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Reinstall Windows or Linux using the Dell OS Recovery Image

Summary: Learn how to download a Dell OS recovery image and restore your Windows operating system. This is ideal for scenarios like computer crashes, hard drive replacements, or other software issues. ...

This article applies to This article does not apply to This article is not tied to any specific product. Not all product versions are identified in this article.
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Instructions

Note: Windows 11 ONLY supports the Automated by SupportAssist option.
Note: Dell Technologies recommends that supported computers use Dell SupportAssist OS Recovery Automated by SupportAssist for a premium restoration experience. See our article, Restore your Computer Using SupportAssist OS Recovery for restoration instructions. For a list of computers that support SupportAssist OS Recovery, see the Dell SupportAssist OS Recovery Support Matrix.

This article Factory Reset, Restore, or Reinstall Microsoft Windows on a Dell computer provides alternate recovery and reinstall options to reset or reinstall Windows 11 or Windows 10 on Your Dell Computer.

If your computer does not support Dell SupportAssist OS Recovery, Dell provides operating system recovery images online. This is for the Windows, Ubuntu, or Linux image that was factory installed on your computer. The Dell OS Recovery Tool provides an interface to quickly download and create a bootable USB drive to reinstall the operating system.

Note: Dell Technologies recommends that you see our article, how to Identify the Processor in a Dell Computer to learn the architecture of your Dell computers processor.
Note: The Dell operating system recovery image is available for the original operating system that was shipped with the Dell computer.
Note: Customers with Linux-based or legacy Windows operating systems require a Windows 11 or Windows 10 device to download and install the Dell OS Recovery Tool. Those operating systems are required to download an image for such products. (For example: Ubuntu, Windows 8.1, and Windows 7.)

What you need:

  • Service Tag of the Dell computer on which you want to install the operating system
  • Download and install the Dell OS Recovery Tool (Supported only for Windows 11 or Windows 10 operating systems)
  • Blank USB flash drive with at least 16 GB of free space
  • Microsoft .Net Framework 4.8.1 or higher
  • Administrator rights and at least 16 GB of available hard drive space to download the Dell operating system recovery image
  • A wired network connection for network stability (recommended)
  • Disable any anti-virus software during the download (recommended)

Dell customization of the operating system recovery image includes Windows, Ubuntu, or Linux operating system and all the factory-installed device drivers for that specific platform.

Note: The Dell operating system recovery image must be used on Dell computers only. It is not designed or tested for use on non-Dell computers.

Using the Dell OS Recovery Tool to create USB recovery media on a Windows computer:

The Dell OS Recovery Tool helps you download the operating system recovery image that is customized for your Dell computer and create a USB recovery media. The Dell OS Recovery Tool allows you to download either Microsoft Windows, Ubuntu, or Linux operating system recovery image that was preinstalled on your Dell computer.

Step 1: Download and install the Dell OS Recovery Tool.

  1. Go to https://www.dell.com/support/home/drivers/osiso/recoverytool.
  2. Click Download operating system Recovery Tool and save the file to the computer (Figure 1 [English only]).
  3. Browse to the folder where the downloaded file is saved.
  4. Double-click the downloaded file and follow the on-screen instructions to complete the installation process.
    Dell OS Recovery Tool download page

Step 2: Creating the Dell operating system Recovery Media

  1. Launch the Dell OS Recovery Tool application (Figure 2 [English only]).
  2. Identify the computer that requires the recovery media using the Service Tag.
  3. If you are downloading the recovery image using the same Dell computer, select For this computer, and click NEXT and go to step 7 of this section.
    OS Recovery Tool
  4. If you are using another working computer to create the recovery media, choose Select For another computer, enter the Service Tag of the computer you want to create recovery media for, and click the Magnifying Glass icon to search for the computers identity (Figure 3 [English only]).
    Note: If the Service Tag of your Dell computer is not recognized, contact Dell Technical Support.
    Select if using OS Recovery Tool for this computer or another computer
  5. After identifying the computer, click NEXT (Figure 4 [English only]).
    Identified and selected computer
  6. The recovery images that are available for the computer are displayed.
    Note: The Dell OS Recovery Tool identifies the original operating system that was preinstalled on the Dell computer. The Dell OS Recovery Tool does not provide alternate operating systems for download. The Automated by SupportAssist recovery image is selected by default. The Automated by SupportAssist recovery image option is not available for Linux or Ubuntu.
  7. Select the Non-Automated by SupportAssist Image and click DOWNLOAD (Figure 5 [English only]).
    Download Non-Automated by SupportAssist
    Warning: Dell Technologies recommends that you back up any important data from the USB drive. The Dell OS Recovery Tool formats the USB drive and all the data on the USB drive is erased permanently.
  8. Disconnect any USB drive/s that is connected to the computer.
  9. Connect a USB drive with at least 16 GB of free storage space. This USB drive is formatted to create the USB recovery media.
  10. Under the USB drive, select the USB drive that you would like to use to create the USB recovery media.
  11. Check the boxes next to I understand that the selected drive will be reformatted and existing data are deleted.
  12. Click Download (Figure 6 [English only]).
    Click Download
  13. The operating system recovery image is downloaded and verified.
  14. The recovery image is mounted to the USB drive.
  15. After the USB recovery media is successfully created, a summary screen is displayed.
  16. Click Close.
  17. Recovery media creation is complete (Figures 7, 8, 9, 10 [English only]).
    Download of data
    Format of USB drive
    Extracting files
    Image creation complete

