ME restore disk urgently needed

Use the Restoration (Recovery) Disk.
When asked choose Full Install. (Destructive Installation)

Regards,
joecoolvette

If your hard drive has be reloaded and the recovery partition deleted then that function will no longer work. You will need to reload OS from CD's or DVD's.

I also have a Dell Dimension...it came with n OS disk. Have you tried calling dell support?

On MOST new computers today is a hidden partition on the Hard Drive that holds the ORIGINAL settings and programs for when you need to restore.

From memory when you first boot up, go into the boot settings using F8, and look for the correct line.. something along the lines of " restore original settings" or similar.

This will take you into the reset mode. I THINK it will workj without the disks but am not sure. I made sure I kept the original disk that I had to burn from a image on the hard drive when I first got this Laptop.

Good Luck.

The usual means of installing the operating system on a new hard drive is by using the Dell Windows XP reinstallation CD (or whichever operating system you had ebfore). If you do not have one, the only chance of getting one is by contacting Dell Tech Support for your region. It may not be free, but if you never received the CD due to Dell's media reduction initiative (and tell this to the representative) they may send you one.

There are three methods available.

1) Use Windows XP System Restore.

If you cannot access Windows XP, the following two methods are available.

2) Use the Dell Operating System CD, and the Dell Resource CD.

If you do not have these restoration CD's,

3) Use Dell Restore by Symantec

With this method all personal files you have, and any programs, or applications you have installed, or downloaded, will be GONE.

(Personal Files: My Pictures, My Music, My Videos, and personal files you have created)

Turn the computer on. AS SOON as you see -
www.dell.com, appear in the blue bar, Press -
the CTRL key, AND the F11 key -
AT THE SAME TIME. (Not shouting)

If you do not press both keys at the same time, and in time, let the computer load. It may stop at a blank screen, with a blinking cursor.

It's okay. Now press the CTRL key, ALT key, and DELete key at the same time.
This will restart your computer. Try again when you see the www.dell.com logo.

If upon pressing the CTRL key, and F11 key, you go to the next screen, left-click on - Restore

On the next screen click on - Confirm

Takes about 6 to 10 minutes.
After the restoration has stopped, click on Finish.
Your computer will now reboot.

Should you need help with Windows XP System Restore, or using your Dell restoration disks, please state so in a comment.

Does it have a Microsoft sticker on the case giving you a serial number and product type: 2000, XP Home , XP Pro etc

If it has one then you need to find a buddy with a copy of that software and hope that it is compatible with the version you have on your system.

If not then it is off to the shop for a fresh copy

dont restore to factory settings, you have a virus. try avast antivirus freeware and see if that cleans it up...

Don't know if this helps
http://www.motherboardpoint.com/t86727-reformat-and-reinstall-on-dell-dimension-3000-cant-boot-up-with-os-disk.html

if you are formatting your computer for the first time and if you bought your computer after 2005 then just press <Ctrl> + <F11> keys right at the dell logo on startup, you will boot to dell PC restore. This will restore your computer back to the factory settings including WinXP, all the drivers and softwares.

If you bought your computer before oct 2005: then follow these steps.

1) start you computer and at the dell splash logo tap <Del> key to enter setup. (restart and retry till you see entering setup)
2) select Boot from the tabs above using arrow keys.
3) select boot device priority press <ENTER>.
4) select ATAPI CDROM, <ENTER>.
5). insert WIN XP CD in the top drive of the computer and press <F10> select yes.(this will restart your computer).
6) after reboot you will see " press any key to boot from CD" press any key within 5 sec on this message.
7) Press <ENTER> to install
8) Press <F8> on next screen
9) Press <ESC> on next screen(Options may vary on this screen , read instructions).
10) select partition using arrow keys press <ENTER>
11) select NTFS/NTFS quick, anyone. and press F on the next screen...

this wil start WIn XP set up and concludes the formatting of the HDD with Win XP CD.