Complete system restore on Windows Vista

My computer is over filled with useless and old data that would take to long
to delete one by one. I would like to do a system restore to completly wipe
everything off computer as if it were a new computer. I didn't recieve any
disks when i first bought computer in march 2008, and cannot find anything on
computer it self for system restore except recover from earlier date.

Jaime R wrote:

> My computer is over filled with useless and old data that would take to
> long to delete one by one. I would like to do a system restore to
> completly wipe everything off computer as if it were a new computer. I
> didn't recieve any disks when i first bought computer in march 2008, and
> cannot find anything on computer it self for system restore except recover
> from earlier date.

In all probability there is a factory image on a special partition on the
hard drive. With most of these computers, you access the Factory Recovery
process by pressing a function key (like F11) at startup. There may be a
prompt at the lower left corner of the screen when the computer starts up
such as "Press F10 to enter Setup" and "Press F11 to restore your system".
Also with most of these computers you get a utility with which to create a
physical Recovery Disc set. It's important to do this in case your hard
drive dies or the partition holding the factory image is somehow damaged.

Unfortunately, we can't give you specifics about your particular machine
because all the OEMs (Dell, HP, etc.) do it differently, sometimes even
within different model lines. Refer to your computer manual or the tech
support website for your specific model computer. Or call your computer
mftr.'s tech support to see how.

Malke
--
MS-MVP
Elephant Boy Computers - Don't Panic!
http://www.elephantboycomputers.com/#FAQ

[crosspost to Vista General]

Don't confuse a System Recovery (AKA In-Place Upgrade or clean install) with
(Windows) System Restore!

Check with the manufacturer's tech support: Chances are there's a hidden
Recovery partition you can use to return the computer to OOBE state.
--
~Robear Dyer (PA Bear)
MS MVP-IE, Mail, Security, Windows Client - since 2002
www.banthecheck.com


Jaime R wrote:
> My computer is over filled with useless and old data that would take to
> long
> to delete one by one. I would like to do a system restore to completly
> wipe
> everything off computer as if it were a new computer. I didn't recieve any
> disks when i first bought computer in march 2008, and cannot find anything
> on computer it self for system restore except recover from earlier date.

Hi Jaime,

Check your system documentation or look online at the manufacturer's support
site. As mentioned, you don't want System Restore, you want a System
Recovery. The methods vary greatly. Most require that the user depress a
particular F key during the startup sequence to access the recovery tool.

--
Best of Luck,

Rick Rogers, aka "Nutcase" - Microsoft MVP
http://mvp.support.microsoft.com/
Windows help - www.rickrogers.org
Vote for my shoe: http://rick-mvp.blogspot.com

"PA Bear [MS MVP]" <PABearMVP@gmail.com> wrote in message
news:ex4aF3PKKHA.3852@TK2MSFTNGP03.phx.gbl...
> [crosspost to Vista General]
>
> Don't confuse a System Recovery (AKA In-Place Upgrade or clean install)
> with (Windows) System Restore!
>
> Check with the manufacturer's tech support: Chances are there's a hidden
> Recovery partition you can use to return the computer to OOBE state.
> --
> ~Robear Dyer (PA Bear)
> MS MVP-IE, Mail, Security, Windows Client - since 2002
> www.banthecheck.com
>
>
> Jaime R wrote:
>> My computer is over filled with useless and old data that would take to
>> long
>> to delete one by one. I would like to do a system restore to completly
>> wipe
>> everything off computer as if it were a new computer. I didn't recieve
>> any
>> disks when i first bought computer in march 2008, and cannot find
>> anything
>> on computer it self for system restore except recover from earlier date.
>