Restoring factory settings

iTunes enables you to restore iPad to factory settings. Before you start restoring iPad to factory settings, please note that you need to install the latest version of iTunes on your PC or MAC. Then go to Settings > iCloud to turn off Find My iPhone. Now, you can factory reset your iPad with iTunes as follows.

1. Plug iPad into the computer with the USB cable. The iTunes on your computer will automatically launch. If not, double-click the icon to start it.
2. Click the name of your iPad at the upper right corner of iTunes, and then the information of your iPad will be shown. Click the "Restore iPhone" button in the window to start.
3. iTunes will ask whether you want to back up iPad before restoring. You'd better choose "Yes" for the reset will erase the contents in your iPad. Then iTunes will start restoring your iPad to factory settings.
4. Click Restore again to confirm. Then iTunes erases your iPad and installs the latest iOS software. After you restore your iPad to factory settings, it will restart. Now you can set it up as new.

How to Restore iPhone 6 Plus to Factory Settings

iTunes enables you to restore iPad mini to factory settings. Before you start restoring iPad to factory settings, please note that you need to install the latest version of iTunes on your Windows computer or MAC. Then go to Settings > iCloud to turn off Find My iPhone. Now, you can factory reset your iPad with iTunes as follows.

1. Plug iPad into the computer with the USB cable. The iTunes on your computer will automatically launch. If not, double-click the icon to start it.
2. Click the name of your iPad at the upper right corner of iTunes, and then the information of your iPad will be shown. Click the "Restore iPhone" button in the window to start.
3. iTunes will ask whether you want to back up iPad before restoring. You'd better choose "Yes" for the reset will erase the contents in your iPad. Then iTunes will start restoring your tablet to factory settings.
4. Click Restore again to confirm. Then iTunes erases your iPad and installs the latest iOS software. After you restore your device to factory settings, it will restart. Now you can set it up as new.

http://www.leawo.org/tutorial/how-to-restore-iphone-6-plus-to-factory-settings.html

Which operating system ???
Restart your computer repeatedly tapping the f8 key to enter safe mode while the screen is black once in safe mode where the only things working will be your keyboard and mouse allowing you to attempt to repair your computer.
Use the system restore to restore your system to an earlier time click start all programs accessories system tools you should see your system restore option if it is a hardware issue the system restore might not work Manual restore points that you specify with the System.
Configuration utility Installation restore points that occur before you install a program or a service you can use the system checkpoints or the installation restore points to restore your computer's settings to a date when it operated correctly. This may also help determine the cause of the configuration error.

To perform a system restore, follow these steps:
1.Click Start, click Run, type msconfig, and then click OK.
2.On the General tab, click Launch System Restore.
3.Select Restore my computer to an earlier time, and then click Next.
4.Calendar dates in bold are possible restore points. Click the most recent one to view system restore information.
5.Select a system checkpoint or an installation restore point, and then click Next.
6.Close all other programs.
7.To start the system restore, click Next.
8.Your computer restarts.
Repeat steps 1 through 8 until you fix your configuration issue.
if this hails to fix the problem
Restoring your Windows 7 Gateway computer to its original factory settings is a great way to get rid of pesky viruses you can't seem to remove from your computer, or simply to remove old programs and files from your computer and start with a clean slate.
Your Windows 7 Gateway computer will likely run faster as a result of deleting old and unnecessary files.
It's also a good idea to restore your Windows 7 Gateway computer to its original factory settings if you plan on selling it, or passing it along to a family member or friend.
Recover From Windows 7 Home Screen
Click the "Start" icon in the lower-left corner of your Windows 7 home screen.
Click "All Programs" in the Start menu, then click "Gateway".
Click "Gateway Recovery Management" to open the Gateway Recovery Management program.
Click the "Restore" header, then click "Restore System To Factory Default".
Click "Yes" in the "Confirm Restoration" dialog box, then click "Yes".
Click "OK" in the dialog box warning you that all of the personal data on your computer will be deleted. Your computer will automatically restart.
When your computer restarts the restoration process will begin. The process could take anywhere between 30 and 90 minutes.
Click "OK" when a dialog appears telling you that the computer has been restored to its original factory settings and that you need to reboot your Gateway Windows 7 computer.
Your computer will reboot.
After the computer restarts you will need to configure Windows 7 with your personal preferences.
Recover at Startup
Turn on or restart your computer and hold down "Alt" while clicking "F10" during startup until you are redirected to the Gateway Recovery Management program.
Click "Restore System From Factory Default".
Click "Next" to begin the restoration process.
The process could take anywhere between 30 and 90 minutes.

The Acer Aspire One is a netbook, not a laptop.
A netbook is a smaller, scaled-down version of a laptop. It does not have the memory capacity or graphics of a regular laptop.
It also lacks a CD drive, which means you cannot restore the Acer Aspire One with restore discs. Instead, the netbook has a built-in factory restore feature.
You can reset the Acer Aspire One to factory settings just using your keyboard.
Only restore your netbook to factory settings if you cannot fix the problem any other way.
Save any files or folders on your Acer Aspire One with flash drives.
Drag and drop files onto the icon of your flash drive.
Go to Start > Restart to reboot your netbook.

