Restoring Dell Factory Settings as new?

smashed

Hi,

I have recently bought a bargain via the quick grab it now section, and having already bought a previous Dell a month prior to that, I am now selling the one that I bought a month ago.
I therefore need to clear all my history, delete the user profiles etc..
is there a simple way that I can restore everything to how it was when the PC turned up at my door?
If not, can somebody please provide a list of the things that I need to do.

Many Thanks

amit_1

i would format the c drive this would mean u will have xp as fresh like you bought it from the shops

amit_1

go to this page http://support.microsoft.com/?kbid=313348 and it will tell you every thing

NellyLock

erm i wouldnt do that (format) unless you have an actual REAL XP cd, cause if you want to sell it surely it wouold be better to sell with XP?

smashed

Thanks for your replies..
I have a couple of XP discs, since I got another copy with the lastest Dell that I bought. Will that work?
Also, if i format it , wont I lose all the other things that Dell install onto it? Or do I just have to reinstall everything that comes on their blue discs?
Again, I have a spare copy, so can leave new copies still sealed..
By the way, its being sold as a month old, so they do know its been used.
Or would it be enough to just delete cookies, history etc and then just delete user profiles?

alared

To restore back to day one factory settings on a Dell,when you boot up and as soon as you see a blue bar with Dell at the top of a black screen,immediately press ctrL and F11
It will then ask if you are sure you want to restore to factory settings.
It takes about 6-10 minutes.
You may find that you do not have SP2 on it and have to obtain a disk from pcworld (free) and install it.
Dell`s have the factory restore partitioned on the hard drive and no disk is needed.

smashed

Really?? I can just hit Ctrl and F11 ???
If thats true I will give it a bash when I get home after work, and it will save me a big headache..
You may even get an extra "thanks"

alared

After my young brother made a right a*s* of his new Dell I had to do it for him.
Like I said the only thing that was missing from the factory reset was SP2.
Just shows you how old a brand new Dell is when software like that is missing.

If you have an owner`s manual I think it`s on pages 40/41

smashed

Cheers.. I will report back later this afternoon

Fran

Can't you get SP2 from Microsoft downloads? As it came as a Windows update.

alared

Yes you can but if you`re on dial-up it takes far too long.
You can get a disk sent from Microsoft or get one at pcworld, they are free.