are using a Dell OEM disk, you don't have a parallel option. If >> you're using a retail disk, yes, you can install to a different drive and >> pull your data off. But if you have a retail disk, I'd suggest doing a >> "repair install" (google for details). This should correct the problem >> AND >> preserve your data. >> >> -- >> Charlie. >> http://msmvps.com/xperts64 >> http://mvp.support.microsoft.com/profile/charlie.russel >> >> >> "bob" <bob@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote in message >> news:FFA85D2D-9E9D-4BAA-89CC-B49FA62D890F@microsoft.com... >> > My OS is down, has been corrupted, and is not recoverable, according to >> > Dell >> > tech support. They recommend a fresh install but my data is not backed > up >> > and >> > I cannot lose it. >> > >> > My question is, is a parallel install a viable option? Or is it too > risky >> > for someone who is not technically advanced? >> > >> > Thanks, >> > Bob >> > >> > >
Guest Tony Sperling Posted August 20, 2007 Posted August 20, 2007 Re: OS Terminal - Parallel Install? I heard a Linguist once proclaiming 'Language is an organic entity, like the same basic ingredients in a dough can form many different types of bread'. Laurie Anderson, proclaimed that 'Language is a virus from outer space' - I don't know, but it sure is flexible! Initially, I am chocked. Then I find I am only moderately surprised! Tony. . . "Charlie Russel - MVP" <charlie@mvKILLALLSPAMMERSps.org> wrote in message news:B62D9D06-87FC-4E97-A0F9-2C48696923CC@microsoft.com... > Dell, so far as I know, doesn't ship a full OEM install disk - just a > "repair" disk that actually blows away everything on the disk! Not my idea > of a repair option! > > -- > Charlie. > http://msmvps.com/xperts64 > http://mvp.support.microsoft.com/profile/charlie.russel > > > "Tony Sperling" <tony.sperling@dbREMOVEmail.dk> wrote in message > news:OF2ijId4HHA.1168@TK2MSFTNGP02.phx.gbl... > > Ahem. . .I don't know about Dell, but my OEM has the Repair option as > > well. > > > > (Good choice!) > > > > Tony. . . > > > > > > > > "Charlie Russel - MVP" <charlie@mvKILLALLSPAMMERSps.org> wrote in message > > news:B1977454-9E80-4CC8-BC99-A9D550FD05A1@microsoft.com... > >> If you are using a Dell OEM disk, you don't have a parallel option. If > >> you're using a retail disk, yes, you can install to a different drive and > >> pull your data off. But if you have a retail disk, I'd suggest doing a > >> "repair install" (google for details). This should correct the problem > >> AND > >> preserve your data. > >> > >> -- > >> Charlie. > >> http://msmvps.com/xperts64 > >> http://mvp.support.microsoft.com/profile/charlie.russel > >> > >> > >> "bob" <bob@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote in message > >> news:FFA85D2D-9E9D-4BAA-89CC-B49FA62D890F@microsoft.com... > >> > My OS is down, has been corrupted, and is not recoverable, according to > >> > Dell > >> > tech support. They recommend a fresh install but my data is not backed > > up > >> > and > >> > I cannot lose it. > >> > > >> > My question is, is a parallel install a viable option? Or is it too > > risky > >> > for someone who is not technically advanced? > >> > > >> > Thanks, > >> > Bob > >> > > >> > > > > >
Guest Charlie Russel - MVP Posted August 20, 2007 Posted August 20, 2007 Re: OS Terminal - Parallel Install? They're not the only ones, I'm afraid. It's my single biggest complaint about the major OEMs - they refuse to let you do things your way, it has to be their way. I will give Dell one accolade, however. Their support website makes it easy to get the right drivers without knowing anything about the box except the service number, which is clearly visible on the outside. THAT is how everyone should do it. -- Charlie. http://msmvps.com/xperts64 http://mvp.support.microsoft.com/profile/charlie.russel "Tony Sperling" <tony.sperling@dbREMOVEmail.dk> wrote in message news:%23lzsXXw4HHA.1184@TK2MSFTNGP04.phx.gbl... >I heard a Linguist once proclaiming 'Language is an organic entity, like >the > same basic ingredients in a dough can form many different types of bread'. > Laurie Anderson, proclaimed that 'Language is a virus from outer space' - > I > don't know, but it sure is flexible! > > Initially, I am chocked. Then I find I am only moderately surprised! > > > Tony. . . > > > "Charlie Russel - MVP" <charlie@mvKILLALLSPAMMERSps.org> wrote in message > news:B62D9D06-87FC-4E97-A0F9-2C48696923CC@microsoft.com... >> Dell, so far as I know, doesn't ship a full OEM install disk - just a >> "repair" disk that actually blows away everything on the disk! Not my >> idea >> of a repair option! >> >> -- >> Charlie. >> http://msmvps.com/xperts64 >> http://mvp.support.microsoft.com/profile/charlie.russel >> >> >> "Tony Sperling" <tony.sperling@dbREMOVEmail.dk> wrote in message >> news:OF2ijId4HHA.1168@TK2MSFTNGP02.phx.gbl... >> > Ahem. . .I don't know about Dell, but my OEM has the Repair option as >> > well. >> > >> > (Good choice!) >> > >> > Tony. . . >> > >> > >> > >> > "Charlie Russel - MVP" <charlie@mvKILLALLSPAMMERSps.org> wrote in > message >> > news:B1977454-9E80-4CC8-BC99-A9D550FD05A1@microsoft.com... >> >> If you are using a Dell OEM disk, you don't have a parallel option. If >> >> you're using a retail disk, yes, you can install to a different drive > and >> >> pull your data off. But if you have a retail disk, I'd suggest doing a >> >> "repair install" (google for details). This should correct the problem >> >> AND >> >> preserve your data. >> >> >> >> -- >> >> Charlie. >> >> http://msmvps.com/xperts64 >> >> http://mvp.support.microsoft.com/profile/charlie.russel >> >> >> >> >> >> "bob" <bob@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote in message >> >> news:FFA85D2D-9E9D-4BAA-89CC-B49FA62D890F@microsoft.com... >> >> > My OS is down, has been corrupted, and is not recoverable, according > to >> >> > Dell >> >> > tech support. They recommend a fresh install but my data is not > backed >> > up >> >> > and >> >> > I cannot lose it. >> >> > >> >> > My question is, is a parallel install a viable option? Or is it too >> > risky >> >> > for someone who is not technically advanced? >> >> > >> >> > Thanks, >> >> > Bob >> >> > >> >> >> > >> > >> > >
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