54
Restoring Your Operating System
Operating System Reinstallation

Before You Begin

If you are considering reinstalling the Windows
operating system to correct a problem with a
newly installed driver, first try using Windows
Device Driver Rollback.
To roll back a device driver:
Click 1. Start .
Right-click 2. Computer.
Click 3. Properties→ Device Manager.
Right-click the device for which the new 4.
driver was installed, and click Properties.
Click the 5. Drivers tab → Roll Back Driver.
If Device Driver Rollback does not resolve the
problem, then use System Restore to return your
operating system to the operating state it was in
before you installed the new device driver. See
“System Restore” on page 50.
CAUTION: Before performing the
installation, back up all data files on your
primary hard drive. For conventional hard
drive configurations, the primary hard
drive is the first drive detected by the
computer.
To reinstall Windows, you need the following:
Dell•

Operating System

disc
Dell•

Drivers and Utilities

disc
NOTE: The
Drivers and Utilities
disc
contains drivers that were installed during
the assembly of the computer. Use the
Dell
Drivers and Utilities
disc to load any
required drivers. Depending on the region
from which you ordered your computer, or
whether you requested the disc, the

Dell

Drivers and Utilities
disc and

Operating

System

disc may not ship with your
computer.