If i restore my dell inspiron 9400 to its original factory settings will it delete XP updated files received over the past couple of years and will it affect my security McAffe that i subscibe to?

Anonymous,
There are a couple of ways to Restore the system to the factory image. It depends on the system. Some older systems you would start the computer and press CNTRL+F11 and choose to restore. Other systems you would start the computer and TAP the F8 key and choose "Repair Your Computer" and follow the prompts to restore. Newer systems use a program called Dell Datasafe Local Backup accessed from the F8 advanced menu.
Thank You,
Dell-Jesse L
Dell Social Media and Communities

one terabyte disc.

Have you tried restoring the computer to the original factory configuration? If you did not have the problem when you first received the laptop, the restoration will fix it. (Page 70 of the Setup Guide -- Factory Image Restore).

If the restoration fixes it, that means that some configuration change caused the problem, most likely an update. If you keep track of future updates you can discover which one triggers the problem when it recurs.

If the restoration does not fix it and the computer did not originally have the problem, that means that a hardware problem has developed.

Resetting a Dell Inspiron to the factory settings allows the user to restore the Dell Inspiron to the original operating condition as if it was just taken out of the box. Dell system includes a restore utility called 'Dell Symantec System Restore' to reset or restore your Dell system to factory setting.

Get the step-by-step how to guide..http://technical-support-squad.blogspot.in/2012/08/dell-inspiron-how-to-factory-reset.html

Just copy and paste. Good luck
http://www.ehow.com/how_6524421_factory-restore-dell-inspiron-531s.html

The Dell Inspiron Mini 10 series of netbooks come with recovery software that can restore your netbook's original factory settings. Dell Inspiron Mini 10 netbooks with Windows XP, Windows Vista and Windows 7 can be recovered to the factory settings using a recovery partition on the hard drive.
Windows Vista or 7
Turn on or restart your Dell Inspiron Mini 10 netbook. Press the "F8" key repeatedly when the "Dell" logo appears on the screen to be redirected to the "Advanced Boot Options" menu.
Highlight "Repair Your Computer," and then press "Enter."
Highlight the language layout you want to use for your keyboard and click "Next." Enter your username and password if prompted. Click "OK."
Click "Dell Factory Image Restore," and then click "Next." The recovery software on some Dell Mini systems may require you to click "Dell Factory Tools" followed by "Dell Factory Image Restore" and "Next."
Click "Next" if you understand the netbook will be restored to its original factory settings. The recovery process will begin.
Click "Finish" when a message appears saying the recovery is complete. The netbook will restart and boot up to the Windows Vista or Windows 7 set-up screen, where you can begin personalizing your netbook.

Windows XP Recovery
Turn on the computer. Press the "Ctrl" and "F11" keys at the same time while the computer is booting up to access the recovery software.
Click "Restore."
Click "Confirm" to begin the recovery process, which shouldn't take longer than 10 minutes.
Click "Finish" to restart the computer and finalize the installation. Click "Yes" to restart the netbook again. The computer will boot up to the Windows XP setup screen


Here is a link which will take you to the site which will allow you to download a ZIP file with a WEB PAGE type service manual for your 1018, after a 45 second wait. (They want you to sign up for premium service but NOT NEEDED) Click again after wait?
After download, open the ZIP file and copy all contents to a new folder. Double click the Contents.html file to open in a web browser, then use the built in shortcuts to navigate the manual.

http://www.laptopmanual.net/manual/Download_Dell_Inspiron_Mini10_1018_Service_Manual/2846/1

If you like this - Please vote.

Hi,

I you restore your laptop to factory settings, all data and software installed would be lost. i f you are fine with that or u have backed up the data already, follow the below process:

I have assumed that you have windows vista or windows 7:

• Power off the laptop. Remove any peripheral devices such as speakers, printers or flash drives that are not necessary to this operation. Power on the laptop while holding down the "F8" key until the advanced boot options menu appears.
• Move the arrow key to "Repair Your Computer." Hit the "Enter" key.
• Select the language settings to be used for the recovery process with the arrow keys and hit "Next." Log in, if necessary. Press "Next."
• Choose "Dell Factory Image Restore" OR "Complete PC restore" to restore the drive's original factory settings, and click on "Next."
• Check the box next to the "Yes, reformat hard drive and restore system software to factory condition" option. Select "Next" and the computer will recover itself based on its configuration settings in the recovery partition.

This will take your computer on the day you bought it. You will get all application back which were pre-installed and will loose everything which you put by yourself.


Cheers!!!

If the system has the original Dell image, then just after the Dell Bios splash screen should be a black screen with w blue bar at the top with www.dell.com at the top.

At that screen press CTRL + F11 to initiate the PC Restore program.

Using PC Restore in Windows XP or Media Center
Notice: Restoring the original factory image erases ALL existing data. This includes files, folders, programs, drivers, E-mails, photos. Before performing a PC Restore, back up all personal files. If you do not back up your personal files, the data will be lost.
1 Turn on the computer.
2 When the Dell splash screen appears during the computer startup process, press and hold <Ctrl> and then press <F11>. Then, release both keys at the same time.
3 In the Dell PC Restore by Symantec window, click Restore. Alternatively, press <Tab> to highlight Restore, and then press <Enter>.
4 When a warning message appears stating that all data will be lost, click Confirm, or press <Tab> to highlight Confirm and then press <Enter>.

The Progress window will appear. Once the restore process starts, Dell PC Restore by Symantec usually takes about 8 to 10 minutes to finish.

When the restore process is complete, the following message will appear:
The system recovery process was successful.
5 Click Finish or press <Tab> to highlight Finish and then press <Enter> to restart the computer.
The software is now installed as it was when the computer was first received.
If I could be of further assistance, let me know. If this helps or solves the issue, please rate it.
Thanks, Joe


I’m happy to assist further over the phone at https://www.6ya.com/expert/joe_8b8c2cd6ce148309

This solution is totally incorrect. He is having the problem that many of us face with the GeForce Go 7900 GS and the Inspiron 9400. There is a known issue with eventual overheating and the video card going bad. This is specific to the single-pipeline chip, in which their is a new dual-pipeline style that fixes the cooling/overheating issue that eventually fries the video chip. Dell has not 100% took ownership of this. I am on my fourth fried video card (thank god for the 3-year warranty I got) in which they have previously replaced with the single-pipeline style. This time they are finally replacing the laptop with either a new Inspiron 9400 (better be dual-pipeline chip) or a NEW equivalent laptop.