Help needed to return laptop to factory settings please.

xxdeebeexx

Hi DS1 laptop is running very slow. The HDD claims to be full but when I looked, there is a partition and a 'D' drive that isn't being used.

When the laptop was bought it came with vista and we had to apply for windows 7 update. I probably did something wrong when updating windows all those years ago.

It needs to be taken right back but I don't know how to do this.
Could someone point me to an idiots guide please.

tia

dx

toffifee

Sorry, can't help but have an old laptop I want to do the same thing with so will be interested to see the replies.

closed

if it's windows7 now (not clear), and you don't have the disc, post a hijackthis log instead, otherwise you may end up with a vista machine

Nobody can advise you how to restore to factory settings without knowing which model it is, knowing if you have the discs would also be useful - the manual or manufacturers website should have the instructions if you wish to do it

how much ram is installed?

xxdeebeexx

Thank you for the reply.
It came with Vista installed
We have the windows 7 upgrade disc
It is an Acer Aspire 7730zg with 320 HDD
3GB DDR2 ( is that RAM?)

Can't do a Hijack log atm

thanks

dx

Domestos1976

D drive could be where your auto restore or recovery is kept.

What make and model is the laptop? Did it come with recovery discs?
Do you have the windows 7 discs?

If you are happy to lose everything you could try a fresh installation of windows 7... But doing this will mean you LOSE EVERYTHING (pictures, files, games, e-mails, software installs etc. etc.)

To do a fresh installation insert the windows 7 CD into the machine , shutdown the machine, and turn the machine back on. You will get on screen prompts on what to do - find the clean install option.

If its an HP, Packarard Bell or DELL you may have a recovery software option on the menus that will allow you to set the laptop back to factory settings. but again you will LOSE everything.

Just to note : a full harddrive does not mean the machine will run slow - it means that you will no longer be able to save software, files and picture to disc. You more than likely have too many services and startups running but thats another story.

I wouldnt attempt any of the above without experience however. So you must make a decision on your own requirements.

TakeThis

xxdeebeexx wrote: »

Thank you for the reply.
It came with Vista installed
We have the windows 7 upgrade disc
It is an Acer Aspire 7730zg with 320 HDD
3GB DDR2 ( is that RAM?)

Can't do a Hijack log atm

thanks

dx

With the ACERs, you do ALT + F10 on start up. That will bring you to the Recovery options. That will reinstall Vista and the machine's Drivers.
You will then have to use the Windows 7 Upgrade disc to upgrade to Windows 7.

Lifeforms

In a few of the Acer machines I've seen they've commonly split the HDD. I was quite happy to see they'd partitioned it for me already. Having "two" HDD's just means that if you ever reinstall, your data on the second is kept safe (so generally best used to store your files)

Unless it is the OS recovery partition, then that's what you'll use to restore back to factory settings. <-- doubtful as it's usually a hidden partition though.

If it came pre-installed with vista, that is what you should get, and then you'll have to upgrade the OS with the discs yourself. Basically, try a restart and hit F8/F10, see if that brings up any options to "repair my computer" which should do it, or try control F12 and see if that does anything.

cleggie

TakeThis is right, i have an acer and hve done a 'system restore' before by ALT+F10 on start up.

xxdeebeexx

Lifeforms wrote: »

In a few of the Acer machines I've seen they've commonly split the HDD. I was quite happy to see they'd partitioned it for me already. Having "two" HDD's just means that if you ever reinstall, your data on the second is kept safe (so generally best used to store your files)

If the D drive is meant to be there how do we access it?
I thought it was completely empty I have just had a look and it seems to be full of files that were last modified in 2007 !

Do most laptops have partitions?

If not ... how did it get ther? Is it something I did when installing windows 7 update?

tia

dx

closed

just save your data to it

some manufacturers split, some don't

macman

The D drive may be empty, but if the main partition (C drive) has both the operating system and all the programs and data, it may well be full- which case the machine is going to crawl. You need at least 15% free space on that partition. Check how much free space there is and if necessary move the data over.
You have plenty of RAM for W7.