How to restore Dell Dimension 8200 to original factory setting?

Dell Dimension computers have a built-in PC restore system that allows you to quickly restore the PC to its original factory settings.
The PC restore is located in a hidden partition of the PC's hard drive and contains a copy of the computer's original factory installed software.
There are two different ways to restore the Dimension's settings depending on which operating system your computer is running.

Windows XP
Disconnect all peripheral equipment that is attached to your computer such as printer, scanner, external hard drive and memory sticks.
Restart the computer.
After the Dell screen appears on the monitor, hold down the "Ctrl" key and press the "F11" key.
If the Windows XP screen appears before you can finish this step, wait for the computer to finish rebooting and restart the computer again.


Highlight "Restore" in the Dell PC Restore window by using the tab button.
Hit "Enter."


Highlight "Confirm" in the restore warning box by using the tab button.
Hit "Enter."
This will start the system restore process.
Do not attempt to turn off the computer during this process or vital system files may be damages and you will not be able to restart your computer.


Click "Finish" in the box that notifies you that the restoration has been successful.


Hit "Enter" to restart the computer.
The computer has been restored to the original factory settings.

Windows Vista

Disconnect all peripheral equipment that is attached to your computer such as printer, scanner, external hard drive and memory sticks.



Restart the computer.
After the Dell screen appears on the monitor, press the "F8" key.
If the Windows Vista screen appears before you can finish this step, wait for the computer to finish rebooting and restart the computer again.


Highlight "Repair Your Computer" by using the down arrow key in the Advanced Boot window.
Hit the "Enter" key.


Click "Next" after selecting a language. Log into the computer as an administrator.
"OK." Choose "Dell Factory Restore."
Click "Next."


Check "Yes" next to the reformat the hard drive and restore factory settings option.
Click "Next" to start the restoration process.
Do not attempt to turn off the computer during this process or vital system files may be damages and you will not be able to restart your computer.


Click "Finish" in the box that notifies you that the restoration has been successful.
The computer will automatically restart itself to its original factory settings.

Boot up with a Dell Recovery CD to format your hard disk and install a fresh copy of Windows on your laptop.
If you do not have a Recovery CD for your model laptop then you can get one from the Dell WEB site.
You can download the device drivers from Dell WEB site, the support download page. Make sure you select your model desktop or laptop, better still, type in the Service Tag number, it is printed on the label on the bottom of the laptop and on the back or sides of a desktop. (If the Service Tag label is missing then go into the BIOS setting and on one of the BIOS pages, the Service Tag number will be displayed). This will open the page where the specific drivers for your model computer are located. Also make sure you select the Windows of the drivers for your Windows operating system. Click on this link to download the drivers: - http://support.dell.com/support/downloads/index.aspx?c=us&l=en&s=gen

try taping F8 repeatedly during start up to get to recover mode.

Even if your machine is out of warranty with Dell, if you're the original or legal owner having purchased it from the original owner you can order the original set of installation disks and all drivers and software that originally came with it. I've done this and they send them pretty fast!

http://support.dell.com/support/topics/global.aspx/support/dellcare/en/backupcd_form

Here you go

http://www.fixya.com/support/r3705089-restore_dell_system_original

press the 'ctrl' and F11 when the blue bar w/the dell.com appears. Inside the Dell PC Restore Partition Dell has supplied the user with a backup image made at the factory, and this backup is stored in the DSR partition. It is this backup that is restored from when the Ctrl+F11 keys are pressed.

You have to put in the cd that came with your dell, then boot your computer. It will boot from the cd and give you an option to restore your factory condition. It will take around 1-2 hours for the process to complete.

If after hit control F11 nothing happen, probably you don't have a restore partition. Check that first.

If not you need to reformat your drive by reinstalling windows (you DO have that cd) and then reinstall the additional software that came with your 8200 (all that stuff is downloadable from dell website)

Here is the Dell tech support article for PC Restore to re-image the system to the factory settings.

http://support.dell.com/support/topics/global.aspx/support/dsn/en/document?journalid=5A9D1CCAB17AB24BE040AE0AB5E12BFE&docid=325300

After installing the new hard drive, you'll need to boot the computer from the recovery disk and follow the instructions to format the drive and install windows. You'll also need to install drivers from the driver disk after Windows is up and running. If the computer won't boot from the recovery disk, you'll need to access the "setup" utility and set the CDROM drive as the first boot device. To access the setup utility, press the Delete key after turning on the power. I hope this helps!