Tried to boot computer back to original factory settings and got to the installing page for Windows 7 and we let it install untouched and it's still installing after 22 hours. Now what can we do? We were told the original problem we were having was with firmware and MSI customer service guided us up to the point listed above.

You can't really factory reset a computer. You could try Windows System Restore. If you have Windows 7, then your computer has probably been make "restore points" that will let you go back to the state of the system on that date. Maybe there's a restore point close to your purchase date....

Want to go thermonuclear?

1. Back up all your files. I'd make 2 backups.
2. Make sure you have all the CDs that Dell sent you with Windows and drivers. If you didn't get those disks with your computer, call Dell and tell them you need them; they should ship them for free. (It seems like Dell decided a couple of years ago that almost no one was using those disks, so they stopped sending them out with new computers.)

OK, here comes the thermonuclear part. You are about to erase *everything* on your hard disk: Windows gone, programs gone, files gone. You will have to reinstall Windows and your programs, and restore your files from backup.

These instructions are for Windows 7, but should be close for other versions.

To install Windows 7 using the Custom option and formatting the hard disk

To format your hard disk during Windows 7 installation, you'll need to start, or boot, your computer using the Windows 7 installation disc or USB flash drive.

1. Turn on your computer so that Windows starts normally, insert the Windows 7 installation disc or USB flash drive, and then shut down your computer.
2. Restart your computer.
3. Press any key when prompted, and then follow the instructions that appear.
4. On the Install Windows page, enter your language and other preferences, and then click Next. If the Install Windows page doesn't appear, and you're not asked to press any key, you might need to change some system settings. To learn how to do this, see Start your computer from a Windows 7 installation disc or USB flash drive.
   
5. On the Please read the license terms page, if you accept the license terms, click I accept the license terms, and then click Next.
6. On the Which type of installation do you want? page, click Custom.
7. On the Where do you want to install Windows? page, click Drive options (advanced).
8. Click the partition that you want to change, click the formatting option you want to perform, and then follow the instructions.
9. When you've finished formatting, click Next.
10. Follow the instructions to finish installing Windows 7, which include naming your computer and setting up an initial user account.

Now you have a spanking clean computer.

You may have written over the Recovery Partition when you install Win 8. Have you tried a System Recovery using the Toshiba Recovery Procedure: http://cdgenp01.csd.toshiba.com/content/support/manuals/userguides/su2428485/GMAD00209010_SatA500_09Aug13.pdf Start on page 60. If you boot the Laptop do you see a "D:" drive? When you loaded Win 8 did you choose C drive and leave D intact?

hard drive posible giving trouble try to replace hard drive then install windows from dvd cd

Hi Keith Sr,

You can easily install the Windows 7 in your computer after checking and ensuring the system requirements. You can insert the Original Windows 7 OS in your drive and reboot your notebook; this will make your notebook boot from the DVD. Follow the installation wizard and after the installation, enter the product key and then register the product at the Microsoft website.

For additional information please follow the steps below.

1. Hook up the hard drive, then insert the install DVD, and boot from the DVD to start the installation.

2. Boot your computer using the Windows 7 installation disc or USB flash drive. Turn on your computer, insert the Windows 7 installation disc or USB flash drive, and then shut down your computer.

3. Restart your computer and then keep on tapping the F12 to enter the boot menu.

4. Refer to on screen instructions to select either CDROM/DVDROM or USB CDROM.

5. Press any key when prompted, and then follow the instructions that appear.

6. On the Install Windows page, enter your language and other preferences, and then click Next .

-If the Install Windows page doesn't appear, please repeat step 3.

7. Once your on the Please read the license terms page, click I accept the license terms , and then click Next .

8. On the Which type of installation do you want? page, click Custom .

9. On the Where do you want to install Windows ? page, choose the partition that you want to install Windows 7 on, or click Unallocated Space if no partitions are listed, and then click Next .

10. If a dialog box appears saying that Windows might create additional partitions for system files, or that the partition you chose might contain recovery files or other types of files from your computer manufacturer, click OK .

11. Follow the instructions to finish installing Windows 7 , which include naming your computer and setting up an initial user account.

Hope it helps.

Thank you for using FixYa.

your laptop should have come with a recovery disk. Pop that in the drive and boot off the CD. it will install the factory os and software that came with your computer. NOTE: THIS WILL ERASE EVERYTHING CURRENTLY ON YOUR HARDDRIVE.
If you do nothave the recovery CD you can obtain one by contacting Toshiba, but this will cost you money.
if you wanted to upgrade to windows 7, you will have to download the drivers from toshiba for your notebook. as far as the programs that came preinstalled on your computer they might or might not work with windows 7. you can always run them in compatibility mode to get it to work (does not always work though)

If you bought a full retail version and not an upgrade, you may need to do a fresh installation of windows. You also need to make certain that your gateway model is able to upgrade to windows 7. Checking your computer's support page, there are no BIOS updates available. Your computer should be fully capable of upgrading to windows 7 from windows Vista. ALso looking at Gateway's support page for this model, there are no drivers offered for Windows 7. All drivers offered are for windows Vista. I have seen computers in the past that will not tolerate an operating system change from the system that was installed at the factory.

If you have a restore partition, you can back up your data, and do a clean install of windows after formatting your hard drive. You may also want to make recovery disks for your computer in case the Win 7 will take on your computer or you cannot get your hardware to work with Win 7 since Gateway offers no Win 7 drivers.
Good luck. Take precautions to back up data and be able to revert to your original factory settings if necessary.

