How do you restore your PC to factory default?
** MAKE BACKUPS OF YOUR IMPORTANT DATA **
I recommend using Acronis True Image to back up your data before you start this procedure. If you have important documents, don’t forget to copy them to an external drive or CD / DVD media. You will be hard pressed to get it back if you forget!!
With OEM’s like DELL or HP, you usually either are provided with discs, have to create your own discs or have a restore partition.
You really need to go to your manufacturer’s website and get the specific instructions for your model but here are some common ways to do it.
HP
F10 at boot screen.
http://h10025.www1.hp.com/ewfrf/wc/docum…
DELL
CTRL + F11 at boot screen.
http://support.dell.com/support/topics/g…
*Disconnect all connected devices (such as the Personal Media Drive, USB drives, printer, and fax), remove media from drives, and remove any recently added internal hardware. Do not disconnect the monitor, keyboard, mouse, and power cord.
Generic PC with Windows OS:
Insert original installation disc into your drive and boot to that drive. Make sure you have your Motherboard drivers (Chipset, Video, Audio, Ethernet, Modem, etc.) handy as you will need this after the OS is installed. You will also need to perform all upgrades to your OS like SP2 or SP3 on Windows XP and SP1 on Vista if your recovery media does not contain those updates.
DELL, HP, Operating Systems, Vista, XP
