Very useful and informative links

Windows XP PC restore Simulation Link

http://training.us.dell.com/training/new_products/software/symantec/pcrestore.asp

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Please find the link for the BIOS simulations for all the systems shipped by Dell till date,plz save it in your favourites so that you don’t need to go to T&D to check simulations everytime.

http://inside.jp.dell.com/tte/BIOS/BiosSimulator.html

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Please use the following link to download a small file on the customer's system and on double clicking, this file will automatically remove the Upper & Lower Filters from the windows registery. (Saves a lot of time!!).

So, improve your AHT & RR.

http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb%3Ben-us%3B314060

http://tinyurl.com/ecsy

Scroll down a bit and you will find a download link that says; "Download guided help", just click on it and save the file on the desktop and double click to run the utility. It's fast easy and safe.

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very important link for vista issues.

http://osp.us.dell.com/vista/HotIssues.htm

Dell has been shipping the new restoration utility (Norton Ghost) with new systems.

A lot of times, customers find it difficult to press the Control + F11 to access the tool.
With the new systems (most systems having Norton Ghost), there is an easy alternate available.

If the system can boot into Windows interface, do the following to access it:
Locate and run C:\>Dell\Utilities\dsr\boot_dsr.exe

This will display a warning that system will reboot to the utility partition.
Confirm it and the computer will reboot and show the Norton Ghost Interface as it would have done while using Ctrl+F11.

Please do not replace the HDD with FIHD thinking that the Image Restore is corrupt. Try the above steps and if they do not work, then only send FIHD.

To restore the system to factory image follow these steps

To restore the system to factory image follow these steps :

1) Restart your computer, press the F8 key for couple of times at Dell logo to access "Windows Advanced Boot Options."

2) From Windows Advanced Boot Options select the option "Repair My Computer"

3) You will get a screen that says "System Recover Options" which will list all the User Accounts on his computer.

4) Once you click on the User Account you would get a WinRE window which will list following options :

a) System Repair

b) System Restore

c) Windows Complete PC Restore

d) Windows Memory Diag tool

e) Comand Prompt

f) Dell Factory Image Restore

Note: Dell Image Restore roughly takes around 15 - 20 minutes

Windows Mail on a computer that is running Windows Vista might stuck

Issue: Messages may be stuck in the Outbox when you use Windows Mail on a computer that is running Windows Vista.

Symptoms: On a computer that is running Windows Vista, some messages may be stuck in the Outbox when you use Windows Mail. You cannot send or delete these messages. Additionally, every time that you close Windows Mail, you are prompted that there are unsent messages in your Outbox.

Cause: This problem occurs when the stream entries for the messages are inaccessible before Windows Mail deletes the messages from the Outbox.
Resolution: To resolve this problem, apply the following update. After you apply the update, you can delete the messages that are stuck in the Outbox.

Note: Because the messages are permanently deleted, you have to resend the messages.
Windows Vista, 32-bit versions
Download the 941090 package now. (http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/details.aspx?FamilyId=09F002D9-A140-42A8-99F5-A86F2B7E39F1)
Windows Vista, 64-bit versions
Download the 941090 package now. (http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/details.aspx?FamilyId=09DABF39-1E37-46DD-91BC-BE5ABE3F39B7)

Note: Use this patch effectively on the calls, it would fix the issue in lesser time than before.Refer: http://support.microsoft.com/?kbid=941090

By. Nitin Swarup

Forgotten password in Windows VISTA (Work Around)

If we are getting issue related to forgotten password.
We can use Imagex procedure.
Because when we are running imagex we are not deleting anything from the HDD.
Only we are overwriting data.(But we can set expectation before that)
After completing the process we can logon to the system with new user and we can retrieve data from old user profile.

Here is the process to run Imagex


1. Boot the computer using VISTA DVD.
2. Select the option repair my computer.
3. Go to command prompt type d: Press Enter and give the path command.

Path d:\windows;d:\windows\system32 and press Enter

4. Go to tools folder cd tools
5. Give this command Imagex /apply d:\dell\image\factory.wim 1 c:\

This process will take 15 Minutes after that reboot the system.
After rebboting we will get OOBE (Out of box Exp.) Screen.
We can logon to the system using new username .
We can retrieve the data from old user profile.


Another Way to recover lost Password in windows Vista


If customer has changed password in windows vista and customer is not able to login using the new password as vista reports it incorrect….


boot to windows vista dvd

perform system restore to a date when the customer was using the old password

Important information to remember………………

Cheat sheet
1. MSconfig

• click on Start button
• Click Run
• In the Run Window, type in MSconfig
• Click OK
• In General tab, Click on Selective start up - Place a check on Load Startup Services and uncheck all the other options
• Click on Services tab
• Place a check on Hide all Microsoft services and click Disable All
• Click Apply, click OK
• It will prompt you to Restart the sys, click Yes
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2. PC restore in Win XP

• 
  Restart the system
• When we see the Blue Dell Logo screen, Press CTRL + F11
• It brings the Dell PC Restore by Symantec screen
• It gives you two options, Restore and Reboot
• Click Restore
• Now it pops up Caution : All data on the computer will be lost,
• Click Confirm to move ahead
• Now you will see a Blue Progress bar
• Click Finish, please do not manually restart the machine

