Re-building a machine

[aidso]

Someone i know has asked to re-build their Dell machine from the ground up - installing Windows, Office, virus scanner, service packs and anything that will generally make the pc secure and fast like the day it came out of the box.
Only problem, is they dont have any of the cds and i would be expected to retreive these from somewhere else.

If you went to a shop, how much would it cost to do this? In comparison, how much would you charge to do it yourself. I see it being about a 2hr job.

Cheers

[Pob255]

Hate to say it but just updating windows can take over 2 hours depending on how uptodate the os cd/dvd is.

PS check his hard drive, dell's often have a hidden partition with an original install image on them. (access via bios or install cd)

[Funkstar]

big time savers are to have SP3 and IE7 stand alone installers already downloaded so you don't have to rely on Windows Update. Other things like DirectX, .NET and Windows Media Player stand alone installers would be good as well.

[aidso]

Yeah i know about the hidden parition but he has a ton of viruses including the new Conficker one and he cannot boot the pc. So i am having to take the thing apart, plug the drive into my laptop as an external drive (i have an IDE > USB kit), retrieve the documents he needs and then bung it back into its original housing to try and get into the Dell Restore "partition".
Some people have been quoting £50-£80 and im wondering if thats a bit extorsionate?

[Pob255]

probably about right for the amount a shop would charge to reinstall, maybe more if they run full tests on it.
more to retreave data.
more for a home call out.
ie if you called up someone to come around and pick up the pc, recover the data, reinstall fresh os cd and return the pc.
£250 ish 1-2 days

PS I hope your laptop isn't running windows or it's well protected vs virus & spyware

[MaddAussie]

Id use a LIVE linux/PE CD to get the data off the original machine rather than attaching the drive to your machine. Less chance of virili getting loose

[aidso]

Cheers. I dont think i could say £250 and i have agreed more towards £60.
As an alternative to hooking up to the laptop, a colleague quite intelligentally suggested using a boot cd that would come with Knoppix or Ubuntu Live which would get me into the file system and then i can copy the files to a usb pen .

Here's hoping that the dell restore partition is retrievable and i wont need to "find" a windows cd.

[CAT-THE-FIFTH]

You can buy the Dell reinstallation discs from Ebay for 15 quid:

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/RE-INSTALLATIO...3A1|240%3A1318

[aidso]

I own 2 dell machines myself (unfortunately) and i spent at least 20minutes on the phone to Dell for each asking them to send me out the discs. When you purchase the machine you receive a little bit of cardboard shaped like a disc and it says something along the lines of "the OS is installed on the hard disc but should you need to do a factory reset you may contact us for the discs".

If you dont ask you dont get .

[Pob255]

That must of been a little while back, they charge you for the disks now, it's an option you have to tick when you buy your dell pc.

[watercooled]

I agree - contact Dell for a restore disc. I wouldn't risk restoring from the partition as there's a chance that will also be infected. Do a complete format of the entire HDD and start from scratch. Also erase the MBR if anyone knows how?

[Maccer101]

I think they give the disc for free now.

And for drivers, these are downloadable of the Dell site

[Repressor]

You can reformat a Dell PC in a couple of minutes from the hidden partition.

Supposedly, you can press Ctrl + F11 when the DELL splashscreen loads (XP only). This then sends you into the restore menu.This then restores the PC to the condition it was delivered in.

There's more info on the dell website.