How to restore Windows PC to factory settings? (And Toshiba Lappy)

Daline on 12/02/2013 - 18:11

Hey all,
Sorry if this kind of forum isn't allowed. Please delete or report or do as you wish if it bothers you. It's just that I've tried to restore my PC to factory settings (with tips from Google and YouTube) and was getting no where and would like to ask you all if you knew a simple way! I've backed everything up on a portable hard drive and ready to set my PC to its original state but can't seem to do it. Help, please? Thank you :)

P.S also need to restore my Toshiba laptop too, but haven't tried that yet 'cos been focusing on the darn PC. So if you had any tips on that too, would be appreciated :)

Computing

Comments

  • Helmuth on 12/02/2013 - 18:14

    Generally PCs come with either:
    a) Factory restore disks
    b) A restore partition on the hard drive
    c) A utility to burn recovery disks
    d) A way to order recovery disks from the manufacturer.

    See if any of these options apply to you. Make and Model of the machine?

    • Daline on 12/02/2013 - 18:19

      The PC is very, very old. Brought in 2004-ish. So I don't think any of those really apply to my situation. Make and model? I don't know - I'm a teenaged girl haha :(

      • Helmuth on 12/02/2013 - 18:53

        Well, you're going to have to go looking. First of all, try and find any disks which came with the computer. You are looking for anything that says Microsoft Windows (probably XP in your case), or Recovery Disk

        Secondly, look for a manual. That will tell you who made your PC.

        Thirdly, when you turn on the PC, are there any BIOS options? You are looking for the ability to boot into a Recovery Partition. Usually you will see the option to hit <Delete> or <F1> to get into the Setup program.

        Your very very worse case scenario if nothing works is to spend some money: http://www.officeworks.com.au/retail/products/Technology/Sof… - but you are a long way from needing to do that yet. Do some looking around, first.

        • Daline on 12/02/2013 - 19:07

          A friend made the PC back in the day and nothing came with the actual PC (e.g. manuals or any sorts of discs)
          I'll try to see if there are any BIOS options though :D

        • scrimshaw on 12/02/2013 - 19:26
          +1

          A friend made the PC back in the day and nothing came with the actual PC

          Arrr, you should have told us earlier!

          Custom built PC's do not have a so-called restore to factory defaults option.

          Branded PC's have that option because the factory images a copy of Windows onto a hidden partition for you as well as including a CD-ROM backup of the operating system.

          If a PC was put together DIY, then you would have needed to burn your own disks and make your own backups, and have your own OEM copies of Windows. Do you still have that disk? If not
          You will need to download an ISO disk image online of whatever operating system you have (Windows 7 is possible, for Windows XP you might want to ask somebody to mail you a burnt DVD or thumb drive containing the ISO image).

          For your Toshiba laptop, it is easy to restore to factory defaults.

        • retiredfeline on 12/02/2013 - 19:29

          Ok chances are your friend "left" an Operating System on it "by accident". A 2004 PC is not going to be very fast for modern use. If you can afford it, get a modern starter PC. If you want to continua to use the PC you have, look for somebody to install Linux on it to give it a new lease of life.

        • Daline on 12/02/2013 - 19:55

          Sugar! Sorry for not mentioning it! Thanks for the Toshiba tip though :) Think I'm just not gonna bother with the PC and leave it, haha. It was just a PC used for watching movies and browsing the net for the lil bro. Thanks for all your help though guys! :)

  • retiredfeline on 12/02/2013 - 18:16

    Generally the most foolproof way is to do a reinstall or recovery, as you have a copy of your personal files. For this you need the install media or the recovery partition if there is one.

  • [Deactivated] on 12/02/2013 - 20:17

    Do a fresh install recovery is generally a waste of time as over the years so much crap builds up and slows down the computer.
    You will need a xp disk , get the bios to boot the DVD and do a slow format this is the best thing you can do

    • retiredfeline on 12/02/2013 - 21:08

      Recovery partitions cater for both recovery and fresh installs. They are usually found on branded, not DIY PCs though. The Toshiba lappy probably has one.

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