...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....

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

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!

Right, now were getting somewhere, what model is it?

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....

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?

No, unfortunatly everything came preinstalled so it came with no disks.

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!

Thanks

Must be a restore option on there somewhere then;

Unless you need to make a recovery disc via windows.

Not sure I can be bothered with that - might just try clean it up as best I can, or...... take a hammer to it

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.

Oh yeah, you want a destructive recovery btw.

Just proceeded and found the two options on this machine.

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....

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.

...and thats what I dont want

Interesting thread as I have acquired a Packard Bell Easynote from my lad (the daft bugger has bought an Apple so he is screwed if he expects any help from me). The Easynote is almost cleared of personal files so I will also be looking to reinstall Windows etc so it gets back to the original state

Snod

The laptop I'm fixing atm is an Easynote, and that is F11 at the POST screen (Packard Bell logo in this case/quiet boot).

The it gives the options of XP System Restore or Recovery Program.