How do you restart a dell laptop?

Question

i just want to wipe out all of the files and go back to how it was when it was first purchased

Answer 1

you would need the resource CDs that come with the laptop. They include the O.S. (windows) plus any drivers and applications that came originally installed with the laptop.

After you get those, make sure you have backed up any and all information that is important to you. Then insert the O.S. CD and reboot the laptop. You will most probably see a message that asks you if you want to boot from the CD: click any key to answer yes, and then the setup for the O.S. will run.

You will need to delete the current partition that has your current O.S. and then create a brand new one. This will delete all the information in the partition you delete, so make sure you select the right partition if you have more than 1 hard drive.

After you do that, just follow the instructions to set up the new O.S. in a partition formatted as FAT or NTFS. NTFS is the most secure and configurable format for the O.S. and if you have enough knowledge you'll be able to secure files and folders in ways you cannot with a FAT partition.

After the O.S. is installed, insert the CD for the additional drivers and applications; install them and then run all the updates for the O.S. and any other applications to make sure they are up-to-date as far as security goes.

NOTE: If you are using Windows XP, make sure you choose to turn on the Firewall when asked by the installation process; in this way, you will be pretty well protected while you go online to download any updates and/or drivers that might additionally be needed.

Good luck.

Answer 2

start by inserting the OS/Restore CD.
Restart the laptop
upon restarting you should see an option to enter setup (F1,F2,Esc,Del, etc.) press the key
in setup follow instructions on how to navigate and look for a page that has boot options
change the boot options so that they read 1. CD(DVD) 2. Hard Drive - any others after that don't matter.
exit saving changes
watch for a screen that says press any key to boot from CD.
press a key (you will only have about 5 sec or so, so watch)
it will load a few drives and files automatically - just let it do it's thing when a screen comes up with a few options - one might be to install, another to repair, etc. select install.
delete all partitions and then format.
install the new OS on the new empty partition
just follow the wizard to install the rest of the way

if you would like to make multiple partitions just do so. size is in MB so for a Gig it would be 1000(1024),2Gig would be 2000(2048) etc. i would go with nothing less than 6 Gig for the OS though. It will ask for a default partitions it will give a default size of 8Mb do not worry about it just select it.

good luck and have fun

Answer 3

I took my Dell notebook back to factory settings in April. Before I started the re-install of my OS, I moved as many files as I could to my 160 GB external hard drive. I was particularly careful to move those programs for which I did not have an installation CD. Once I finished that, I turned off the external and unplugged it from the notebook. That way everything on it was safe.

I did not (and would not have) attempted this on my own. I had a tech friend talk me through it by phone. When she got stuck, I turned to the March 2006 issue of Smart Computing which covers re-installing the OS. It took me the rest of the way.

It's a long process but was well worth the effort. Take your time. Don't rush. And have guidance from someone who really knows what they are doing. You can do it. Good luck!

Answer 4

at start up hold down the F11 key... im pretty sure... dell has a built in reset program that will reset everything to factory


and like those other people said about receiving a cd... recently dell has stopped sending cds so you probably didnt get one of those.

Answer 5

You need the CD's that came with the computer. Run the setup for XP, and choose a clean install (reformatting the C drive).

Answer 6

The above answers are all good, but
I still would call Dell Support and have
them walk me thru the procedure.

Answer 7

When you buy a dell, you receive a cd/dvd for recovery. this will resort back to the way it was the day you bought it.

Answer 8

Right click on the C: drive. Choose "format". Bye bye files.

Answer 9

If administration alt delete fails, and oftentimes it does on the "blue reveal of demise" then you quite in basic terms ought to capability it down. sometimes you are able to desire to hold the capability button for some seconds in the previous this is going to capability down.

Answer 10

Use system restore