Enabling System Restore
NOTE: Windows Vista does not disable System Restore, regardless of available disk space. Therefore, the following steps apply to Windows XP only.
If you reinstall Windows XP with less than 200 MB of free
1Click Start→Control Panel→Performance and Maintenance→System→System Restore.
2Ensure that Turn off System Restore is unchecked.
Using the Operating System Media
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. See "Using Windows Device Driver Rollback" on page 100. 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 "Using Microsoft Windows System Restore" on page 103.
NOTICE: 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 items:
•Dell™ Operating System media
•Dell Drivers and Utilities media
NOTE: The Dell Drivers and Utilities media contains drivers that were installed during assembly of the computer. Use the Dell Drivers and Utilities media to load any required drivers. Depending on the region from where you ordered your computer, or whether you requested the media, the Dell Drivers and Utilities media and Operating System media may not ship with your computer.
Reinstalling Windows
The reinstallation process can take 1 to 2 hours to complete. After you reinstall the operating system, you must also reinstall the device drivers, virus protection program, and other software.
NOTICE: The Operating System media provides options for reinstalling Windows. The options can overwrite files and possibly affect programs installed on your hard drive. Therefore, do not reinstall Windows unless a Dell technical support representative instructs you to do so.
1Save and close any open files and exit any open programs.
2Insert the Operating System media. Click Exit if the Install Windows message appears.
3Restart the computer.
When the DELL logo appears, press <F12> immediately.
NOTE: If you wait too long and the operating system logo appears, continue to wait until you see the Microsoft® Windows® desktop; then, shut down your computer and try again.
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