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3. System restore

• 
  Click on Start
• Click All Programs
• Click Accessories
• Click System tools
• Click System Restore
• OR
• Click on Start button
• Click Run
• In the Run Window, type in MSconfig
• Click OK
• In General Tab, click on the Launch System Restore button
• 4. 32 bit Diagnostics (after the machine has booted from the CD follow steps below)
• You can run this test in two ways either by changing the boot sequence or just hit F12 when you see blue dell logo after the start up
• Change the First Boot Device to CDROM drive
• Brings two options - Boot from CDROM drive or Boot from Hard drive
• Using the Arrow Keys, highlight Boot from CDROM drive and Press Enter
• You get to see a black screen with options like…Select an option which says..select 32 bit Diags.
• Now we get 4 Options - Express Test, Extended Test, Custom Test and Syptom Tree
• Click Express Test, it will take 10 to 20 minutes
• It pops up an Error message the moment any error is detected
• Click Continue to complete the test
• OR
• Restart the system
• When we see the Blue Dell Logo screen, Press F12
• It brings up a Boot menu with a few options
• Using the Down Arrow Key, highlight the Boot to Utility Partition option and Press Enter (OR type the option number of Boot to Utility Partition and Press Enter)
• It brings up a Blue Welcome screen, where it initializes the Diagnostics
• Now we get 4 Options - Express Test, Extended Test, Custom Test and Syptom Tree
• Click Express Test, it will take 10 to 20 minutes
• It pops up an Error message the moment any error is detected
• Click Continue to complete the test

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5. 90/90 Diagnostics

• 
  Restart the system
• When we see the Blue Dell Logo screen, Press ALT + CTRL + D
• It initiates the test (takes about 1 1/2 mins)
• If the test is successful, it will have PASS against the Hard drive else FAIL
• OR
• Restart the system
• When we see the Blue Dell Logo screen, Press F12
• It brings up a Boot menu with a few options
• Using the Down Arrow Key, highlight the IDE Drive Diagnostics option and Press Enter (OR type the option number of IDE Drive Diagnostics and Press Enter)
• It initiates the test (takes about 1 1/2 mins)
• If the test is successful, it will have PASS against the Hard drive else FAIL

6. Driver Reset tool

• 
  click on Start button
• Click All Programs
• Click Dell Accessories
• Then click the Driver Reset Tool

7 . On Drive Media

• 
  Insert a Blank CDRW media in the CDRW drive
• Click on Start button
• Click All Programs
• Click Dell Accessories
• Then click the Dell OS Recovery CD
• This creates a Backup Windows CD

Note : This option can only be used once. Once this is used, the option cannot be found under Dell accessories again.

By:

RAKESH SIVARAMAN
Senior Training Specialist
Dell International Services.
E-mail : rakesh_sivaraman@dell.com

Information Regarding Dell Certified System Expert

Wana be a Dell Certified Systems Expert
These are the A, B, C’s of how to register with DCSE and sign up for a DCSE exam.

For Dell employees:
1. The first step is to register for a tech id and pin number.
2. Go to http://dcse.dell.com/index.asp and click "register today".
3. Select US technician and choose "Dell Services" as the affiliation. Please enter "23" as the company id.
4. An ID and PIN number will be e-mailed to you.
5. Once you have your id and pin number, you can log in and access the self-study materials.
Login to http://dcse.dell.com/ with your DCSE ID and PIN number
On the left hand navigation under the DSP Members Area heading you can select :
· Main Page: Takes you back to the main welcome page.
· Class Calendar: Takes you to a calendar where you can sign up for classroom based training in the US.
· My Profile: Shows a list of al certifications you hold. Also anytime you add a self- assessment or certification to your profile it will appear here a link to click on to begin taking that certification or self assessment.
· Change My Information: Allows you to change your registration information.
· Associates 5.0Self-Study Materials: Links to the Associates 5.0 Study material
· Dell Printers Self-Study Materials: Links to the Dell printer Study material
· IFR Materials: Links to IFR materials for all lines of business
· Online Testing: Links to online testing for self-assessments and certifications. Once you click on a self-assessment or certification it will be added to MY Profile. Go to the My Profile link and click on the self-assessment or certification to begin taking it.
Scroll down to the bottom of the page and click on any of the links under Archives to view legacy system training material.
6. Prior to taking an exam you will need to send an email to the us_dcse@dell.com <mailto:us_dcse@dell.com> mailbox with your id and pin for employment verification for the purpose of requesting certification exams and bypassing the billing screen.
7. To request a certification or practice exam, click the link "online testing"
Exams and practice exams are free for Dell employees.
Here are the instructions that you should follow after you have received a reply email from us_dell@dell.com (this could take a few days).

You have been in verified in the DCSE System and should bypass the billing screen. The following are steps to register for class:
1. Log on to the DCSE Website: https://dcse.dell.com/
2. Click on "Online Testing".
3. Click on "Self Assessment" to select the self assessment exam.
4. Click on "Certification" to select the certification exam.
5. Click on "My Profile" to retrieve the exam you signed up for.
6. Click on "Practice Exams" Tab to take the self assessment exam.
7. Click on "Certification Exams" Tab to take the certification exam.
8. Click on "Certifications" Tab to view the certification status of exams taken and date exam was taken.

For More Information Contact:

RAKESH SIVARAMAN
Senior Training Specialist
Dell International Services.
E-mail : mailto:rakesh_sivaraman@dell.com