Dell Inspiron Factory Reset

[billybob69]

Hi,

I've got a Dell Inspiron 1300 laptop that is riddled with virus etc, so decided to start over by clean it / reformat it and then reinstall XP and all the software.

I've read that if you press Ctl F11 at BIOS it allows it to restore to factory configuration, but I've tried that and it doesn't seem to work.
Is there an alternative to getting to Dell factory configuration?

Also tried using the "System Restore" function on XP, but this doesn't allow me to get back to the pre-virus days?

Dell didn't send me a disk with XP (although I have the Windows genuine copy code - what ever it is called) on it, if I use a different copy of XP (ie one for a desktop) to reinstall, will there be problems with the 'laptop' functions ie wireless card, battery maintence etc

Any help appreciated.
bb69

[pontiend]

If the XP disk that you use is the same version ie 'home' and you use the key for your laptop.The install will register with microsoft ok.I do that with my packard bell, but it do'snt find my sound card. Try f10 you never know!.

Edit.Just hit f11.
Not. ctrl f11.

[billybob69]

Thanks for the reply.

My laptop has XP Home installed on it, but the XP disc that I was using was from my PC which was XP Pro, so that is why it would accept the COA number from the Home edition when I tried to install XP using the Pro disc?
I didn't know that there were several versions of XP and just thought that as long as you had paid for a COA for each machine you were fine......

Anyway got fed-up trying to do the factory reset, so decided to reformat the hard drive using KillDisk with the idea that I get Dell to send me a copy of the XP Home disc that they should have included (at a price no doubt!) and start over.

Did this and then booted up the laptop and got past the initial Dell flash, it goes to a black screen with the message "no boot sector on internal hard drive" and "no bootable device".
No problem I thought, just press F2 go to the bios and change the booting sequence to boot from the DVD drive only. Tried it again this time it comes up with "no bootable devices".

So I guessing that in the reformatting of the hard drive I've deleted a file or partition needed to read the bootable devices?

Any advice how I fix this?

Thanks in advance.

[pontiend]

You could try Xp pro it may work.'I don't know'.
I think that when you reinstall XP It will install a new MBR on the hdd.
As far as microsoft is concerned as long as the components in the computer , match those registered with the key .They know that the licence for that machine has been paid.

[pontiend]

just read your post properly.
you don't have any device drivers because they are installed by the operating system when you install it.

If you have set the boot order, to boot from cd first,When you put a xp disk in the drive it will boot and install from that

[lambo]

tap f12 at start up and select cd drive make sure you have a bootable copy of xp in the drive first

[wIckiD]

Most newer laptops have a hidden recovery partition. Try hitting F8 when the computer starts up and see if you get a "Repair your computer" option. If you do, then you are in for a bit of luck. This will reset it back to its original condition. You will need the administrator password to carry out this operation. Hope this helps!

[noassetts]

Originally Posted by billybob69

Thanks for the reply.

My laptop has XP Home installed on it, but the XP disc that I was using was from my PC which was XP Pro, so that is why it would accept the COA number from the Home edition when I tried to install XP using the Pro disc?
I didn't know that there were several versions of XP and just thought that as long as you had paid for a COA for each machine you were fine......

Anyway got fed-up trying to do the factory reset, so decided to reformat the hard drive using KillDisk with the idea that I get Dell to send me a copy of the XP Home disc that they should have included (at a price no doubt!) and start over.

Did this and then booted up the laptop and got past the initial Dell flash, it goes to a black screen with the message "no boot sector on internal hard drive" and "no bootable device".
No problem I thought, just press F2 go to the bios and change the booting sequence to boot from the DVD drive only. Tried it again this time it comes up with "no bootable devices".

So I guessing that in the reformatting of the hard drive I've deleted a file or partition needed to read the bootable devices?

Any advice how I fix this?

Thanks in advance.

Hello Billybob

Have you resolved this yet? as I have gone down this path many times
Just post answer back here and I think I can help you
Thats if you still have the hidden partition left on ur drve and only formated 1st partition???