Dell OS Recovery Tool Can't Find Service Tag

Use the service tag number to look up the system specs/warranty status.  If the service tag does not resolve, contact the seller from which the system was purchased for an explanation.

dell.com/support to look up the service tag.

Hi @carlt3 welcome to this free user-to-user Alienware laptop discussion forum. 

Find the Service Tag of Your Dell Laptop | Dell US.  Belarc Advisor will create system profile, including the System Model's Service Tag seven alphanumeric code. Download Belarc Advisor - MajorGeeks.  

Does the Alienware 18 R1 (7/02/2013) power-on, provide POST (Power-On, Self-Test), provide Alienware logo splash screen with F2 option (enter BIOS menu), but fails to open the Windows operating system? Please enter the F2 BIOS main menu to see motherboard's Service Tag. 

Please boot into the system and on the third attempt the Startup Repair menu should appear. Recovery options in Windows - Microsoft Support. 

I saved the Service Tag and the Express Service Code when I bought the Alienware 18 laptop in 2014. Both values work (they find my computer) on dell.com/support. I started a reset operation on the Alienware itself, it downloaded and ran for a few hours, then finally restarted, presumably re-installing the original OS, but if failed on the restart, and now every time I restart it, it fails at the same point. This is why I wanted to just download separate factory reinstall using the Dell OS Recovery Tool .

The error message I get on the Alienware every time it restarts now is "The computer restarted unexpectedly or encountered an unexpected error. Windows installation cannot proceed. To install Windows, click "OK" to restart the computer, and then restart the installation". But when I click "OK", it just restarts and I get the same error again.

Is there any other way to get a factory reset reinstall image besides using Dell OS Recovery Tool?

Alternatively, do you have any idea why that tool can't find my Service Tag, when dell.com/support finds it just fine?

The problem isn't the service tag -- it's that the system shipped either with Windows 7 or 8 at that point, both of which are end of life, unsupported and insecure.   Microsoft does not allow distribution of media for Windows 7 and 8 any longer.

If the system has  a COA for Windows 7 or 8, use that to install a copy of Windows 10 on the system, which is the oldest version of Windows that Microsoft allows distribution for (and is still supported).

You can install that from media here:

https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/software-download/windows10

Personally, I'd buy a nice new SSD and reinstall Windows 10 from scratch. It's pretty quick and hassle free. 

Hi @carlt3 get the free Windows 10, 64-bit version 22H2 ISO file and install. A large capacity OS (C:) boot drive will install the full version. Download Windows 10 ISO File ( Direct Links ) [64-bit, 32-bit] (techworm.net). Microsoft database will automatically install your existing licence over the internet.