reset to factory settings?

Question

i'm wanting to reset my computer back to it's factory settings due to errors and constant crashing and things not working properly. But when i go to system restore it only goes back as far as may the 8th 2007 and i'm needing it to go back to when i first got it what am i doing wrong?

how do i reformat my computer then?

Answer 1

Did your computer come with a re-install disc? If it did, just insert the CD and follow the instructions. It will completely erase everything and reinstall your system, so make sure to back up everything first.

If you don't have a re-install CD, you shouldn't just reset your computer; you'll have erased everything, but have no operating system to reload onto it.

Answer 2

If you received recovery disks with your computer. Then you will need to boot the system with the Disk #1
of the recovery disk. In order to "boot" to the cd, you will need to make sure your bios is set to have your
cdrom as the 1st Boot Device in the Boot Sequence settings of the bios. Most bios are accessed by pressing
the (Delete) key or the F2 key on system start up while it's on the black screen.

If your computer did not come with any restore disks. Then it is possible that there is an image of your
windows install residing on the partition of your hard drive. If this is the case, when you boot the computer
and it's on the black screen, if you look on the screen, you should see an option on the screen that might
say something like "Press F10 for Setup". If you have that option on your black boot screen, then you will
need to use that option to restore windows back to default / factory settings.

You might get two F10 options 1. Non Destructive Recovery or 2. Destructive Recovery.

The Non-Destructive recovery will save all of your files and will repair just the windows portion of the
system file.

The Destructive recovery will wipe the system clean, and you will lose all data.

or you may only have the option under F10 to wipe the system clean.

Good Luck

Answer 3

there should be a restore disk either on a cd that came with your computer, or on a hidden partition on the hard drive of your computer, check this out with the computer manufacturer before you do anything

if the restore cd files is on the hard drive then you will need a few blank cd's to write these files to, it will have a copy of your windows and all the other programs that came with the system,

the only way to find out is through the manufactures, support website, or phoning the help line

Answer 4

System Restore has nothing to do with what you want to do. Your computer may have a pre-installed Operating System and if that is the case then do the following. Reboot your computer and as it is rebooting Press F11 and follow the on screen instructions. If this does not work then Reboot your computer and again as it is rebooting Press F11 and CTRL together and follow the on screen instructions.Finally if, neither of the above work then Press F10 and ALT together and follow the on screen instructions.

Answer 5

windows restore doesn't really do the trick and it sucks. You want to reload windows first at boot up and delete the old partition only if you have the restore disk that came with you original PC. Usually PC's nowadays comes with a hidden portion of the hard drive that keeps all these info for restoring your PC back to OEM.

Answer 6

if you have no system restore point older than may 8th 2007 then you must reformat your computer

Answer 7

that happened to me and I ended up having to call Compaq and purchase disks since they don't give them to you with the machine. I lost a lot of files in the process and a few programs. If you decide to do this, call the manufacturer, whomever it is if you don't have a windows disk but make sure you back up everything you can.