Restoring a Windows computer

Rose · 05-12-07, 11:23 AM

Is there any way to restore my Dell XPS Gen 5 running Windows XP back to scratch, as in like it was when I first baught it? I need to free up loads of room on my computer, and deleting computer games just doesn't free up enough space. I would like to start from scratch again.

Letum · 05-12-07, 12:03 PM

easy, do you have your windows xp disk?

If so you need to run FDISK.....a quick google will tell you how.
*edit* http://support.microsoft.com/kb/313348

*edit#2* Best to get all your hardware drivers on to a CD to start with, it makes life easy. Also back up passwords etc too if you need them.

*edit#3*
Do you have a seprate computor on the internet so someone can help you if you get stuck restoreing the dell?

Rose · 05-12-07, 12:24 PM

Thanks for the reply. Looks pretty complicated... I'll try it out. And yes, there is another computer with internet available in case something goes wrong.

Letum · 05-12-07, 12:30 PM

Its not very complicated. The menu systems are easy if you read it all carefully.
The hard part often comes after you have formatted the drive and need to reinstall all the hardware drivers, but that is a lot easier in XP than it was in windows.

hoagiedriver · 05-12-07, 05:00 PM

If you have a working network card after reinstalling, it goes pretty smothly.

Once it is installed, go to 'windows update' and do all the updates. Skip ahead to the service pack 2 update if you can, that will save some time.

Update -> reboot -> update -> repeat until it says you are all updated.

Then you might want to go to the websites of various devices you have, and get the latest drivers from them (video card, sound card, etc). There are cases where an older driver is sometimes better, but usually that isn't the case.

fatty · 05-12-07, 05:08 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by hoagiedriver

If you have a working network card after reinstalling, it goes pretty smothly.

Once it is installed, go to 'windows update' and do all the updates. Skip ahead to the service pack 2 update if you can, that will save some time.

Update -> reboot -> update -> repeat until it says you are all updated.

Then you might want to go to the websites of various devices you have, and get the latest drivers from them (video card, sound card, etc). There are cases where an older driver is sometimes better, but usually that isn't the case.

Yeah, the updates are pretty simple. I had to format and re-install Windows two weeks ago, it took about three hours before I was back up to snuff. The installation process is easy; just follow the dialogues and you can't go wrong, they don't throw any jargon at you.

After all Windows Updates are installed I go to get the manufacturer's drivers for my devices. WU provides some odd hardware upgrades, like a 3-year-old driver for my Radeon 9600 and a sound driver which disables 5.1 surround.

Iceman · 05-12-07, 11:32 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Rose

Is there any way to restore my Dell XPS Gen 5 running Windows XP back to scratch, as in like it was when I first baught it? I need to free up loads of room on my computer, and deleting computer games just doesn't free up enough space. I would like to start from scratch again.

If you bought it new I hope you have the "Restore" disks that came with it....many computers now come with a restore link under "System Tools" and the recovery information is in a protected area on your hard drive....doing this is the easiest way for noobs.

Just click next next next and your back to factory state...dat was free.

05-12-07, 11:23 AM	#1
Rose Grey Wolf Join Date: May 2006 Location: New York City Posts: 966 Downloads: 0 Uploads: 0	Restoring a Windows computer Is there any way to restore my Dell XPS Gen 5 running Windows XP back to scratch, as in like it was when I first baught it? I need to free up loads of room on my computer, and deleting computer games just doesn't free up enough space. I would like to start from scratch again.

05-12-07, 12:30 PM	#4
Letum Navy Seal Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: York - UK Posts: 6,079 Downloads: 43 Uploads: 0	Its not very complicated. The menu systems are easy if you read it all carefully. The hard part often comes after you have formatted the drive and need to reinstall all the hardware drivers, but that is a lot easier in XP than it was in windows. __________________

05-12-07, 12:03 PM	#2
Letum Navy Seal Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: York - UK Posts: 6,079 Downloads: 43 Uploads: 0	easy, do you have your windows xp disk? If so you need to run FDISK.....a quick google will tell you how. edit http://support.microsoft.com/kb/313348 edit#2 Best to get all your hardware drivers on to a CD to start with, it makes life easy. Also back up passwords etc too if you need them. edit#3 Do you have a seprate computor on the internet so someone can help you if you get stuck restoreing the dell? __________________

05-12-07, 12:24 PM	#3
Rose Grey Wolf Join Date: May 2006 Location: New York City Posts: 966 Downloads: 0 Uploads: 0	Thanks for the reply. Looks pretty complicated... I'll try it out. And yes, there is another computer with internet available in case something goes wrong.

05-12-07, 05:00 PM	#5
hoagiedriver Seaman Join Date: Sep 2005 Posts: 41 Downloads: 0 Uploads: 0	If you have a working network card after reinstalling, it goes pretty smothly. Once it is installed, go to 'windows update' and do all the updates. Skip ahead to the service pack 2 update if you can, that will save some time. Update -> reboot -> update -> repeat until it says you are all updated. Then you might want to go to the websites of various devices you have, and get the latest drivers from them (video card, sound card, etc). There are cases where an older driver is sometimes better, but usually that isn't the case.