64
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. 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 61.
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.