How to erase the hard drive on my dell printer 1815dn?

SOURCE: Dell 1815dn all-in-one-laser

There is a little tab that locks the scanner bar.
Open the flatbed cover, and you'll see it in the left corner closest to you.
To unlock it, reach your hand (palm up) into the area the the paper comes out in.
Slide the tab to the unlock position (you'll be able to see it through the flatbed area.
If you need a complete manual for the MFP, you can go to the Dell website, in the support area, and download a copy of it.

SOURCE: I own a Dell Optiplex

Hi 
    What Operating System was on the Machine?

SOURCE: Dell Optiplex GX150 Factory Settings Restore Partition...

This is from the Dell support site. You were correct in pressing ctrl+f11 but perhaps you did not press at the correct time. If in following these first two steps you do not get the recovery console, it may not have been installed on your computer.



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.

SOURCE: Misplaced User Manual - Dell 1815dn Laser MFP

drivers and software are here

http://support.dell.com/support/downloads/driverslist.aspx?c=us&l=en&s=gen&os=WLH&osl=en&catid=&impid=&SystemID=PRN_ALL_1815DN

manual is here

http://support.dell.com/support/edocs/systems/prn1815/en/index.htm

Robert

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SOURCE: scan from printer through router to pc?

You will need to use the TWAIN software for the printer. From the computer you will be running the scan options thru the TWAIN software. Then the scan files will be pulled from the printer back to the computer. Running scan options directly from the printer will give you the option to print the scan files or send them to a memory card if your printer has a slot for one. If the scanning software is not installed on your computer then you will need to download it from the manufacturer's website.