Factory Restore: On a Dell Computer
How to Factory Restore a Dell Computer.
This guide will show you the steps on how to restore windows on a Dell computer using your dell factory image. This method should work on most newer dell laptops.
Step 1: To ensure that your able to restore your computer using the dell factory restore you can check to see if the image exists by clicking on the Windows Logo key on the taskbar >and clicking on Computer as shown in the figure.
From there a new window will open and you should see you your hard disks.
The C: drive is where your Operating is stored on and your other drives will have assigned drive letters.
In this picture my recovery drive is Labeled as(E:) your computer may label your drive a different drive letter based on the hardware you have installed on you computer. If you do See a drive labeled Recovery then your computer will be capable of Reinstalling Windows to its Factory settings.
****Note: Reinstalling windows will erase all your information you currently have on your computer. Example: documents, pictures, videos, music installed programs. If you have important files you need
I suggest either backing your files up on a CD’s a flash drive or external hard drive.
(if you would like to know how to do this read my tutorial about how to back up your files by click on this link: Click Here Otherwise if you already know how to do this continue to the next step
Step 2 : Booting to the advanced Recovery.
You are now ready to reinstall windows and your files have been backed up.
If your Computer is already on you will have to restart it by clicking on the Windows Logo key on the taskbar and selecting Shutdown>Restart. If you computer is turned off power it on.
You will see the dell logo flash quickly and will have to be ready to hit the f8 key on your keyboard a couple of times(4) to get to the Advanced boot options as shown in this picture.
If you see the Advanced boot options as shown you want to select Repair Your Computer .
You should then see a screen that says windows is loading files… as depicted in this picture .
Step 3 . System Recovery Options
You will now be taken to the System Recover options. As shown
In this picture.
System Recover options will prompt you to select keyboard input method.
Select US and click on next.
**The Next Screen may ask you for a username and password if you set one up. ( Example: The username and password is the information you type in when you normally log into windows) This is for security purposes to allow access to this feature.
Once you select the user and password hit ok.
The recovery tools selections comes up and you will have to select what you want to do.
In this Case we want to select Dell Factory Image restore as Shown in this picture.
Step 4: Restore System
The Dell factory recovery box will appear( as shown in this picture)
It will let you know what the utility does and that all your personal information will be overwritten.
If you consent to this hit on next.
Another window will appear giving you a final warning about the recovery. You will have to select the checkbox “Yes, reformat hard drive and restore system software to factory condition” and click on Next to continue. Once you do this the Restoration of your system has Started as Shown in this picture.
Step 5: Set-up and configuring Windows
(Your almost finished with the dell factory restore installation)
When the dell recovery has finished hit finish and your computer will restart.
As the computer is restarting you will see a black screen with the words Setup is Preparing your Computer for the first use. As shown in this picture.
After a couple of Seconds you will be taking to the windows set-up screen.
This is an Easy step by step screen with questions asking you to select your country region, time zone, and to agree with the terms and conditions. Once you have gone through those steps hit finish.
You will then be taken to your desktop screen after Windows prepares your desktop. As shown in this picture.
Step 6: Windows is now restored to factory settings.
Congratulations you have now successfully restored windows to its factory settings.
From here you will have to install any important programs you previously had and restore your files you backed up.
Any questions or comments? Email me at jonathan@techtips4you.com