Windows Startup Repair Loop

[guestolo]

Keep me updated, I don't know where you backed up to, so your kind of on your own on that
Did you backup to an External device? Or directly to a folder on your C: drive?
Let me know how it works out for you

[Andy k]

Dell DataSafe is saying it is unable to find the recovery partition and that it's either not there or corrupted. This may be the last Dell I ever touch

It never gave me any options as to where to back up to, so I can only assume C:

[guestolo]

I personally like to just manually backup to an External drive or DVD/CD burning software
Never really found the need to use backup software for files/folders
The only other backup I prefer is backing up the whole drive to an Image, such as with software built into Win 7
or something like Acronis

Did you create the Recovery disks in case the Recovery partition became corrupt?
That is your responsibility, unless Dell created them for you

NOTE: From the link
http://support.dell.com/support/topics/global.aspx/support/kcs/document?c=us&l=en&s=gen&docid=DSN_62A668E1C3AA857AE040AE0AB8E12942&isLegacy=true

Are you trying the third option under step 3?
Restore individual files from File & Folder Backups

[Andy k]

I didn't make the recovery discs, regretfully.

Just a note, my datasafe isn't 2.0, not sure why it isn't.

After getting back into windows, McAfee says it's never been activated and wont respond to the activation button it gives.

[guestolo]

Well, unfortuneately, you may have lost important files/folders, I'm not sure as I've never used the software before
And really have no idea where you backed up to
Can you search your drive for photos, etc....
I think I would opt to try and create the Backup disks, backup Manually any other files/folders you may need
And then do a fresh install, or try and do a repair, your option

You may get some more ideas on Dell forums concerning    

DataSafe Local Backup
http://en.community.dell.com/support-forums/software-os/f/3526.aspx