How To Factory Reset Windows Vista

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If your Windows Vista figurer stops working unexpectedly due to a system mistake or virus, or yous want to completely wipe the difficult drive and restore your reckoner to its original factory settings, you can reset your calculator using any i of several methods. You can either perform a organisation restore, restore the contents of your computer from a previous organization image fill-in, reinstall Windows, or simply restore your computer dorsum to its original manufactory settings.

one

Click on the Starting time menu and select "All Programs. "
2

Click on "Accessories" and select "System Tools. "

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3

Click on "System Restore. " The System Restore window will display on-screen.
4

Select the radio button adjacent to the restore point for which you want your computer restored. You tin either cull the restore bespeak recommended past Windows, or cull a different restore bespeak.
five

Click on "Next. "
6

Verify that a checkmark is placed next to the C: / drive when asked which disk bulldoze you want restored.
7

Click on "Finish. " Your computer's arrangement files will be restored to the earlier date and fourth dimension you specified, and your personal files will non exist affected.^[one]

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1

Insert the Windows Installation disc that came with your figurer into your figurer'due south disc bulldoze.
2

Click on the Start card, then click on the arrow next to the Lock icon.
3

Click on "Restart. " Your computer volition restart and recognize the Windows Installation disc upon startup.
4

Press any key when prompted to do so past Windows Vista.
5

Choose your language preference and select "Next. "
6

Click on "Repair your computer. "
vii

Click on the name of the operating system y'all desire repaired. This option will most likely read as "Microsoft Windows Vista."
8

Click on "Next. " The System Recovery Options menu will display.
9

Click on "Windows Consummate PC Restore. "
10

Select the restoration point to which you want your computer restored.
11

Click on "Next. "
12

Verify that your restore point data is correct and click on "Stop. " Windows will and then restore all the contents of your estimator, such as system files and settings, back to the restore indicate yous selected.^[2]

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1
Power on your Windows Vista computer.
- If your calculator is already turned on, click on the Kickoff menu and select "Restart" from the dropdown menu next to the Lock button.
ii
Press the F8 key repeatedly every bit your estimator boots upward. The Advanced Kick Options bill of fare will display on-screen.
- If the Avant-garde Boot Options carte du jour does non display, restart your computer and continue to press F8 repeatedly before the Windows logo displays on-screen.
3

Utilise the pointer keys on your keyboard to highlight "Repair your computer. "
four

Press the "Enter" key.
v

Select a keyboard layout from the options provided, then press "Next. "
6

Select your username from the dropdown menu and type your Windows Vista countersign.
vii

Click on "OK. " The System Recovery Options menu will display on-screen.
eight

Click on "Windows Complete PC Restore. "
ix

Cull the restoration point to which you want the land of your calculator restored.
10

Click on "Next. "
eleven

Verify that the restore point data is right and click on "Finish. " Windows volition then restore all the contents of your computer, such as system files and settings, dorsum to the restore indicate you have chosen.

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i

Power on your Windows Vista computer.
2

Insert your Windows Vista Installation disc into the disc bulldoze of your reckoner. The "Install Windows" wizard will display on-screen.
iii

Click on "Install at present. "
iv

Read and review the Windows Vista license terms and click on "I accept the license terms. "
5

Select "Custom" when asked about the blazon of installation you prefer.
6

Select the C: / partition when asked where you desire to install Windows Vista.
7

Click on "Next. " The Windows Vista installation procedure will begin, and your computer will be returned to its default settings.^[3]

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1

Disconnect all non-essential external peripherals from your computer. Examples of non-essential external peripherals are printers, flash drives, and scanners.
2

Power on your computer.
3
Printing the F8 key repeatedly equally your calculator boots up. The Advanced Boot Options menu will display on your screen.
- If the Advanced Boot Options menu does not display, restart your figurer and try again to printing F8 repeatedly earlier the Windows logo is displayed on-screen.
4

Use the arrow keys on your keyboard to highlight "Repair your computer. "
five

Press "Enter. "
half dozen

Select your language preference from the options provided, and so click "Next. "
7

Log into Windows Vista using your username and password.
8

Select the option to perform an paradigm restore. For example, if you are using a reckoner manufactured by Dell, select "Dell Factory Paradigm Restore."
9

Click on "Side by side. "
x

Place a checkmark next to the option that reads, "Yes, reformat hard drive and restore organisation software to factory condition. "
11

Click on "Adjacent. " Your computer will so be restored to its default factory settings.
12

Click on "Finish" when the restoration process has been completed. Your computer volition restart, and be gear up for employ as if the computer were brand new.^[4]

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Add together New Question

Question

What should I do if I forgot my start-up password?

Subhodeep Roy

Community Reply

Y'all tin can boot information technology from the booting bill of fare before the computer starts and so format it, though it will remove all the software you have in the c drive just you volition be able to open the computer without the countersign.
Question

What if backup is off and there are no new restore entries saved to exercise a reset?

Go an installation .ISO and burn it onto a disk. Place it in on bootup and try to start the disk up.

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Perform a system restore if your computer has been infected with a virus, malware, or any other blazon of malicious software. A organisation restore will restore registry files and other Windows settings that are required for your computer to run efficiently.
Render your computer to its original factory settings if you are selling or giving your computer to somebody else. This volition prevent other users from accessing any remaining personal information that exists on your figurer.
If you lot are reinstalling Windows Vista or restoring your reckoner back to its manufacturing plant settings, be sure to reinstall updated antivirus software to your calculator immediately to prevent malware and viruses from affecting your machine.
To employ complete restore, yous must have a previously created backup image on other disk drive or network location. You can create backup image of a drive via "Backup and Restore" utility in Windows Vista.

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If you have the ability to back up your personal files and documents, do so earlier performing whatever methods or steps outlined in this article. Almost of these procedures will entirely reset and wipe your estimator's hard bulldoze, and you will lose all your personal information.
Keep in heed that restoring your calculator from a organisation image fill-in volition replace all the files on your reckoner with those from the restoration indicate. Your current programs, settings, and files will all exist replaced with previous files.