How do I completely "reboot" or "reformat" my computer to original factory default settings?

Question

I have a Dell Dimension 4600 Desktop computer which I have for 3 years now. Currently I'm running Windows XP Home Edition with Service Pack 2. I just want to start over again completely. Delete everything and start new again. How do I do that? I don't want to "restore" anything. Just start over from scratch. Thanks.

Answer 1

Yeah - just boot from the CD and follow the prompts.

You want to delete any partitions that exist, then create and format new partitions using NTFS (Quick Format).

After that, follow the prompts to reinstall.

My advice is to do the reinstall, then go immediately to windowsupdate.com and get all the updates you need.

Then deal with additional drivers (if needed or if not picked up by windowsupdate).

Then get your anti-virus software.

If you have an XP disk that is pre-SP2, then plan on about 2-3 hours to get all the updates.

Oh and remember to back up:

Pictures
Music
Documents
Addrss book (if using Outlook Express or Thunderbird)
Favorites
etc.

Answer 2

If you have files, folders, movies, music, etc. that you want to save, make sure you copy them to disk BEFORE you start this process.

Put your Dell Windows XP (Operating System) disk into the CD player and then reboot the PC. It should do a partial boot and stop and ask you if you want to to a full installation or a repair installation. Select the Full Installation.

By choosing "full" XP will reformat your disk and will delete all your programs, data, and/or files you have. Follow the onscreen prompts and during the process delete all the formatted "drives" in the list that it will show. In this way all previous installations will be deleted. Then just follow any on screen prompts, and/or provide the info it asks for.

Make sure you have the Product Key to XP before you start this process. If you don't have it, go to http://www.belarc.com and download and run the Belarc Advisor. You can print this report, but look in the section "Software Licenses". You will see Microsoft - Windows XP and on the right side of it you will see the Key Code that you need in parenthesis like this: (Key: XXXXX-XXXXX-XXXXX-XXXXX-XXXXX) The number that preceeds it on this line is the License Number and is not used during installation.

This should give you a PC with nothing but Windows XP installed on it. Then simpley go to the Microsoft update page and get all the security patches and Service Packs; IE7, etc.

Hope this does it for you.

Answer 3

D:/ is my recovery drive on my computer with windows xp with service pack 2, but I have and HP, not a Dell. You can run reformat from there. Just go to "my computer" and see if you have a "recovery drive".

Explore that and see what you can find

Answer 4

use original CD that came with it, boot it up. and use fresh install with wiping everything out

Answer 5

if you dont have cd............go to start.....go to run.......type cmd........then type: format c: and follow instructions........................chow