I want to restore this computer back to its factory settings when I first bought it
Locate your recovery media. Check your computer manual or the Dell support page for your system on what kind of restore function your computer has.
Use your Dell System Recovery CD. Insert the CD and reboot your computer. When asked, choose to boot the system using the CD.
After the operating system has been reinstalled, you may have to individually install the drivers that make your system components run.
Backup all important files and folders. Restoring your system includes formatting the hard disk.
This will erase all files and folders. Make a copy of anything you don't want to lose by backing it up on an external drive or CD/DVDs.
Some models will come with a recovery disk. Some will use a program called Norton Ghost. Others will use files hidden in a separate hard disk partition (Dell System Restore).
Use Dell System Restore. If you find your computer has Dell System Restore, restart your computer and during the boot process hold the Control Key and the F11 key.
This will boot to the restore partition of your hard drive. Follow the instructions to reset your Dell to factory settings.
After booting the system, you will likely be asked if you want to try to repair the current installation or restore to factory defaults.
It is recommended to choose "restore to factory defaults." Follow the instructions to format your hard drive, reinstall Windows and reset your computer to factory settings.
Your Dell likely came with a CD called "Drivers and Utilities." Insert this CD and follow the on-screen instructions to install system drivers.
Once you have access to the internet, run Windows Update to configure Windows XP to the latest security and stability settings.
hope this helps
SOURCE: Restore factory settings.
Here is the Dell tech support article for PC Restore to re-image the system to the factory settings.
http://support.dell.com/support/topics/global.aspx/support/dsn/en/document?journalid=5A9D1CCAB17AB24BE040AE0AB5E12BFE&docid=325300
SOURCE: Dell Optiplex GX150 Factory Settings Restore Partition...
This is from the Dell support site. You were correct in pressing ctrl+f11 but perhaps you did not press at the correct time. If in following these first two steps you do not get the recovery console, it may not have been installed on your computer.
1 Turn on the computer.
2 When the Dell
splash screen appears during the computer startup process, press and
hold <Ctrl> and then press <F11>. Then, release both keys
at the same time.
3 In the Dell PC Restore by Symantec window, click Restore. Alternatively, press <Tab> to highlight Restore, and then press <Enter>.
4 When a warning message appears stating that all data will be lost, click Confirm, or press <Tab> to highlight Confirm and then press <Enter>.
The Progress window will appear. Once the restore process starts, Dell PC Restore by Symantec usually takes about 8 to 10 minutes to finish.
When the restore process is complete, the following message will appear:
The system recovery process was successful.
5 Click Finish or press <Tab> to highlight Finish and then press <Enter> to restart the computer.
The software is now installed as it was when the computer was first received.
SOURCE: I need to restore my dell dimension c521 back to
as soon as you turn the computer on hold down the CTRL key and press F11 try this
SOURCE: i have a dell vostro 1710 i want to restore to
Turn the computer off, and then restart it; immediately hold down the ctrl and f11 keys, and it will restore
SOURCE: how to restore dell vostro 200 computer back to
1. Restart the computer.
2. As the computer restarts, press the F8 key until the
Advanced Boot Options menu appears on the screen.
Note:
You must press F8 before the Windows logo appears on the
screen. If you press F8 after the Windows logo appears, the Advanced
Boot Options menu does 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 (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. Click to select the check box for Yes, reformat hard drive and
restore system software to factory condition.
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.
screen appears before you can finish this step, wait for the computer to finish rebooting and restart the computer again. screen appears before you can finish this step, wait for the computer to finish rebooting and restart the computer again.598 views
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