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Joined: Nov 2003
Posts: 12,002
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OP
Wiki Master
Joined: Nov 2003
Posts: 12,002 |
...a big button to "Restore Factory Settings"
I dont mean "format", I mean something that gets rid of all the crap youve gathered over the years, and just leaves you with the OS and preinstalled software....
What If There Were No Hypothetical Questions?
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Joined: Nov 2003
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Maybe even some of you techys out there may have some suggestions. Got a Packard Bell Desktop which Im cleaning ready to sell, and its the cleaning bit thats a nightmare 
What If There Were No Hypothetical Questions?
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Joined: Aug 2004
Posts: 22,315
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Wiki Master
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There is within Vista/7, using F8 and selecting repair my computer, and then you can restore the system, in most cases, to factory settings.
Some vendors such as Acer and Dell etc, also have their own software to do the same thing using different buttons (alt+F10 for Acer iirc).
In some cases (tis a rarity nowadays) you can run it off a CD.
If ya struggling Chewy, drop it in to me next time ya at the garage or pop in, and we'll take you back in time, to the day you unwrapped your shiney new desktop!
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Joined: Aug 2004
Posts: 22,315
Wiki Master
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Wiki Master
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Posts: 22,315 |
Right, now were getting somewhere, what model is it?
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Its a Packard Bell running XP Ive tried the system restore, but it doesnt go back far enough  It was the Shiz a few years ago when I got it, but then I ran out of space, and it got tucked away in favour of my work laptop....
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Joined: Aug 2004
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Wiki Master
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Nope, system restore is only for recovering old system files in the event you have problems.
Do you have any CD's that came with it?
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No, unfortunatly everything came preinstalled so it came with no disks.
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Wiki Master
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I have an XP packard bell laptop on the bench next to me that im working on, ill see if that will give me any clues!
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Joined: Nov 2003
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Thanks 
What If There Were No Hypothetical Questions?
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Joined: Aug 2004
Posts: 22,315
Wiki Master
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Wiki Master
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No, unfortunatly everything came preinstalled so it came with no disks. Must be a restore option on there somewhere then; Unless you need to make a recovery disc via windows.
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Not sure I can be bothered with that - might just try clean it up as best I can, or...... take a hammer to it 
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Joined: Aug 2004
Posts: 22,315
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Wiki Master
Joined: Aug 2004
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After pressing F10, alt+F10 at bootup, I find its F11 on this. When you first turn the machine on, press F11 to enter the recovery mode - it may work! If not, post the model number of the desktop.
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Joined: Aug 2004
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Wiki Master
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Posts: 22,315 |
Oh yeah, you want a destructive recovery btw. Just proceeded and found the two options on this machine.
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Joined: Nov 2003
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F11 just takes you to system restore, which restores everything, doesnt really clean it up.
MS Model number is R4M00 ID009E
Apparently Packard Bell have "Smart Recovery" - so just going to try that....
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Joined: Aug 2004
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Wiki Master
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Smart recovery sounds like it will be the one As I say though, make sure its a destructive restore you choose, otherwise you will end up leaving personal files on the machine.
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