URGENT! System Restore Issue

[burningpatch]

Hi there, this is incredibly urgent as I have a deadline to fix this. I restored my Dell Inspiron N5010 using the DELL Factory Image Restore or whatever it was called. That finished as all seemed good. I turned the computer back on (or it restarted itself, I can't remember) and upon restarting, windows will not start and it goes straight to some diagnostics stuff. I have run all the possible diagnostics and still nothing happens.

If you need any other information, let me know, but I need help urgently!

Thanks in advance.

 

[RealBeast]

I would download a Windows 7 installer disk image from Digital River that is the same version as your Windows 7 in SP1 and do a repair or clean installation. You can download the image HERE, but make sure that it is the same version and 32 or 64 bit as yours. This, like a restore, will delete all data.

 

[burningpatch]

I would download a Windows 7 installer disk image from Digital River that is the same version as your Windows 7 in SP1 and do a repair or clean installation. You can download the image HERE, but make sure that it is the same version and 32 or 64 bit as yours. This, like a restore, will delete all data.

Does downloading the CORRECT version from Digital River have any consequences? I know that sometimes when you install a cracked version of Windows, it detects it and prevents you from using it. Are these legitimate versions?
And if so, do I just use the product key on the sticker on the bottom of my laptop?

 

[RealBeast]

Digital River is the authorized Microsoft digital distributor. All images are from Microsoft.

Your key from the laptop sticker will work if you get the same version, and if you have any issues Microsoft is very helpful via telephone authorization. I rarely have to resort to that though -- just do the new installation and load all of your drivers, which you can download from Dell support, then do the authorization once everything is working well.

When you do the install -- select custom install and delete all existing partitions, then install to the single remaining unpartitioned space. Windows 7 will do everything else automatically. You will then need to load the latest drivers for that Dell model and do the Windows updates since SP1.

All data on the drive will be lost, but it already is if you have done a factory restore.

 

[burningpatch]

AHHHHH It worked!!!! Thank you so very much. It is much appreciated