Howcan I restore my Dell Mini Notebook to factory

If your son installed Vista and then W7 Home, it is most likely that he overwrote the original OS restore partition. Therefore I would suggest that you cannot restore from that partition. However, the computer will have a Windows XP product key attached. I see no reason why you cannot use any Windows XP install disk of the same type as the original and then use the product key attached to the computer. Then you will have to download drivers for LAN, sound, video card, chipset inf etc etc from the Dell website. I have used this method many times with complete success. Of course, Windows will need to download over 120 updates, including Service Pack updates to SP3. Good luck.

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.

Your laptop should of come with a disc to restore it back to the factory setting what windows are you running?There should be a restore point you can go back to

Resetting a Dell Inspiron to the factory settings allows the user to restore the Dell Inspiron to the original operating condition as if it was just taken out of the box. Dell system includes a restore utility called 'Dell Symantec System Restore' to reset or restore your Dell system to factory setting.

Get the step-by-step how to guide..http://technical-support-squad.blogspot.in/2012/08/dell-inspiron-how-to-factory-reset.html

The Dell Inspiron Mini 10 series of netbooks come with recovery software that can restore your netbook's original factory settings. Dell Inspiron Mini 10 netbooks with Windows XP, Windows Vista and Windows 7 can be recovered to the factory settings using a recovery partition on the hard drive.
Windows Vista or 7
Turn on or restart your Dell Inspiron Mini 10 netbook. Press the "F8" key repeatedly when the "Dell" logo appears on the screen to be redirected to the "Advanced Boot Options" menu.
Highlight "Repair Your Computer," and then press "Enter."
Highlight the language layout you want to use for your keyboard and click "Next." Enter your username and password if prompted. Click "OK."
Click "Dell Factory Image Restore," and then click "Next." The recovery software on some Dell Mini systems may require you to click "Dell Factory Tools" followed by "Dell Factory Image Restore" and "Next."
Click "Next" if you understand the netbook will be restored to its original factory settings. The recovery process will begin.
Click "Finish" when a message appears saying the recovery is complete. The netbook will restart and boot up to the Windows Vista or Windows 7 set-up screen, where you can begin personalizing your netbook.

Windows XP Recovery
Turn on the computer. Press the "Ctrl" and "F11" keys at the same time while the computer is booting up to access the recovery software.
Click "Restore."
Click "Confirm" to begin the recovery process, which shouldn't take longer than 10 minutes.
Click "Finish" to restart the computer and finalize the installation. Click "Yes" to restart the netbook again. The computer will boot up to the Windows XP setup screen


Here is a link which will take you to the site which will allow you to download a ZIP file with a WEB PAGE type service manual for your 1018, after a 45 second wait. (They want you to sign up for premium service but NOT NEEDED) Click again after wait?
After download, open the ZIP file and copy all contents to a new folder. Double click the Contents.html file to open in a web browser, then use the built in shortcuts to navigate the manual.

http://www.laptopmanual.net/manual/Download_Dell_Inspiron_Mini10_1018_Service_Manual/2846/1

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No the hidden partions rely on the main partion to have some files still intact to complete a repair of the operating sytem then restores the files back to thair factory settings, to put xp back on you will need the factory recovery cd or dvd. If you buy a copy of xp and install it then ust eht recovery it should restore it to factory with drivers as well.

Normally, a USB External DVD drive is the easiest solution

You can make a bootable USB stick with everything you want and boot from it.

Stelios.

To restore the factory setting press Ctrl + F11

If you deleted or formatted the D:\Recovery partition you can not restore.

it is gone for ever , there is no way to replace it

you have to reinstall windows with the CD

Good Luck

Do you have the original disk that came with your computer? If so just insert it into your cd drive, boot from the CD, restore software. Restore OS and all drivers too.