How do you restore dell to factory settings?

Answer 1

Step 1 of 4: Backup important files & data

Start -> Control Panel -> in Control Panel, click System and Maintenance, and then click Back Up and Restore Center. Under Backup files or your entire computer, click Back up files. If a user account window appears, and you are prompted a administrator password or confirmation, type your password or click continue. On the Where do you want to save your backup? page, choose the location in which to save the backup. To do this, click either: Hard Disk, CD, DVD or on a network and then specify the location. NOTE: If you save on a hard disk, be sure to save the backup to an external hard drive such as a USB key or a USB hard drive. Click Next. On the Which file types do you want to backup? page, click to select the check boxes next to the type of files that you want to back up and then click Next. Backup will save the files in the background and may take several minutes to complete. If you specified a removable drive, backup may prompt you to enter an additional blank disc if more than one is necessary to hold all of your files. Be sure to label your discs throughly (such as "My Files Disc 1" etc.) so you can quickly restore them later. Once the Backup Completemessage appears, you are ready to proceed to the next step.

Step 2 of 4: Remove non-essential perihperals

NOTE: an external perihperal is a device that connects to a port on the front, side, or back of the computer.

Except the monitor, keyboard, and mouse, remove all external perihperals including: scanner/printer, modem or network cables, PDA, USB flash drive or other external hard drive, any other external devices

Step 3 of 4: Restore the computer's software to original condition

Restart the computer. As the computer starts, press on the keyboard until the Advanced Boot Options menu appears on the screen. NOTE: You must press Before the Windows logo appears on the screen. Press the on your keyboard to select Repair Your Computer on the Advanced Boot Options menu, and then press . Specify the language you want, then click Next. Log in as a user with administrative credentials, and then click OK. Click Dell Factory Image Restore, then in the Dell Factory Image Restore menu, click Next. Click to select the yes, reformat hard drive and restore system software to factory condition check box. Click Next. The computer is restored to the default factory configuration. When the operation is completed, click Finish.

Step 4 of 4: Restore your personal files and data from backups

Start -> Control Panel -> in the Control Panel window, click System Maintenance, and then click Backup and Restore Center. Under Restore files or your entire computer, click Advanced restore. On the What do you want to restore? page, click Files from a backup on a different computer and click Next. Locate the backup you created earlier by browsing to it now. If you saved that backup to a DVD or CD, insert that disc now. Once the backup is located and selected, Click Next. On the Select the files and folders to restore page, click the check box Restore everything in this backup.

...And that's pretty much it.