Step 3: Using the USB recovery media to install the operating system

Installing Microsoft Windows 11, Windows 10, Windows 8.1 or Windows 7

NOTE: You must disable Secure Boot in the UEFI firmware setting before initiating OS installation for Win10 S-Mode, Win11 S-Mode, Win11 SE. You must enable Secure Boot once OS installation is complete.
  1. Connect the USB recovery media to the Dell computer where you want to install Microsoft Windows 8.1 or 7. To install Windows 11 or Windows 10, see our article Restore your Computer Using SupportAssist OS Recovery.
  2. Restart the computer.
  3. At the Dell logo screen, press the F12 key repeatedly until you see the Preparing one-time boot menu in the upper right corner of the screen.
  4. On the boot menu, under UEFI boot, select the USB recovery drive and press the Enter key.
  5. When Windows Setup appears, select the language and keyboard preferences.
  6. On the Windows Installation dialog box, click Install Now.
  7. Review the license agreement, and select I accept the license terms to proceed with the installation.
  8. In the window "Which type of installation do you want?" Click Custom (advanced).
  9. In the Where do you want to install Windows window, select the largest internal disk as the Primary Partition, and then click Next.
    If the Primary Partition shows 0 GB free, select the Unallocated Space and click Next.
  10. Windows Setup automatically creates a partition, formats it, and then begins installing Windows.
  11. The installation process takes some time and your computer may restart several times.

Installing Ubuntu or Linux

  1. Connect the USB recovery media to the Dell computer where you want to install Microsoft Ubuntu or Linux.
  2. Restart the computer.
  3. At the Dell logo screen, tap the F12 key until you see the Preparing one-time boot menu in the upper right corner of the screen.
  4. On the boot menu, under UEFI boot, select the USB recovery drive and press the Enter key.
  5. Follow the on-screen instructions to complete the installation process. The installation process takes some time and your computer may restart several times.

Additional Information

Frequently asked questions

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Yes, the Advanced Mode in the Dell operating system Recovery Tool allows you to create a USB recovery media. It uses an operating system image file in ISO file format. This is useful if you downloaded the operating system recovery image using a Linux, Mac, or Android device.

How to create a USB recovery media using an ISO image

  1. Download and install the Dell operating system Recovery Tool on a Windows computer.
  2. Click Start, then open the Dell operating system Recovery Tool application.
    Note: Click Yes in the User Account Control prompt. The Windows user account must have administrator privileges to install the Dell operating system Recovery Tool application.
  3. Click Search (magnifying glass icon).
  4. In the open window, browse to the folder location where you have saved the operating system ISO image file.
  5. Select the .iso file and click Open.
  6. Click Next.
  7. Connect a USB flash drive with at least 16 GB of storage space available to the computer. This USB flash drive is formatted to create the USB recovery media.
  8. Under USB drive, select the USB flash drive that you would like to use to create the USB recovery media and check the button "I understand that the selected drive will be reformatted and existing data are deleted."
    Warning: Dell Technologies recommends that you back up any important data from the USB flash drive. The Dell operating system Recovery Tool formats the USB flash drive and all the data on the USB flash drive is erased permanently.
  9. Select the Partition Style:
    • GPT: Windows 10 and Windows 11
    • MBR: For any other operating system
  10. To begin creating the USB recovery media, click Burn operating system.
  11. Once the process is complete, you return to the main Advanced Mode screen (Figure 11 [English only]).
Creating a USB recovery media using an ISO image in the Dell OS Recovery Tool
(image in English)

Windows 10 or Windows 11 or Windows 11 recovery image enables you to format the hard drive and install a clean copy of Windows 10. The file size of this recovery image is considerably higher than the Windows 10 or Windows 11 Automated by SupportAssist.

The Windows 10 and Windows 11 Automated by SupportAssist recovery image can create USB recovery media for Dell computers that support SupportAssist OS Recovery. (Figure 12 [English only].)
Difference between Windows 10 Automated by SupportAssist and Windows 10 images(image in English)

SupportAssist OS Recovery is supported on select Dell computers that run a Dell factory-installed Microsoft Windows 10 or Windows 11 operating system.

Key features of SupportAssist OS Recovery:

  • Scan Hardware—Run a diagnostic scan on your computer to detect hardware issues.
  • Repair System—Troubleshoot common issues that may occur before your computer boots to the operating system. This option enables you to avoid having to restore your computer to its factory state.
  • Back Up Files—Create a copy of your personal files on an external storage device.
  • Restore System—Restore the operating system and default applications to the state they were in when your computer was shipped from the Dell factory.
  • Cloud Image Restore—Download and install the new operating system on your computer along with the default drivers and applications.