Hold down Alt and F10 when you see the Acer logo on the screen.
The recovery menu will load.
Hit Enter and then Next to see your recovery options.
Choose Factory Restore to set your netbook back to factory settings.
Follow the instructions on the screen.
Choose your time zone and language when the customization menu appears.
Reboot the netbook when you are prompted.
Restore your saved files from the flash drive.
or
When a vital file becomes corrupted, it might be necessary to restore a computer to its original factory settings.
This process also cleans up the hard drive and removes old programs that can make a computer slow and unresponsive.
But, because restoration wipes away all files you have installed or created, it should be a last-ditch effort in trying to repair a computer.
If you have reached this point with your Acer laptop or desktop, the manufacturer provides a utility to restore the factory settings.

Open the Windows Start menu by clicking on the icon in the lower left corner of your desktop.
Click All Programs, then the Acer folder.

Select Acer eRecovery Management to open the utility.
If a Windows prompt asks for permission to run the program, click Yes.

Click the Restore button in the pane on the left side of the program window.
Click Completely Restore System to Factory Defaults.
Select the Yes option in the dialog box that asks you to confirm the action, and click Start.
Click OK in the second confirmation dialog box to restart the computer.
Click Next in the warning window that appears after the computer reboots.
This confirms that you realize restoring the computer deletes any data stored on your hard drive.

Click Next again in the Restore Destination window, and click OK in the popup that gives you one last warning about deleting your data.
The restoration process will begin.

Click OK when the utility lets you know that the restoration is complete.
The computer will restart, and Windows will finish the recovery process.

http://acer.custhelp.com/app/answers/detail/a_id/12869/kw/factory settings/related/1

Step 1:
Restoring your Windows 7 Gateway computer to its original factory settings is a great way to get rid of pesky viruses you can't seem to remove from your computer, or simply to remove old programs and files from your computer and start with a clean slate. Your Windows 7 Gateway computer will likely run faster as a result of deleting old and unnecessary files. It's also a good idea to restore your Windows 7 Gateway computer to its original factory settings if you plan on selling it, or passing it along to a family member or friend.

Recover From Windows 7 Home Screen Click the "Start" icon in the lower-left corner of your Windows 7 home screen. Click "All Programs" in the Start menu, then click "Gateway". Click "Gateway Recovery Management" to open the Gateway Recovery Management program. Click the "Restore" header, then click "Restore System To Factory Default". Click "Yes" in the "Confirm Restoration" dialog box, then click "Yes". Click "OK" in the dialog box warning you that all of the personal data on your computer will be deleted. Your computer will automatically restart. When your computer restarts the restoration process will begin. The process could take anywhere between 30 and 90 minutes. Click "OK" when a dialog appears telling you that the computer has been restored to its original factory settings and that you need to reboot your Gateway Windows 7 computer. Your computer will reboot. After the computer restarts you will need to configure Windows 7 with your personal preferences. b> Recover at Startup Turn on or restart your computer and hold down "Alt" while clicking "F10" during startup until you are redirected to the Gateway Recovery Management program. Click "Restore System From Factory Default". Click "Next" to begin the restoration process. The process could take anywhere between 30 and 90 minutes.

1. Restart your computer
2. As soon as it starts to reboot, press F9 over and over.
3. If you get to the Windows Login Screen, you've gone too far and need to start hitting it sooner.
4. If you did things correctly, it should take you to the factory restore screen, where you just follow the step-by-step instructions. Hope this helps!

If the file that holds the factory settings is gone then there is no way to restore the factory settings back. You can however reinstall windows if you got a hold of a windows disc in the version you want. You can use the windows key on the computer somewhere to activate the windows. I would suggest doing a system restore the the last restore point and removing any unwanted things from there.

what do you mean that the hard drive has been wiped out? did you reinstall a new operating system on the PC? if that so & you still want to bring back all the software & settings that came originally with this PC then you can try this.

How to Restore Acer Aspire 5100 to Factory Setting
Instructions
1
Open the "Start" menu, then click "All Programs" and place your mouse cursor over the folder labeled "Acer Empowering Technology." Select the "Acer Empowering Technology" icon from the folder.
2
Click the "Acer eRecovery Management" icon that is now on your desktop.
3
Click "Restore" at the bottom of the "Acer eRecovery Management" window.
4
Select "Restore system to factory default" from the "Restore" menu. The computer will restart and automatically begin the restoration process.

all HP made computers (acer is owned by HP) dont come with backup disks anymore, they require you to make them when you first get the computer, so if you made your restore disksyou should be able to pop them in and boot off of them and it should restore to factory settings, if you didnt make the disks the closest thing you could do is reinstall windows completely.

Try to restore the computer to the date when it was working properly or else simply put your bootable XP CD in the CD ROM, restart, and when the installation options screen comes up just enter 'R'(repair) after the F8 command input...............sodeep