Restoring Your Operating System - Dell Inspiron 1520 Owner's Manual

To start the Hardware Troubleshooter:
Windows XP
1 Click Start
2 Type hardware troubleshooter in the search field and press
<Enter> to start the search.
3 In the Fix a Problem section, click Hardware Troubleshooter.
4 In the Hardware Troubleshooter list, select the option that best describes
the problem and click Next to follow the remaining troubleshooting steps.
Windows Vista
1 Click the Windows Vista start button
2 Type hardware troubleshooter in the search field and press
<Enter> to start the search.
3 In the search results, select the option that best describes the problem and
follow the remaining troubleshooting steps.

Restoring Your Operating System

You can restore your operating system in the following ways:
• Microsoft Windows Vista 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. For
instructions, see "Using Microsoft Windows System Restore" on page 145.
• Dell PC Restore by Symantec (available in Windows XP) and Dell Factory
Image Restore (available in Windows Vista) returns your hard drive to the
operating state it was in when you purchased the computer. Both
permanently delete all data on the hard drive and remove any programs
installed after you received the computer. Use Dell PC Restore or Dell
Factory Image Restore only if System Restore did not resolve your
operating system problem.
• If you received Operating System media with your computer, you can use it
to restore your operating system. However, using the Operating System
media also deletes all data on the hard drive. Use the media only if System
Restore did not resolve your operating system problem. For instructions,
see "Using the Operating System Media" on page 150.
144
Troubleshooting
→
Help and Support.
, and click Help and Support.