Restore computer to factory settings

loulou41

Pl can somebody help me? I want to restore my Dell 5150 to factory settings and cannot remember how to do it!! It is so slow and keeps freezing up. Thanks

waddler_8

OS?

Vista: http://support.dell.com/support/topics/global.aspx/support/kcs/document?c=us&l=en&s=gen&docid=DSN_336966&isLegacy=true

Alternatively: Using Dell PC Restore by Symantec

http://support.dell.com/support/edocs/systems/dim5150/en/om/WD846A02.pdf

bengalknights

Try the F1 at boot up and system restore

gjchester

loulou41 wrote: »

Pl can somebody help me? I want to restore my Dell 5150 to factory settings and cannot remember how to do it!! It is so slow and keeps freezing up. Thanks

It's too late to do the Windows backup the OS is already slowed down.

Typically Dell include restore CD's in with the box, you may need to find these to do the restore.

Symantecs System Restore may be on your system as Waddler has mentioned but if you've replaced the hard drive the files will be lost.

To use PC Restore:

1 Turn on the computer.
During the boot process, a blue bar with www.dell.com appears at the top of the screen.

2 Immediately upon seeing the blue bar, press <Ctrl><F11>.
If you do not press <Ctrl><F11> in time, let the computer finish starting, and then restart the
computer again.

NOTICE: If you do not want to proceed with PC Restore, click Reboot in the following step.

3 On the next screen that appears, click Restore.

4 On the next screen, click Confirm.

The restore process takes approximately 6–10 minutes to complete

Either way both options WILL erase everything you have so please remember to backup your data before you start this process.

debitcardmayhem

gjchester wrote: »

Either way both options WILL erase everything you have so please remember to backup your data before you start this process.

And make sure you have back-ups of your paid for software too (especially if you have downloaded them) and the license keys.

Kernel_Sanders

debitcardmayhem wrote: »

And make sure you have back-ups of your paid for software too (especially if you have downloaded them) and the license keys.

How do you back up the Windows product key licence, or will this be automatically restored?

debitcardmayhem

Kernel_Sanders wrote: »

How do you back up the Windows product key licence, or will this be automatically restored?

If you are doing a factory reset then the product key would be pre-set in the recovery partition. Otherwise it should be found on the COA sticker on the PC. Or in my case it is in the retail box of W7 Pro. There are various ways to find out what it is using software available from the net. I seem to remember Belarc advisor is one such and I think that SISoft Sandra can tell you too.

Kernel_Sanders

I am currently clearing files off my PC in readiness for factory restore. I used the XP search facility to identify the last few videos, which were in various locations. They are displayed in 'search results' where I have selected all, but Windows won't let me move or even copy them onto a USB drive. The message is 'cannot read from the source file or disk', but, bizarrely, it let's you delete files!

loulou41

gjchester wrote: »

It's too late to do the Windows backup the OS is already slowed down.

Typically Dell include restore CD's in with the box, you may need to find these to do the restore.

Symantecs System Restore may be on your system as Waddler has mentioned but if you've replaced the hard drive the files will be lost.

To use PC Restore:

1

Turn on the computer.

During the boot process, a blue bar with

www.dell.com appears at the top of the screen.

2

Immediately upon seeing the blue bar, press <Ctrl><F11>.

If you do not press <Ctrl><F11> in time, let the computer finish starting, and then restart the
computer again.
NOTICE:

If you do not want to proceed with PC Restore, click Reboot in the following step.

3

On the next screen that appears, click Restore.

4

On the next screen, click Confirm.
The restore process takes approximately 6–10 minutes to complete

Either way both options WILL erase everything you have so please remember to backup your data before you start this process.

What,s the difference between these two, Dell PC Restore seems to take only 10 mins but using cd will take 1 or 2 hrs. I have used the cd before when I had the blue screen of death but in the end had to take it the computer shop as could not access the internet. He only charged me about £50 as I have already started the process. Thanks

TheBarginMan

its not hard, if you have the restore cd its easy.