Restoring Your Operating System; Using Microsoft Windows System Restore - Dell XPS DC01L Owner's Manual

book.book Page 94 Tuesday, November 27, 2007 10:29 AM

Restoring Your Operating System

You can restore your operating system in the following ways:
• System Restore returns your computer to an earlier operating state without
affecting data files. Use System Restore as the first solution for restoring
your operating system and preserving data files.
• Dell Factory Image Restore (available in Windows Vista) restores your
hard drive to the operating state it was in when you purchased the
computer. It permanently deletes all data on the hard drive and removes
any programs installed after you received the computer. Use Dell Factory
Image Restore only if System Restore did not resolve your operating
system problem.
• If you received an Operating System disc with your computer, you can use
it to restore your operating system. However, using the Operating System
disc also deletes all data on the hard drive. Use the disc only if System
Restore did not resolve your operating system problem.

Using Microsoft Windows System Restore

The Windows operating systems provide a System Restore option which
allows you to return your computer to an earlier operating state (without
affecting data files) if changes to the hardware, software, or other system
settings have left the computer in an undesirable operating state. Any changes
that System Restore makes to your computer are completely reversible.
NOTICE:
Make regular backups of your data files. System Restore does not
monitor your data files or recover them.
NOTE:
The procedures in this document were written for the Windows default view,
so they may not apply if you set your Dell™ computer to the Windows Classic view.
Starting System Restore
1 Click Start
2 In the Start Search box, type System Restore and press <Enter>.
NOTE:
The User Account Control window may appear. If you are an
administrator on the computer, click Continue; otherwise, contact your
administrator to continue the desired action.
3 Click Next and follow the remaining prompts on the screen.
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Troubleshooting
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