i have a dell and i want to delete all my programs and everything off of it how would i do that?

Question

i have a dell and i want to delete all my programs and everything off of it ..to make it seem like a brand new computer how would i do that

Answer 1

use the restore disk that came with your computer

Answer 2

The best way is to run the recovery disk that should have included with your Dell. This will put the computer back to the way it was when new. If you don't have the recovery cd it gets a bit more complicated because you would need to manually uninstall the software with Control Panel add/remove software and also all the personal data.
Reinstalling the operating system is another option but you probably do not have an operating system cd or the necessary drivers. The recovery cd is the best and simplest option, if you do not have one it may be possible to get one from http://www.myrecoverycds.com/?src=overture

Answer 3

This will put it to an as shipped condition

Using Dell PC Restore by Symantec
NOTICE: Using Dell PC Restore permanently deletes all data on the hard drive and removes any applications or
drivers installed after you received your computer. If possible, back up the data before using PC Restore. Use PC Restore only if System Restore did not resolve your operating system problem.
NOTE: Dell PC Restore by Symantec is not available in all countries or on all computers.
Use Dell PC Restore by Symantec only as the last method to restore your operating system.
PC Restore restores your hard drive to the operating state it was in when you purchased the computer.
Any programs or files added since you received your computer—including data files—are permanently
deleted from the hard drive. Data files include documents, spreadsheets, e-mail messages, digital photos,
music files, and so on. If possible, back up all data before using PC Restore.
To use PC Restore:
1 Turn on the computer.
During the boot process, a blue bar with www.dell.com appears at the top of the screen.
2 Immediately upon seeing the blue bar, press .
IF YOU DO NOT PRESS IN TIME, LET THE COMPUTER FINISH STARTING, AND THEN RESTART THE COMPUTER AGAIN.
NOTICE: If you do not want to proceed with PC Restore, click Reboot in the following step.
3 On the next screen that appears, click Restore.
4 On the next screen, click Confirm.
The restore process takes approximately 6–10 minutes to complete.
5 When prompted, click Finish to reboot the computer.
NOTE: Do not manually shut down the computer. Click Finish and let the computer completely reboot.
6 When prompted, click Yes.
The computer restarts. Because the computer is restored to its original operating state, the screens that appear, such as the End User License Agreement, are the same ones that appeared the first time the computer was turned on.
7 Click Next.
The System Restore screen appears and the computer restarts.
8 After the computer restarts, click OK.

Go to Microsoft Updates as you now will be WAY out of date.

Answer 4

Why all of them? My mother has a dell. It some times wont work. It's goes back and forth from working to not working. Not sure why that is. Most computers are the same, in that when operating on Windows, they have a file or program called Add/Remove. Click your mouse on each one you want to delete and click on remove. the more programs you want to delete, (and the more you have) the longer it will take, to do that. But that's the way.

Answer 5

Well, if you have your original CDs that came with the computer, you could simply turn the machine off, insert the Dell Windows Re-install CD and turn the machine back on. It will walk you through the prompts and will reset the computer back to the original condition when it was new. It can be a bit more complicated.

I might try and go into more detail on my LIVE PC Tech show this week:
http://www.BlogTalkRadio.com/TechRescue

Answer 6

Reformat the hard drive; you will need your operating system disks that came with the computer in order to do this. See this website or you can call Dell Tech support for help if you run into trouble.

Answer 7

Insert your restore disk and reboot computer.

Windows will load its files and when finished press F8 to agree to terms, then it will give you the option of installing Windows without a format (repairing the current install), or installing Windows with a format, choose this one. This will insert a fresh copy of Windows and delete all the old stuff off your hard drive.

Answer 8

Use the restore disk the computer came with. It will delete EVERYTHING, including files you may want to save, so save those first on a different drive (like one of those USB Flash drives) and have at it

Answer 9

you can do this but i'm probably wrong. everyones computer is made from a registry. to get inside the registry you go to:
start, then run.
Inside the run box type in "regedit". you can delete everything on there,but there is a risk of making you're computer worser by deleting everything. but i hoped i helped as much. but listen so somebodies else answer before you do mine.

Answer 10

i had to call dell for this one.. when you shut down your compute wait a few minutes for it to come up and when you see the dell logo.. hit control f11 together and follow the instructions.. at least that the way mine was.. you may how ever want to call them and they will walk you through it for a fee but is is worth having them walk you through it and the next time you will know how to do it...just write down everything you do.. douglas m says it best.. that is just what i did.. dont forget to write down is instructions

Answer 11

As long as you have your programs (XP, or Vista) on a disk and your files backed up on a separate removable disk, you can go to this website and follow the directions (you'll have to register first - it's free).

http://www.cyberwalker.com/article/454/45