is there any way to totally reset the hard drive like from whence it came from the factory? a case of bad software and files is the reason.
thanks, jason
It is called formating and reinstallation and it can be fairly easy or quite difficult depending on your computer configuration. We need more info about your computer, operating system, installed software, and personal files to tell you how to do it.
IIRC, Dells usually come with a recovery disk that will reinstall all the software just as it came from the factory. It will also reformat your hard drive which means everything on it now will be deleted.
IIRC the Inspiron 1000s were 2.2 Ghz Intel Celeron class machines with 30 and 40 gig gig drives that came with the XP Home OS. Use your Dell re-install CD that came with the machine to reset the OS. If you don’t have one just use a MS XP OS CD. If XP doesn’t have specific drivers download them from the Dell website.
i have a cd from dell that says drivers and utilities, as well as others. what do i need to do to totally reset my system?
Do you have a Dell CD that says
Reinstallation CD
Windows XP + SP1
If so, start by booting the system with this CD in the drive. Make sure that you pay attention as the system boots. You should get a menu that lets you specify if you want to boot from the hard drive or CD. Choose the option to boot from the CD. The Windows installation script will begin. I think there’s an option to format the existing partition. You’ll want to do that.
I’m assuming, by the way, that you’ve already backed up everything you might need from the hard drive first, and that you’ve verified that the backup media is readable elsewhere.
is that the same as "reinstallation cd Microsoft windows xp home edition?
Yes, it is. Start with that CD. It will let you install the operating system. You’ll need the drivers and utilities disc to reinstall any of the missing drivers or utilities that were on the system originally.
Some computer manfacturers will provide a recovery CD that will bring the system back to the factory configuration in one step. Unfortunately, Dell doesn’t do this. But one advantage of Dell’s approach is that you can choose which of the utilities you want to install.