I have a PC I last summer at ?

Question

I bought a used PC. The owner never erased anything off it, including the password. They've sinced moved. My Q is, How do I reset the PC to it's original factory condtion? I know it can be done because I did it on my last PC.
Your assistance would be appreciated, thanks. Shubie.

Answer 1

To reset it to its original configuration you should reformat the hard drive and reinstall windowsxp (I'm assuming you're using windowsxp). To do this you will need (at least) either

1) an operating system CD such as a WinXP Home disk and its product key

OR

2) a CD of the SAME operating system you currently have installed, and then you need to run this program to get your current product key. http://www.magicaljellybean.com/keyfinder.shtml

You need the same operating system (for example if you have the media center version of xp, you'll need a media center disk) because your current product key is specific to that flavor of windows.

Once you have one of these things you're ready to reinstall windows.

First make sure your pc's BIOS is set up to boot from the CD. Then put the CD in the drive and boot the computer from the CD. Follow the prompts and when you are to select the disk partition, choose the current one and delete it. Format the disk with the full format (not the quick one) because you should check the disk for physical errors. Then make a new NTFS partition (you'll see all of these choices), and install windows to it. Follow the prompts and you're all set.

Be sure to either set up windows to download and install updates automatically, or do it yourself from Internet Explorer -- choose Windows Update from the Tool menu. You'll likely need to reboot after a few updates -- keep going to the Windows Update site until you have no more updates to get.


If you look at the WIndows update page and choose the Custom option, you'll have an opportunity to load optional drivers for other hardware in your system. If after you look here you still don;'t have drivers for your stuff, say for example your sound card, you may need to load drivers that are specific to your computer. If the computer is from a big seller like Dell, you should go to their website, go to their support section and look for downloads for your model computer. Then you should be able to find drivers.

If your computer is more generic, you can open the device manager to get a look at what hardware you have (start, control panel, System, Hardware, Device manager.

Answer 2

There may be a restore partition on the hard drive, or you may have to get the disk from the manufacturer. What kind of computer, OS etc.?

Answer 3

Format.