To learn more about SupportAssist OS Recovery, see the Dell knowledge base article: How to Use Dell SupportAssist OS Recovery.

Dell SupportAssist OS Recovery provides a recovery environment with tools to diagnose and troubleshoot issues that may occur before your computer boots to the operating system. When your computer is unable to boot to the operating system after repeated attempts, it automatically starts SupportAssist OS Recovery. This recovery environment enables you to diagnose hardware issues, repair your computer, back up your files, or restore your computer to its factory state.

SupportAssist OS Recovery is supported on select Dell computers that run a Dell factory-installed Microsoft Windows 10 operating system. For the list of computers where SupportAssist OS Recovery is available, see the Dell SupportAssist OS Recovery Support Matrix under Dell SupportAssist OS Recovery Support Documentation.

Note: If the partitions on the hard drive are altered in any way, the SupportAssist OS Recovery partition may no longer be available. (Such as a clean install of Windows or other operating systems.)

The Dell operating system recovery image can be downloaded using a non-Dell computer.

  • On a Windows-based computer - Dell Technologies recommends using the Dell operating system Recovery Tool to download the operating system recovery image and create the USB recovery media. See the using the Dell operating system Recovery Tool section of this article.

Dell Windows recovery image is available for 64-bit Microsoft Windows operating systems. The 32-bit version of Windows is not available for download.

Dell operating system Recovery Tool can pause and resume the download if there is a network connectivity issue. The download resumes when the network connection is restored.

Typical recovery image files for the operating system in an ISO file format are between 5-16 GB in size. (The file size varies between different operating systems.) Once the file is downloaded, the Dell operating system Recovery Tool verifies the integrity of the file before creating the USB recovery media. The time to download and verify that the integrity of the file can vary depending on network speed and file size.

To successfully boot to the USB recovery media to install Microsoft Windows 7 on the Dell computer:

  1. Restart the computer.
  2. At the Dell logo screen, tap the F12 key until you see the Preparing one-time boot menu in the upper right corner of the screen.
  3. Use the arrow keys to select BIOS or System Set up and press the Enter key.
  4. Disable Secure Boot.
  5. Enable Legacy Boot in the BIOS.
  6. Save the BIOS settings, and reboot the computer.
Note: For specific instructions on how to enable or disable Secure Boot or Legacy Boot in the BIOS, see the User Guide of your Dell computer.

You may receive a "Not enough space on drive" error. Where you download a large file through a Dell online application such as Dell OS Recovery tool. This is due to a space limitation on the hard drive where the files are being saved to. Some operating system recovery images can be up to 16 GB in file size.

To correct this error, free up additional disk space on the hard drive. For information about freeing up disk space in Microsoft Windows, see the Dell knowledge base article: How to Free up Disk Space in Microsoft Windows.

If you have an external hard drive or secondary hard drive with more disk space, select that drive to save the files.

You can try to resolve this issue by using a different brand of USB drive. Certain brands of USB drives may cause this issue.

The operating system recovery image may not contain the latest device drivers for your Dell computer. The latest device drivers are available at Dell.com/support/drivers. After the operating system is installed, Dell Technologies recommends that you download and install the latest device drivers.

To learn more about downloading and installing device drivers, see the Dell knowledge base article How to Download and Install Dell Drivers.

  • Windows 11, Windows 10, Windows 8.1, or Windows 8: For Dell computers that are shipped with Microsoft Windows 11, Windows 10 or Windows 11, Windows 8.1, or Windows 8, the product key for Microsoft Windows is embedded on the system board (motherboard) of the computer. The activation process automatically retrieves the product key from the system board. For Dell computers shipped with Windows 10, the activation information is linked to your Microsoft Account that you used to set up your computer.
  • Windows 7: For Dell computers shipped with Microsoft Windows 7, the product key for Microsoft Windows is on a label on the top of a Dell desktop and the bottom panel of a Dell laptop.

To learn more about Windows activation, see the Dell knowledge base article:  Windows Product Key Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

The operating system recovery image does not include the software that was preinstalled on your Dell computer.

To learn more about downloading and installing Dell factory-installed software, see the Dell knowledge base article: Where Can I Download Drivers and Dell-Installed Software for My Dell Computer?

The Dell operating system Recovery Tool fails to launch after installation, or running the installer does not start the installation process. You can temporarily disable the anti-virus or anti-malware software that may be installed on the computer and then run the application or the installer again.

Contact Dell Technical Support for further assistance if the Dell operating system Recovery Tool shows this error or does not recognize your Service Tag.

Out of Warranty support Out of warranty? That is not a problem. Browse to the Dell.com/support website and enter your Dell Service Tag and view our offers.

Note: Offers are only available for US, Canada, UK, France, Germany, China, and Japan personal computer customers. Server and Storage products are not applicable.

Affected Products

Alienware, Inspiron, OptiPlex, Vostro, XPS, G Series, G Series, Alienware, Inspiron, Latitude, Dell Pro Rugged, Vostro, XPS, Fixed Workstations, Mobile Workstations
Article Properties
Article Number: 000123667
Article Type: How To
Last Modified: 20 Nov 2024
Version:  40
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