How do I reset windowsxp to original factory settings
 

Hello

I want to reset my windowsxp to the original new version, it has accumulated lot of junk and is very slow, i have backedup all the data, just need to wipe it off the os and start clean how do i do that

David,
What kind of computer do you have?

Most computers nowadays have restore CDs that not only reset Windows, but install all the drivers and OEM stuff as well back to the day you unpacked your PC!

For the most part, all it involves is inserting the Restore CD and booting off it.

easy
 

david
all you got to do mate is wack in the windows disc and boom system reset
easy as a-b-c

thats the problem i misplaced Restore CD, now i cant find it. is there any other way?

If you have misplaced your restore CD then you should be able to get a copy from the computers manufacturer. If not then you need to get a copy of Windows and all the drivers for your computer, format the machine (you can do this from the XP Installation disc) and do a clean install.

I would, however, take the advice of ChatMod#1, if your not sure on what your doing and use cleaners to get rid of all the junk on the machine. You will notice the difference and wont have any of the hassle of finding drivers and the expense of buying a copy of XP ;)

upgrade
 

take the opertunity to upgrade to better os
either to xp pro or wait for vista

Try doing a System Restore
 

Hi David

You can try "System Restore" restore it to the earliest date possible.

Follow the steps below

START -> ACCESSORIES -> SYSTEM TOOLS -> SYSTEM RESTORE -> Restore my computer to an earlier time.

When it gives you a interactive calendar to choose which date to restore to, go back as far as possible and then do the Restore for it.

Hope fully that restore point is clean.

**No offense Sami** :D
I don't advise doing the system restore if you have installed a large number of large programs.. it will be atleast as much work as a re-install as any program you have installed which has created registry keys may not work, if it is not written to create them on their -what will now seem like- their first launch!

System restore does not do exactly what the name claims.. it only restores the registry and other important windows folders and files to the date requested. Also any program such as Norton Cleanup or Windows Washer will remove these files as they are meant to be temporary in nature.

I will write a full explanation of a clean install of XP soon.

Link to the Clean Install of Windows Without Loss of Data Tutorial

you have a system restore tool in you program menu through which you can restore your computer to any previous checkpoint it will restore the computers configuration as it was on that back date (check point) without loss of any data

my comp didnt come with a restore cd amn stil trying to set factory settings

hi
 

Hi David i don't have any exact ideas about your problem...

wel this is a well know probleme ..... tho reduse the price of a pc thy dont make a retrail cd , but they make a hidden partition on you hd , who cannot be deleted ....what ever you do , so find that part on the hd ,and you wil have a recovery cd , good luck

Clean install is more than just loading the CD over the wrecked OS...
 

I had nothing but grief with trying to install clean Windows systems, till I tried pulling the battery for half an hour, then formating with a W98 install CD.. then install the new OS, formating it again to NT... This way cleans-out all traces of microsoft's NT security holds and messes in the machine... Then I install everything from CDs and flash drives, with the tower disconnected from the Net during the whole install, then I install Sun belt free firewall from a flash, and set it to ask on everything... I disable all the auto updaters, and the shares, and networks stuff, to update later manually what needs updating... Only then do I connect it to the Net through a hard-wired router, using Sunbelt to fully block everything IE & OE... I get everything I need from other than microsoft sites... Too many times microsoft updates wrecked my installs on PC's I was working on for clients... Seems if my IP and particulars doesn't match the computer's registered IP and particulars, the microsoft system gives me faulty updates, which destroys the install... I just boycott the microsoft bully alltogether... But this route, you need an install CD... I wouldn't buy a PC that didn't come with a proper full systems install CD... That's BS selling PC's with out an install CD... There are so many things that kill OS's, and you really do need that option... Change to Linux... Kick the microsoft bully out of your life... They're probably going bankrupt in 15 to 20 years anyway... Surf Linux... Linux is all free, and bug-free... There aren't any bullies in Linux.. just good people sharing with people...

In all my Windows PC's I run: SeaMonkey, Cacheman Memory Restore, CCleaner, EasyCleaner, RegScrub, An old McAfee Uninstaller for its power-clean, Spybot S&D, Sunbelt, and BitDefender... It works for me...

Plus, tidy up those wires... AC wires crossing data wires can cause all kinds of problems...

I've had Enough! grief with XP and Vista... I switched back to W2000... It doesn't look and run like someone insane created it...

I may prefer you to try to do a system restore. That may help you for this problem.