Dell Factory Restore

pdmac8 · 18-12-09, 06:58 PM

Hi Everyone

I have a Dell Inspiron 6400 which I have recently had to do a reinstall of Windows XP due to a .dll error.

The installed program list is now blank but I have read that Dell offer a Factory Restore option by pressing CTRL + F11 at startup

Can anyone explain exactly what doing this factory restore will do as I don't want to go into it blind.

All help will receive my gratitude

Thanks in advance

Harvez · 18-12-09, 07:09 PM

factory reset, will put the laptop back to how it arrived to you.

pdmac8 · 18-12-09, 07:13 PM

Thanks Harvez

I have a worry tho as I have reinstalled Windows, are all the programs still on my laptop just not installed to run with Windows?

Harvez · 18-12-09, 07:14 PM

if you have the dvd that was shipped with the laptop it should reinstall all the programs it came with. any you have installed yourself plus any other apps etc will be gone.

pdmac8 · 18-12-09, 07:24 PM

I have the Windows XP disk and the Dell Drivers disk but do not have any software disks as they were not supplied when I bought the laptop

All the software was just pre-loaded, I have Microsoft Office as I bought that seperately but I am missing things like the DVD rewriting software etc

Will that restore with the Factory reset?

Oh and I really appreciate your help

Harvez · 18-12-09, 07:26 PM

as I said we have over 400 dell laptops at work and they all ship with a DVD that will restore the machine back to as it arrives, re: it will have the welcome screen and ask you for your passwords etc.

if your stuck for nero etc ive a box full which are shipped with dell laptops, can send you one out but will be 4th Jan before i can as we have broken up now for chrimbo.

pdmac8 · 18-12-09, 07:48 PM

Thanks for the offer Harvez but I have a copy of Nero so I may use that

One more question - are the CD's I mentioned, the Windows XP one and the Dell Drivers one all I need to do a restore?

I really have no clue what I'm doing do I?

Harvez · 18-12-09, 08:00 PM

yer just place the dvd in the drive and it should prompt you to press any key to boot from the dvd. if not F12 as its booting then select the dvd drive to boot from.

the windows disc should install the drivers but if not place the driver cd in once windows is installed and it will sort everything out.

really is easy m8 nothing at all to panic over, should take 30-40 mins max to have it all up and running.

the joker · 18-12-09, 09:38 PM

i had restored my laptop to factory status... there is laptops that don't even need a CD or DvD...

restart your computer and then click on (hmmm F11 or F12 i forgot) the you choose "Reset to factory status" then "next next ,blablablabla"

best thing is to call customer service that's what i done (i asked on eXceem what to do and then called customer service )

18-12-09, 06:58 PM	#1
pdmac8 iPod 20gb Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: UK Posts: 477	Dell Factory Restore Hi Everyone I have a Dell Inspiron 6400 which I have recently had to do a reinstall of Windows XP due to a .dll error. The installed program list is now blank but I have read that Dell offer a Factory Restore option by pressing CTRL + F11 at startup Can anyone explain exactly what doing this factory restore will do as I don't want to go into it blind. All help will receive my gratitude Thanks in advance

18-12-09, 07:09 PM	#2
Harvez Mini Mac Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: l33dz Posts: 9,490	factory reset, will put the laptop back to how it arrived to you. __________________ Freebiejeebies \| Free iphone \| Free Blackberry \| Free Wii U \| Free laptop Someone once said "Life is what you make it", I disagree sometimes life makes you into what you are.

18-12-09, 07:14 PM	#4
Harvez Mini Mac Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: l33dz Posts: 9,490	if you have the dvd that was shipped with the laptop it should reinstall all the programs it came with. any you have installed yourself plus any other apps etc will be gone. __________________ Freebiejeebies \| Free iphone \| Free Blackberry \| Free Wii U \| Free laptop Someone once said "Life is what you make it", I disagree sometimes life makes you into what you are.

18-12-09, 07:26 PM	#6
Harvez Mini Mac Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: l33dz Posts: 9,490	as I said we have over 400 dell laptops at work and they all ship with a DVD that will restore the machine back to as it arrives, re: it will have the welcome screen and ask you for your passwords etc. if your stuck for nero etc ive a box full which are shipped with dell laptops, can send you one out but will be 4th Jan before i can as we have broken up now for chrimbo. __________________ Freebiejeebies \| Free iphone \| Free Blackberry \| Free Wii U \| Free laptop Someone once said "Life is what you make it", I disagree sometimes life makes you into what you are. Last edited by Harvez; 18-12-09 at 07:30 PM..

18-12-09, 08:00 PM	#8
Harvez Mini Mac Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: l33dz Posts: 9,490	yer just place the dvd in the drive and it should prompt you to press any key to boot from the dvd. if not F12 as its booting then select the dvd drive to boot from. the windows disc should install the drivers but if not place the driver cd in once windows is installed and it will sort everything out. really is easy m8 nothing at all to panic over, should take 30-40 mins max to have it all up and running. __________________ Freebiejeebies \| Free iphone \| Free Blackberry \| Free Wii U \| Free laptop Someone once said "Life is what you make it", I disagree sometimes life makes you into what you are.

18-12-09, 07:13 PM	#3
pdmac8 iPod 20gb Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: UK Posts: 477	Thanks Harvez I have a worry tho as I have reinstalled Windows, are all the programs still on my laptop just not installed to run with Windows?

18-12-09, 07:24 PM	#5
pdmac8 iPod 20gb Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: UK Posts: 477	I have the Windows XP disk and the Dell Drivers disk but do not have any software disks as they were not supplied when I bought the laptop All the software was just pre-loaded, I have Microsoft Office as I bought that seperately but I am missing things like the DVD rewriting software etc Will that restore with the Factory reset? Oh and I really appreciate your help

18-12-09, 07:48 PM	#7
pdmac8 iPod 20gb Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: UK Posts: 477	Thanks for the offer Harvez but I have a copy of Nero so I may use that One more question - are the CD's I mentioned, the Windows XP one and the Dell Drivers one all I need to do a restore? I really have no clue what I'm doing do I?

18-12-09, 09:38 PM	#9
the joker iBook Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: Location : Location Posts: 2,491	i had restored my laptop to factory status... there is laptops that don't even need a CD or DvD... restart your computer and then click on (hmmm F11 or F12 i forgot) the you choose "Reset to factory status" then "next next ,blablablabla" best thing is to call customer service that's what i done (i asked on eXceem what to do and then called customer service )