Hi there are 2 Ways to Do it. You Choose .If this is the first time you are trying to do it on this 1545 if it was never formatted in the past use Method 1 if it was already formatted once in the past then use method 2 because method 1 wont be available. Method 2 is lengthy process.

Method 1 : Restore the computer's software to original condition.
Using Dell Factory Image Restore in Windows Vista
Notice: Restoring the original factory image erases ALL existing data. This includes files, folders, programs, drivers, E-mails, photos. Before performing a PC Restore, back up all personal files. If you do not back up your personal files, the data will be lost.
1 Turn on the computer.
2 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. If you press after the Windows logo appears on the screen, the Advanced Boot Options menu will not appear on the screen. If you do not see the Advanced Boot Options menu, restart the computer, and then repeat this step until you see the menu on the screen.

3 Press the on the keyboard to select Repair Your Computer on the Advanced Boot Options menu, and then press .
4 Specify the language settings that you want, and then click Next.
5 Log in as a user who has administrative credentials, and then click OK.
6 Click Dell Factory Image Restore.
7 In the Dell Factory Image Restore window, click Next.
8 Click to select the Yes, reformat hard drive and restore system software to factory condition check box.
9 Click Next.
The computer is restored to the default factory configuration.
10 When the restore operation is completed, click Finish to restart the computer.
The software is now installed as it was when the computer was first received.
__________________________________________________________________________________

Method 2: Reinstall the operating system from the OS Setup Disk. For Windows Vista

1 Insert the Windows Install DVD into the DVD drive, and then restart your computer. When the message Press any key to boot from the CD or DVD ... appears, press a key to continue booting to the DVD.
Note: If the computer does not boot to DVD, follow these instructions. If it does boot to DVD ignore this note.

1 Power on the system and watch for the Dell logo to appear.

2 When the Dell logo appears, press the key to load the Boot Menu. If the menu does not appear, restart the system and tap several times at the Dell logo screen.

3 When the Boot Menu appears, highlight the CD/DVD drive (listed as "CDROM", "CD/DVD" or "CD/DVD/CD-RW") entry from the list and press .

2 After Vista Setup loads, confirm the Language, Time, Currency and Keyboard Method settings are correct then click Next.

3 On the Windows Vista Installation page, click Install Now.

4 Review the terms and click I accept the license terms to proceed.

5 On the Which type of installation do you want? window, click Custom (advanced).

6 On the Where do you want to install Windows window, make sure the largest Primary Partition is selected then click Next. If the Primary partition has 0GB free, there should be a separate line for Unallocated Space. Select this unallocated space and click Next.
Note: Your computer will restart several times during installation.

7 When the Setup window appears, select a user name, password, and picture for your user account.

8 On the next couple of screens, use the default or recommended settings prompted and click Next until you see the Time & Date screen.

9 Click to select your time zone then click Next.

10 After the Thank You message appears, click Start.


If you need more details go to this page Source from Dell support site
How To Restore or Reinstall Microsoft® Windows® on a Dell™ Computer

I HAVE THE SAME PROBLEM, AND I RESOLVE IT CHANGIN A BULGING CAPACITOR NEAR THE PROCESSOR

Hi, this is a common problem with a vista update, dont know why it does it, just does! When it tries to restart keep pressing the 'F8' button and you should get advanced boot options menu where you can get windows to try and repair itself to an earlier restore point, if the problem persists then I'm afraid you'll be looking at restoring back to original factory settings. Below is an extract from the Dell manual found at
http://book-lab.ru/pdf/DELL-INSPIRON/service_manual_for_DELL_Inspiron_1525.pdf

Restoring the Computer to the Default Factory Configuration
The Dell Factory Image Restore option allows you to restore your hard drive
back to its original factory configuration as when you first ordered it from
Dell. This option appears on Dell computers that were originally pre-installed
with Windows Vista® and does not include computers purchased through
the Express Upgrade promotion or computers that were upgraded to
Windows Vista from another version of Windows.
NOTICE: When you restore the computer to the default factory configuration, all
data on the C drive is deleted. Before performing this procedure, back up personal
files. If you do not back up personal files, the data is lost.
1 Restart the computer. To do this, click Start → → Restart.
2 As the computer restarts, press <F8> until the Advanced Boot Options
menu appears on the screen.
NOTE: You must press the <F8> key before the Windows logo appears on the
screen. If you press <F8> after the Windows logo appears on the screen, the
Advanced Boot Options menu will not appear on the screen. If you do not see
the Advanced Boot Options menu, restart the computer, and then repeat this
step until you see the menu on the screen.
3 Press <Down Arrow> to select Repair Your Computer on the Advanced
Boot Options menu, and then press <Enter>.
4 Specify the language settings that you want, and then click Next.
5 Log in as a user who has administrative credentials, and then click OK.
6 Click Dell Factory Image Restore.
7 In the Dell Factory Image Restore window, click Next.
8 Select the Yes, reformat hard drive and restore system software to factory
condition checkbox.
9 Click Next. The computer is restored to the default factory configuration.
When the restore operation is completed, click Finish to restart the computer.

Hope this helps!

Have you tried booting the system with the restore disk, well it should reformat the system before it installs a fresh copy of windows 98 so you should back-up data before proceeding and check the boot sequence in your bios, set the first boot device to CD/DVD.

I hope this helps:)