reset a lap top to factory setings (1 Viewer)

[Wildbill]

How do you reset a lap top to factory settings
bill

 

[ianthebuilder]

Mine was in settings bill ,,,

Restore to an earlier point in time or factory settings ! Can't be of any further help I'm afraid mate, keep your chin up bill,!! X

 

[Langtoftlad]

I'm sure someone will be along soon Bill with proper instructions - but I wanted to make sure that you know you will wipe off all your data, such as photos & documents.
The best advice is to save anything you want to keep, anything irreplaceable to external storage such as a HDD or a DVD or a USB stick.

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[chaser]

I'm sure someone will be along soon Bill with proper instructions - but I wanted to make sure that you know you will wipe off all your data, such as photos & documents.
The best advice is to save anything you want to keep, anything irreplaceable to external storage such as a HDD or a DVD or a USB stick.

Another thing, why?

 

[Wildbill]

Another thing, why?

what your problem if I ask a question?

 

[irnbru]

Do a google putting in your model. Depending how old it is it might have a recovery disc.

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[Wildbill]

done it its the wee-mans lap top sorted @irnbru

 

[maison]

OK.

Time for a numpty question

My Dell Inspiron Laptop has developed major problems, taking up to 15 minutes from switching on to be usable. System Restore does not help.

We moved house recently and the restore disc has gone missing so I cannot reset to factory settings using it.

Is there any way I can get back to a functional laptop? I don't mind losing data as I can backup my essential stuff before doing any reset.

 

[DBK]

OK.

Time for a numpty question

My Dell Inspiron Laptop has developed major problems, taking up to 15 minutes from switching on to be usable. System Restore does not help.

We moved house recently and the restore disc has gone missing so I cannot reset to factory settings using it.

Is there any way I can get back to a functional laptop? I don't mind losing data as I can backup my essential stuff before doing any reset.

@Gromett will talk you through installing Linux - but seriously, it is a valid option. There will be a learning curve but for normal stuff it will be fine - and quick.

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[Boringfrog]

OK.

Time for a numpty question

My Dell Inspiron Laptop has developed major problems, taking up to 15 minutes from switching on to be usable. System Restore does not help.

We moved house recently and the restore disc has gone missing so I cannot reset to factory settings using it.

Is there any way I can get back to a functional laptop? I don't mind losing data as I can backup my essential stuff before doing any reset.

How far back are you going with system restore? Go back as far as you can 1st.

 

[Larrynwin]

OK.

Time for a numpty question

My Dell Inspiron Laptop has developed major problems, taking up to 15 minutes from switching on to be usable. System Restore does not help.

We moved house recently and the restore disc has gone missing so I cannot reset to factory settings using it.

Is there any way I can get back to a functional laptop? I don't mind losing data as I can backup my essential stuff before doing any reset.

There may well be a reset partition on the hard drive carrying the info needed to get back to original condition. Try restarting and at the same time repeatedly press F8 at top of keyboard , this should bring up various options including reset to factory settings.
If possible save any files photos etc to disc or card before as this operation will format the hard drive.
Good luck.

 

[chaser]

what your problem if I ask a question?

No problem at all, just thought it might have not needed a full reset

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[Wildbill]

No problem at all, just thought it might have not needed a full reset

I wanted to a full reset as giving it to the wee man it now running like a new computer
bill

 

[maison]

How far back are you going with system restore? Go back as far as you can 1st.

I have tried everyone in storage. Some simply don't improve the situation, others "fail" during the attempted reset. I have run out of restore points.

 

[maison]

There may well be a reset partition on the hard drive carrying the info needed to get back to original condition. Try restarting and at the same time repeatedly press F8 at top of keyboard , this should bring up various options including reset to factory settings.
If possible save any files photos etc to disc or card before as this operation will format the hard drive.
Good luck.

I have done this but F8 does not work. It leads to a screen saying select something (can't remember what without going back into the system) to reset. Doing so just pushes the laptop back into startup mode. Searching on computer help Forums brings up the info that F8 does not allow reset on many Dell Inspiron. There is even a message from Dell saying that the F8 reset procedure should be omitted from future user manuals as it is no longer current for those models.

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[maison]

@Gromett will talk you through installing Linux - but seriously, it is a valid option. There will be a learning curve but for normal stuff it will be fine - and quick.

I don't mind having a go at Linux.

Will it work as a "clean" install ie not be affected by whatever is currently happening within windows?

