Lost all settings, programs, seems like computer is reset

Once the factory reset has happened all unsaved data is lost. There are software programs that help recover some data on a computer but bot so much for the phone. Google "data recovery" and you'll have a number of choices.

Okay if its an HP computer they usually have a RECOVERY DRIVE- you can find out for sure by going to COMPUTER (or My computer) then it lists Hard Drives. Look for one that says HP Recovery. if you have that you will be able to do a Factory Reset without any discs.
Allow several HOURS to do all this, takes time and remember - this will put your computer back to the way it was out of the box. So none of your photos, games or any other program you installed will be on it anymore. Put your photos onto flash drives etc.
Then shut off computer - do the following use the F10 button, from there it will tell you or ask you what you want to do. Power the computer off, and then power it back on and start tapping the appropriate key eg F10 until a screen pops up saying "DO YOU WANT TO DO A SYSTEM RESTORE" Once this system restore window opens, stop tapping and just follow the instructions. The whole system restore could take 2 or 3 hours. When done, reboot your computer and it should be all new and speedy again.
If first time tapping doesn't do it, shut down computer and restart again, you have to be fast at the tapping and tap constantly till you get asked if you want to restore to factory settings. if the HP logo comes up you haven't tapped the F10 correctly so keep trying.
This should do it for you - I do this about once a year to all my HP computers. very easy once you do it. that is why I buy HP they have a recovery hard drive, don't have to look for discs! Good luck! :)

Shut down the computer. Hold down the zero key and turn the computer back on. After a few moments, the Recover Utility will appear on the screen. Select the first option presented on the recovery utility. The option should be to restore an original factory image. This will erase the hard drive and reset the drive to the original factory state.

You can do System Restore to bring back previous settings, how?

Follow steps below:

1. Navigateto the Start -> All Programs -> Accessories -> System Tools program group.
2. Clickon the System Restore programicon.
3. ClickNext > on the Restoresystem files and settings window.
4. Choosethe restore point that you want to use.
Note: Check the Show more restore points checkbox tosee more than the most recent restore points. Note: Any restore points that you created, scheduledrestore points that Windows 7 created, and those created automatically duringthe installation of certain programs will be listed here. You can not useSystem Restore to undo Windows 7 changes to a date that a restore point doesnot exist.
5. Click Next >.
6. ClickFinish on the Confirm yourrestore point window to begin the System Restore. Note: Windows 7 will shut down to complete the SystemRestore so be sure to save any work you might have open in other programsbefore continuing.
Important: System Restore will not revert any of your non-systemfiles like documents, email, music, etc. to a previous state. These types filesare completely unaffected by System Restore. If your intention with this toolwas to recover a deleted non-system file, try using a file recoveryprogram instead of System Restore.
7. ClickYes to the Once started,System Restore cannot be interrupted. Do you want to continue? dialog box.
8. SystemRestore will now restore Windows 7 to the state that was recorded in therestore point you chose in Step 4. Note: The System Restore process could take several minutesas you see the "Please wait while your Windows files and settings arebeing restored" message. Your computer will then reboot as normal whencomplete.
9. Immediatelyafter logging in to Windows 7 after the reboot, you should see a message that SystemRestore completed successfully.
10. ClickClose.
11. Checkto see if whatever Windows 7 problem you were troubleshooting has beencorrected by this System Restore.

Press the Alt + F10 to get factory default set up menu in Sony Vaio.

Click Start, point to All Programs, point to Accessories, point to System Tools, and then click System Restore.
2.
On the Welcome screen, click Restore my computer to an earlier time, and then click Next.
3.
On the Select a Restore Point page, select the date from the calendar that shows the point you'd like to restore to, as shown in Figure 2, and then click Next.

Figure 2
4.
On the Confirm Restore Point Selection page, verify that the correct restore point is chosen, and then close any open programs.
5.
Click Next if you are ready to proceed or click Back to change the restore point.
6.
The computer will shut down automatically and reboot. On reboot, you'll see the Restoration Complete page, and then click OK.

• Start tapping the F8 key. The Windows Advanced Options Menu appears. If you begin tapping the F8 key too soon, some computers display a "keyboard error" message. To resolve this, restart the computer and try again.
• Ensure that the Safe mode option is selected.
• Press Enter. The computer then begins to start in Safe mode.
• When you are finished with all troubleshooting, close all programs and restart the computer as you normally would.

If this does not work you will probly have to go back to factory settings

shut down your computer, unplug the hub for about 1 minute. plug it back in then turn on your computer. if it still can't find it, do the same thing, but after unplugging your hub, there is a reset switch in the back, very tiny hole. press for 5 second to restore factory settings and then plug it back in and restart your computer.

Remove explorer 8 and go back to 7. There is a problem with 8 doing this. I run across it about a dozen times a week. To go back to your old system just do a computer restore and choose a date before you installed 8. To get to system restore click your start button, then all programs, then system tools, then system restore. Once started you can not stop or use the computer till it is finished. You can always reverse it back if you need to.

the first thing if it is windows xp on it then in order to reset ur computer back to factory settings u need tofirst shut down the computer and then press and hold down the ctrl key on the keyboard and then press the power button only once and keep tapping f11 key on the keyboard and after that select the option that says complete restore to the manufacturer's settings,and if u have vista all u need to do is shut down the computer and then press the power button only once to turn on the computer and i mmediately keep tapping f8 on the keyboard it will take u to the advance options u need to choose repair my computer and then select complete pc restore to the manufacturer's setting and follow the instructions.....thanks