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[Truean]

Have a desktop, have everything backed up, want it restored to factory condition.

A.) I don't see that option specifically. All it seems to be giving me in control panel is "reinstall windows." I am worried about this because the computer did not come with a disk and it asks me to insert one. The computer came preloaded with windows. Is there a separate area for that  on a Dell Desktop usually?

B.) How do I go about restoring a windows 7 desktop to factory condition? (I don't see it under "advanced recovery methods")

C.) I realize that on a windows 7 computer, it's ordinarily pressing F8 during startup. I'm not seeing that for some reason. System recovery has all the usual things:

Startup Repair
System Restore
System Image Recovery
Windows Memory Diagnostic
Command Prompt.

   It doesn't appear to give me the option to restore to factory settings on the bottom there?

Thank you for your time.

[10ebbor10]

Don't think there's such a thing as a factory set. Only comparable thing is wiping the entire harddisk, and then installing from a disk.

So yeah, you need a Windows install disk. Bad luck if it was preinstalled.

[Truean]

Oddly, I did a factory reset like in that video before, and now it's not giving me that option.

If I do need some file or disk to redo, any chance of manufacturer providing? (maybe not but just checking).

[foil]

If its Windows 7, you can download a fresh copy from here and burn it to disc.

http://malwaretips.com/blogs/download-windows-7-sp1-iso/

Just remember to download the correct version that you had before that matches the Windows key somewhere on the computers case.

Even tho you will have to download some drivers yourself, its much better than restoring the crapware and trialware loaded Windows install that is usually on the factory restore disc/partition.

[Nightscar982]

I seem to recall that Windows 8 has a factory reset setting, although that isn't too helpful right now..