Please help with formatting XPS 15 (L501X)

I am trying to trying to restore my XPS 15 back to factory state (basically clean format). I made a set of recovery media using Dell DataSafe Local Backup, but it does not appear to be a bootable disc (tried all 3). I've tried changing the boot order in BIOS but no luck. I have also tried to restore through Dell Datasafe Local. However, in both cases (either trying to use the recovery media or factory restore through DataSafe), I receive the same error upon rebooting and attempting to start the format/restore process:

Windows failed to start. A recent hardware or software change might be the cause.

Status: 0xc000000f

Info: The boot selection failed because a required device is inaccessible.

Not sure if it's of any help but I do not see a recovery partition on the HD - does this model usually have one?

I also get this same error when attempting to restore using these directions - http://support.dell.com/support/top...2A668E1C3A0857AE040AE0AB8E12942&isLegacy=true

I appreciate any help anyone can provide.

 

Now you may just have a bad piece of software or corrupt system file.

Go into safe mode, run command prompt as an administrator;

Type chkdsk /f /r and hit Y for Yes at the prompt. This may take awhile.

Also type fixmbr if that doesn't work.

To access new Dell recovery partitions;

Hit F8 during POST

Go to Repair my Computer

Let it boot, you will need to enter your password for your account if you have one

Go down to Dell Datasafe Local Backup, and the complete factory reimage option is there IF your recovery partition isn't hosed (sometimes it is).

If worst comes to worst, order the Dell recovery media from Dell.

 

I will try the other stuff - but I cannot get past the Repair my Computer option from the menu. I get the same error immediately after selecting Repair my Computer.

 

Okay well you could have a bad hard drive. I would check it in to your local repair shop for warranty repair.

 

Would using the Dell recovery media ordered from Dell likely resolve this?

 

If just the data in the recovery partition is bad, it should work with the disc.

Although what seems weird is that when I made my discs, it specifically stated they should be used if the recovery partition is corrupted or lost. So that makes me think the discs should be bootable, unless there is some process during the repair where you can specify to use the discs.

 

Recovery discs are in case your hard drive fails physically so your recovery partition is useless as recovery partition is faster and preactivates and reinstalls all original software.

 

I finally remembered to test the recovery discs I created, and one of them was bootable for me.