I need to do a complete system restore

[LightbulbSun]

I need my computer to be restored to the way it was when I first bought it. I have a Dell with Windows XP on it, and I've already tried the system restore where it goes back to settings on a specific date, but that didn't help the situation. I can't even get on the Internet now. How do you run the program where it restores your whole computer back to the way it was from day 1?

 

[PerennialII]

I think this pretty much sums up your options:

http://www.help2go.com/Tutorials/Windows/How_To_Repair_XP_and_Avoid_a_Full_Reinstall.html

(got http://support.microsoft.com/kb/315341 & http://www.michaelstevenstech.com/XPrepairinstall.htm stored as well on this topic) ... I'd backup everything before going beyond system restore not to loose anything. Dell PCs ship with the XP installation disk so you can do a clean install if need to (well you'll be needing it anyways if you follow typical repair steps).

 

[ravenprp]

To do a complete system restore on your Dell computer with Windows XP, you will need to use the Dell Factory Image Restore feature. This will restore your computer back to its original factory settings, just like it was when you first bought it.

To do this, you will need to restart your computer and press the F8 key repeatedly until the Advanced Boot Options menu appears. Select "Repair Your Computer" and press Enter. On the next screen, choose "Dell Factory Image Restore" and follow the prompts to complete the restoration process.

It is important to note that this process will erase all of your personal files and data, so it is recommended to back up any important information before proceeding with the restore. Additionally, this feature may not be available on all Dell computers, so if you are unable to access it, you may need to contact Dell support for further assistance.

Once the restore is complete, your computer should be back to its original state and you should be able to access the Internet again. If you continue to experience issues, it may be necessary to seek further technical support.