[mattjsoccer27]

I have searched throughout this forum to try and find a way to reset my computer so that it runs like it just came out of the box. I have found a few helpful posts and links, but it is all still very confusing to me. If someone could please explain it step-by-step in computer dummy terms. I got this laptop computer christmas 2008 and i dont remember if it came with one of those cds that will let you reset it. If it did it is a good possibility it that it is lost forever, but I was reading some of the posts and it said that it could be done without one using a recovery partition. Then i read this post http://forums.techguy.org/windows-vi...vista+computer and clicked on the link at the bottom http://neosmart.net/blog/2008/window...disc-download/ and it sounds like that could work, but I dont know how to do any of the things it is telling me and is it even legal or safe? I dont really have any files on my computer that need backing up except for a few school papers and small stuff like that. I am running vista on my laptop and im not using my computer right now so if you need more specs on it ill get them to you.

thanks in advance and please excuse my computer stupidity ha

[etaf]

can you post the make and model

If it did it is a good possibility it that it is lost forever

You may need to get these from the manufacturers - HP & Dell offer this service

But

A lot of PCs these days expect you to create your own CDs and have a recovery partition

control panel
admin tools
computer management
disk management
whats listed there

Start
programs
under the manufacturer name - you may find a program called recovery manager or something like that - that will create the cds

also depending on make of machine

hitting F10 or F8 or F11 - as it boots may invoke the recovery manager and you can rebuild the machine from there

[mattjsoccer27]

I have a dell inspiron I1720, with a 3.4 rating, INtel COre 2 Duo CPU T7250 @ 2 GHz 2 GHz, 3 GB 32-bit operating system

[aka Brett]

On the dell if boot f8 and choose repair my computer
you will want to select Dell factory image
all of your user files will be gone one you start this process

It is reliable but anything can happen and since you dont have the disks there is a small chance you could be screwed.

be sure your battery is topped off..be sure you are using AC power.
be sure nothing is plugged into the usb ports...if you have a memory card in remove it,before getting started

Start the process and do not disturb it ..follow the prompts for user name time zone etc.

After complete...go get all your windows updates before doing anything else....do the reboots as needed .
Note there are a couple updates that after the reboot take along time to install..it says do not turn off the computer...let it run or you can end up in a loop.
After fully updated..uninstall the av on the machine unless you like it,
Go get your Anti virus of choice..install and fully update it.
Now go get all your programs installed and you are done.

Good luck post back and tell us ho it went