HomeThis guide explains how to start factory image restore utility on a Dell laptop with Windows Vista. Running this utility will erase everything from the hard drive and re-image it back to factory defaults. In this particular case I’m restoring software on a Dell XPS M1530 laptop.
Let’s say your Dell laptop came without recovery discs but you have to reinstall Windows because the operating system got corrupted or infected with viruses or spyware. What can you do?
There is a chance that your laptop has a hidden recovery partition and you can re-image the hard drive using files on the hidden partition. This guide may not work for all Dell laptops with Vista.
If the guide works for you, please mention the laptop model name and number in the comments after the post.
STEP 1.
Turn on the laptop and as soon as Dell logo appears on the screen press on the F8 key.
STEP 2.
You should get a screen with advanced boot options.
Select the first option “Repair Your Computer” and press on the Enter key.
STEP 3.
After a while the system restore option box will appear on the screen.
Select your keyboard layout and press on the Next button.
STEP 4.
At the next dialog box it will ask you for the user name and password.
Select your name from the drop down menu (you have to have administrative rights on this laptop). Enter the password and press OK button.
STEP 5.
Click on the Dell Factory Image Restore option in the next box.
STEP 6.
Finally, you’ll get the Dell Factory Image Restore box. Click Next and follow instructions on the screen.
WARNING! Back up all personal files before running this utility. The hard drive will be reformatted and all personal files will be erased during the recovery process.
December 20th, 2009 at 8:53 pm
Your blog is just awesome!
Now, let me just ask you a Question hehe…
Do you know the name/model and where to get the screwdriver for new’s HP laptops?
And do you know if i can upgrade my ATi Radeon 3430 in my HP Compaq 6830s laptop, to a 3650?
Thx man.
December 20th, 2009 at 9:49 pm
Ian,
It’s torx T8.
Check your laptop specifications. If the video card is integrated into the motherboard, it cannot be removed or replaced.
December 21st, 2009 at 7:18 am
Yes, it’s me again hehe, the motherboard model: HP – 30E9 Chipset: PM45/ICH9(north/south).
The graphics is dedicated and im nearly sure it’s MXM I or II.+
But what i am worry about is that the Mobo is blocked to only 1 model graphics card.
December 23rd, 2009 at 9:00 pm
Instructions worked great. I have a Dell Studio 15 Laptop
January 22nd, 2010 at 8:47 am
I have an issue with Dell Studio.
I followed this guide and everything went as it said but after 20-25 minutes, it gave me an error that it failed to restore system. What other option do I have except using the disks?
Thanks
January 22nd, 2010 at 9:48 am
Noel,
It’s possible the restore process fails because you have a faulty hard drive or memory. I would run diagnostic tests on the hard drive and memory first.
April 8th, 2011 at 7:16 pm
hey i have dell m1530 but the f 8 does not work on mind and i want to put it back to factory mode. when i put disc windows install it give me a error 0×80070002. how can i fix it
April 10th, 2011 at 10:38 am
luis,
Not sure what this error means, but first I would run memory and hard drive test.
You can test memory with Memtest86+ utility.
You can test hard drive with SeaTools utility from Seagate (works fine for most hard drives).
May 17th, 2011 at 12:11 pm
Hi i tried to follow this i also have a dell xps m1530 but after pressing f8 i dont have the option of repair computer =/. my laptop has some serious virus and im going to sell it as spares and repair. but how do i go about deleting all my pictures etc? it dont stay on for very long. need help.
carla
x
May 17th, 2011 at 2:07 pm
carla,
There are a few different ways:
1. Remove the hard drive and smash it with a hammer. Sell the rest of the laptop.
2. Download Active@ Kill Disk – Hard Drive Eraser. Burn this utility on a CD disc and boot the laptop from that CD. Run the utility and erase all data.
3. Buy an external USB enclosure for your hard drive (most likely SATA but check it). Remove the hard drive from the laptop and install into this enclosure. Connect this enclosure to another working PC and access or erase pics.