If I save important work to a memory stick and reinstall after installing Linux will I be able to access them via Linux?

I am quite competent at most basic computer actions but currently am stumped.

 

[Larrynwin]

I have done this but F8 does not work. It leads to a screen saying select something (can't remember what without going back into the system) to reset. Doing so just pushes the laptop back into startup mode. Searching on computer help Forums brings up the info that F8 does not allow reset on many Dell Inspiron. There is even a message from Dell saying that the F8 reset procedure should be omitted from future user manuals as it is no longer current for those models.

Ok try F7 possibly different options , if one option is OS ie Vista or Windows 7 click for further options.

 

[maison]

@Larrynwin
Thanks, will give it a go.

It's odd but, after a very slow startup, possibly as much as 15 minutes from switch on to usability, it runs applications quite quickly. It has an i5 processor and plenty of available memory, runnng 64 bit Windows 7.

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[Larrynwin]

@Larrynwin
Thanks, will give it a go.

It's odd but, after a very slow startup, possibly as much as 15 minutes from switch on to usability, it runs applications quite quickly. It has an i5 processor and plenty of available memory, runnng 64 bit Windows 7.

I have been going through the same with a HP laptop 64bit i5 W7 , I have taken it back to original factory settings , it works for a time then crashes again so I'm giving up on it. A shame as it's a decent PC.
I wonder if OS is time loaded to pack up so we have to replace ?

 

[Boringfrog]

Try booting into safe mode, see if it starts faster.

 

[maison]

Try booting into safe mode, see if it starts faster.

Thanks.

I've done that too, several times. I have also cleaned out all non-essential programmes, run clean-up, disc check, disc defrag, and registry cleaner. A full virus check and malware scan has also been performed.

I think I have done everything that is considered " normal" in this case, but, without the backup discs I am stuck.

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[Larrynwin]

Thanks.

I've done that too, several times. I have also cleaned out all non-essential programmes, run clean-up, disc check, disc defrag, and registry cleaner. A full virus check and malware scan has also been performed.

I think I have done everything that is considered " normal" in this case, but, without the backup discs I am stuck.

As mentioned above with my laptop I do have the original backup discs which I produced when new and they do not work.

Might be worth considering another programme disc , they are available on eBay.

 

[maison]

As mentioned above with my laptop I do have the original backup discs which I produced when new and they do not work.

Might be worth considering another programme disc , they are available on eBay.

I wasn't aware you could buy them. Will have a look. Thanks.

 

[Boringfrog]

This is different from safe mode (I think)
https://support.microsoft.com/en-gb/help/929135/how-to-perform-a-clean-boot-in-windows

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[Gromett]

You can download ISO's of all major releases of windows for free.
for example.
Windows 7: https://www.microsoft.com/en-gb/software-download/windows7
Windows 10: https://www.microsoft.com/en-gb/software-download/windows10ISO

Just install it to a USB stick and re-install clean.

 

[Gromett]

I wasn't aware you could buy them. Will have a look. Thanks.

Don't buy off ebay, it may have malware installed on it. Get the free ones direct from MS.

 

[maison]

Don't buy off ebay, it may have malware installed on it.

Thanks but my computer is virtually useless as is.

I have already ordered a "new, boxed version, unopened with full licence key" from a seller with 7793 sales @ 99.1% satisfaction rating.

I will try to reset, than run full virus and malware scans before loading any sensitive info.

I will post on here what I experience in the hope it will help others either to use, or avoid, this method.

Thanks to everyone who has taken the time to answer my query. Excellent response as usual.

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[Minxy]

A daft question but have you got it automatically connecting to the internet on start up? I've had issues with this so now manually connect and it has solved my 'slow starting' problems. It appears that sometimes when it's set as auto connect it tries to find updates and causes problems (trying to do too much at once without having had it's Weetabix!) ... worth a go.

 

[Gromett]

Thanks but my computer is virtually useless as is.

I have already ordered a "new, boxed version, unopened with full licence key" from a seller with 7793 sales @ 99.1% satisfaction rating.

I will try to reset, than run full virus and malware scans before loading any sensitive info.

I will post on here what I experience in the hope it will help others either to use, or avoid, this method.

Thanks to everyone who has taken the time to answer my query. Excellent response as usual.

You could have downloaded it for free directly from Microsofts website

 

[Minxy]

I have already ordered a "new, boxed version, unopened with full licence key" from a seller with 7793 sales @ 99.1% satisfaction rating.

... can you cancel the order?

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