computer help (CD, hard drive, operating system, installed)

[bush2cheney]

I would like to restore my computer to factory settings, and I have no idea how to! I have a Dell Dimension E520 with the Vista Home Premium as my OS. Can anyone tell me how to do the factory restore, not the system restore, for my computer? I do not have the CD to do it, but I know on my old XP I did not need the disc. Any ideas?

[Keeper]

I moved the thread to technology forum. There are techies here

[BrianH]

You should need a disc to do the Factory Restore if I am understanding correctly you want to restore it to as if you just took it out of the box ?

[Tek_Freek]

Does the drive had a D: partition? If so, the restore might be located there.

This is from the manual I found on line at Dell: Documentation (http://tinyurl.com/yg3pte - broken link)

Restoring Your Operating System

You can restore your operating system in the following ways:
• Microsoft® Windows® XP System Restore returns your computer to an earlier operating state without affecting data files. Use System Restore as the first solution for restoring your operating system and preserving data files.

• Dell PC Restore by Symantec restores your hard drive to the operating state it was in when you purchased the computer. Dell PC Restore permanently deletes all data on the hard drive and removes any applications installed after you received the computer. Use PC Restore only if System Restore did not resolve your operating system problem.

• If you received an Operating System CD with your computer, you can use it to restore your operating system. Use the CD only if System Restore did not resolve your operating system problem.

BrianH is right. You need the CD.