Restore to original settings

Dell Dimension computers have a built-in PC restore system that allows you to quickly restore the PC to its original factory settings.
The PC restore is located in a hidden partition of the PC's hard drive and contains a copy of the computer's original factory installed software.
There are two different ways to restore the Dimension's settings depending on which operating system your computer is running.

Windows XP
Disconnect all peripheral equipment that is attached to your computer such as printer, scanner, external hard drive and memory sticks.
Restart the computer.
After the Dell screen appears on the monitor, hold down the "Ctrl" key and press the "F11" key.
If the Windows XP screen appears before you can finish this step, wait for the computer to finish rebooting and restart the computer again.


Highlight "Restore" in the Dell PC Restore window by using the tab button.
Hit "Enter."


Highlight "Confirm" in the restore warning box by using the tab button.
Hit "Enter."
This will start the system restore process.
Do not attempt to turn off the computer during this process or vital system files may be damages and you will not be able to restart your computer.


Click "Finish" in the box that notifies you that the restoration has been successful.


Hit "Enter" to restart the computer.
The computer has been restored to the original factory settings.

Windows Vista

Disconnect all peripheral equipment that is attached to your computer such as printer, scanner, external hard drive and memory sticks.



Restart the computer.
After the Dell screen appears on the monitor, press the "F8" key.
If the Windows Vista screen appears before you can finish this step, wait for the computer to finish rebooting and restart the computer again.


Highlight "Repair Your Computer" by using the down arrow key in the Advanced Boot window.
Hit the "Enter" key.


Click "Next" after selecting a language. Log into the computer as an administrator.
"OK." Choose "Dell Factory Restore."
Click "Next."


Check "Yes" next to the reformat the hard drive and restore factory settings option.
Click "Next" to start the restoration process.
Do not attempt to turn off the computer during this process or vital system files may be damages and you will not be able to restart your computer.


Click "Finish" in the box that notifies you that the restoration has been successful.
The computer will automatically restart itself to its original factory settings.

Did you press 5 times

If you do NOT have a copy of this disc, skip to step 3 for further instructions. Once you restart your computer, a screen will appear with the words. Press Any Key to Boot From CD. Once you press a key, a screen will come up containing instructions to format your hard drive and restore the original factory settings. Follow the on-screen prompts to finish the installation. Once the restore is complete, remove your Recovery CD from the disk drive so that your computer does not try to boot from the CD again. Restart your computer to complete the restore. 3. If you do not have a System Restore disk, then your computer should have a recovery partition on your hard drive, separate from the main partition of the disk. Unplug all external devices and restart your computer. When the loading screen comes on with the Windows logo, press Alt+F10 together five times. This will bring up the system restore menu. Follow the on-screen prompts to restore your computer back to the factory settings Hope this helps.

Press the F11 key at startup. This should bring up the Gateway System Recovery option. That will allow you to restore your computer to it's originally installed state.

You can use the Restore CD that came with the computer. The eMachines restore disk sets your PC back to factory settings with the original operating system and programs that were shipped with the computer. Doing so resolves many problems that can arise from long-term computer use, viruses, or the operating system slowing down.


1. To do a factory restore insert the restore CD then reboot the computer. When prompted, press any key to boot from the CD.


2. Select the option to "Reformat the drive to factory settings."

3. Follow the on-screen instructions to reinstall the operating system and original software that came with your computer.

4. Once the Restore finishes, you can re-install all the programs that you added to the computer as well as restore your files.


Reminder: Reformatting your computer erases all of your installed programs, personal documents, pictures and music. If you have the ability to, back up all of your personal data using a removable flash drive, external hard drive or DVDs before doing a Factory Restore.

Note: restoring your computer to its original factory settings will clear most of the data off of your hard drive, including personal files. Be sure to back up what you need.

Some computers ship without a system restore, but your computer more than likely has it.
To restore your computer to its original state, do the following:
- Make sure your computer is powered off.
- Turn on your computer, and hold the 'Ctrl' key and the 'F11' key at the same time
- When the menu appears, select 'restore'
- If your computer does not have system restore, you will not be able to / not see restore
- Confirm that you wish to restore your computer
- Your system will be reset to its original state
- When finished, select 'finish' to reboot the computer

You will have to go though some of the menus that you did when you originally had your computer. Your computer should finish restoring after these menus.

The only way to restore your computer to factory setting with all the software/bloatware as it came with your computer the first day you start it up, you will need the factory restore disk that came with the computer if one is provide, if not usually with e-machine product, which doesn't provide you with a factory restore disk, you will have to create one yourself using a dvd-r. Usually you will have to go the the emachine recovery/back up management option in your menu programs and use that program to make the factory restore disk, after making that disc, you will need to insert the disc, and shuit down the computer and restart it. It will prompt you to follow direction once the factory restore disk is boot up. Follow the directions and you should be good to go. If there isn't a recovery managment program or a factory restore disk provided, you will need to contact emachine up.... usually they can send you factory restore disk for a small fee.

while bootup press restore , follow the instructions.

Go into system restore under windows system tools and rest your restore point to one prior to restoring your computer to original factory condition. Then wait until you can determine which configuration error is the problem and then restore to original settings. Good Luck

if you want to restore settings then you have just restore by
program>accessories>systemtools>restore
you have to restore your settings to earlier timeby
cllick the date available before the settings change