PC problem

[ogbertuk]

How do you re-set a pc to factory settings when youve lost the reload disc's ?
The pc came preloaded with windows.
It's my daughters pc and for some reason will only start in safe mode.God only knows what she's done.I have tried everything and this is the last resort.
Sorry if it's of topic Marc.But i need help.

[Vaughan]

Did you try "Last Known Good"?

What OS is it?

I'm afraid there's nothing quite as simple as "reset". The fact that it gets to safe mode is actually a good thing, it shows it's not completely shot. Turn off all peripherals, disconnect all USB devices, try a reboot. Make sure there are no discs in any of the drives.

[Anthony1uk]

How do you re-set a pc to factory settings when youve lost the reload disc's ?

You have two options.

1. Contact where you bought the PC from, as they should sell replacement copies of the reset to factory settings CD's.

For example I lost mine for my old Advent PC I bought from PC world, and bought new ones for my PC off them for £5.

Option 2.

Buy a full install Windows (Dos) installation CD. (Not an Windows upgrade CD). Put this in and power on the PC, then format the Hard drive and install windows to it. Then install all your applications again.

Both ways you will lose all your info saved on the hard drive, so if there is anything important on there use a linux liveCD to boot into linux from the DVD drive and copy those files to a usb pen drive then do options 1 or 2.

[Vaughan]

--Both ways you will lose all your info saved on the hard drive--

Actually, no true. If you install Windows over the last installation, it could well come back as before. If you install it in a folder other than "Windows", then the old OS stays put, and you can - if you want - simply dual boot.

As long as you don't format the drive, your data is still there.

[ogbertuk]

Thanks for the help.....I'm gonna have a play tomorrow.
Just for the record it's running XP home.

[CJ34]

I've always insisted on and paid for the full Windows package - I demand on having the operating system program on a legit CD with legit installation key. To do any other is putting yourself in a sticky situation.

If there is nothing irreplaceable on the hard drive, I'd just do a full reformat and re-install Windows and start with a clean slate. I'm guessing, but it sounds as if someone has deleted a program rather than properly uninstalling - an in-law of mine was doing that all the time until I got it through to him that you can't just delete unwanted programs, that you have to uninstall them!

[NPC]

Sounds to me like someone's deleted a driver or part of Windows. Try Start/Control Panel/System Restore and use a date preceeding your problem. Also try http://update.microsoft.com/microsoftupdate which may help your drivers and any missing parts of Windows. Its also possible you have a plug that isn't seated properly (SATA hard drive connectors are notorious for this) Open it up and check the connections to the motherboard are OK

[zanner]

system restore (to an earlier good date) hase done it for me several times.

[ogbertuk]

Thanks to you all......I've tried all the above.And i've still got the problem.
The next thing on my list is a sledge hammer.....

[zanner]

to reset to factory settings, turn the computer on and keep pressing either F1 OR F10, this will take you to an option screen for resetting to factory settings...you've nowt to lose mate.

[ogbertuk]

I'll try that later thanks zanner....If you hear a lound bang and see a mushroom cloud rising from Oldbury area.It didn't work.

[zanner]

i'll get my binochulars out mate & have a look...

[CJ34]

I doubt you'd need binoculars to see that, Zan! I reckon we'd all see it!

[zanner]

i would with my site cj...

[ogbertuk]

OK it didn't work.....
A friend of mine has given me a programe called Kill Disc.I'm ment to run this which will erase everything then reinstall XP.
What do you think ?

[Vaughan]

Well, your computer is savable if it can get to Safe Mode. Obviously you need to sit at these things to really know what's going on, which is your problem.

If you're just going to blow away your computer and start again - losing all data - then you don't need anything but the XP CD. There's an option to have it format the disc, just choose that.

[ogbertuk]

Cheers black...Theirs nothing on the pc worth saving.Unless your an 8 year old girl who loves the Bratz,Spice girls and somthing called pixel chick.

[LoungeLizard]

I've tried KillDisk Pro (presume this is a similar prog) and it's a pretty drastic way to fix things. However if all else fails you may not have an option.

Have you tried this?......

1. Click Start - Run - and type MSCONFIG
2. Select the Boot.ini tab (if you have dual-boot setup, select the appropriate entry under your operating system)
3. In the Boot Options section at the bottom, uncheck /SAFEBOOT option
4. Click OK
5. Restart Windows

Nothing to lose if you intend to format anyway.