If your system is listed here then there is a restore to factory settings function. The links are clickable

DELL

LENOVO (IBM)

ACER This will download the E-Recovery Zip file. Unzip then run

So you are going to reformat and re-install Windows ?

Preparation is the secret to success so we shall start there :

PREPARATION

1. Ensure you have the following discs
A. Operating System disc or Manufacturers recovery disc.
B. Windows KEY found either in the disc holder for the Windows CD or in a sticker on the side of your system
C. Motherboard drivers disc.
D ISP disc with Modem/DSL drivers and setup.
E. Programme installation discs (i.e. Word, Photo editing etc.) If you have no discs but downloaded them from the Internet then see below.

2. Things to back up for an easy transition. First create a BACKUP folder on your desktop with the following subfolders :

MAIL
VIDEOS/MUSIC/PICTURES
DOCS
LICENCES
PROGRAMMES

To create one on your desktop right click a blank space > select NEW > select FOLDER. To create subfolders open the backup folder and on the file menu select new folder

How to back up Outlook Express items

Step 1: Copy message files to the backup folder

Step A: Locate the Store folder

1. Start Outlook Express.
2. Click Tools, and then click Options.
3. On the Maintenance tab, click Store Folder.
4. In the Store Location dialog box, copy the store location. To do this, follow these steps:
a. Put the mouse pointer at one end of the box under the Your personal message store is located in the following folder box.
b. Press and hold the left mouse button, and then drag the mouse pointer across the Your personal message store is located in the following folder box.
c. Press CTRL+C to copy the location.
5. Click Cancel, and then click Cancel again to close the dialog box.

Step B: Copy the contents of the Store folder

1. Click Start, click Run, press CTRL+V, and then click OK.
2. On the Edit menu, click Select All.
3. On the Edit menu, click Copy, and then close the window.

Step C: Paste the contents of the Store folder into the backup folder
1. Double-click the Mail Backup folder to open it.
2. Right-click inside the Mail Backup folder window, and then click Paste.

Step 2: Export the Address Book to a .csv file

Important Make sure that you follow this step if you use multiple identities in Outlook Express.

Microsoft Outlook Express 5.x and Microsoft Outlook Express 6.0 use a Windows Address Book (.wab) file to store Address Book data. The individual data for each identity is stored in a folder by user name within the .wab file that is used.

The only way to separate the Address Book data for different identities is to export the data to a .csv file while you are logged in as a specific identity. If the .wab file becomes dissociated from the user identities, the data can be exported only as one total. In this case, the data cannot be exported folder by folder.

There is another reason to export the .wab file to a .csv file. If the .wab file not exported to a .csv file, but the .wab file is shared with Microsoft Outlook, the addresses are stored in the personal folders (.pst) file in Outlook. When you export the file to a .csv file by using the File menu in Outlook Express, the correct contacts are exported. However, if the Address Book is shared with Outlook, you cannot use the File menu option to export from the Address Book. This option is unavailable.

To export the Address Book to a .csv file, follow these steps:

1. On the File menu, click Export, and then click Address Book.
2. Click Text File (Comma Separated Values), and then click Export.
3. Click Browse.
4. Select the Mail Backup folder that you created.
5. In the File Name box, type address book backup, and then click Save.
6. Click Next.
7. Click to select the check boxes for the fields that you want to export, and then click Finish.
8. Click OK, and then click Close.


Step 3: Export the mail account to a file

1. On the Tools menu, click Accounts.
2. On the Mail tab, click the mail account that you want to export, and then click Export.
3. In the Save In box, select the Mail Backup folder, and then click Save.
4. Repeat these steps for each mail account that you want to export.
5. Click Close.

Step 4: Export the newsgroup account to a file

1. On the Tools menu, click Accounts.
2. On the News tab, click the news account that you want to export, and then click Export.
3. In the Save In box, select the Mail Backup folder, and then click Save.
4. Repeat these steps for each news account that you want to export.
5. Click Close.


Favourites/bookmarks

To export the Favorites folder, follow these steps:

1. Start Internet Explorer
2. On the File menu, click Import and Export, and then click Next.
3. Click Export Favorites and then click Next.
4. Click Favorites and then click Next.
5. Type the name of the file that you want to export the favorites to. By default, the export file is named Bookmark.htm.
6. Select the folder to backup in as your newly created one
7. Click Next and then click Finish.


Personal Documents

1. Open your document processing programme
2. Select options
3. Generally there will be the option to select your save folder
4. Change this to the backup subfolder
5. Save all your files to this location

Videos/Pictures

1. Right click your music file folder(s) and select copy
2. Right click the backup folder and select paste
3. Repeat until all folders are copied to the backup folder

Licence numbers from installed software

1. Start each programme that you have a licence for
2. In the main menu select HELP > ABOUT
3. Generally this is where you will find your licence key
4. Copy the key to a text file along with the programme name and save to the backup folder


Latest version of your Anti-virus and Firewall

Download the latest version from the website and save to your backup folder

Download all installed programmes that you wish to keep and do not have disc for

Download the latest version from the website and save to your backup folder



Now you have completed that you will need to copy the entire contents of your new folder to one of the following : USB stick or CD/DVD disc

To do this right click the backup folder and select copy
Then right click the drive (CD or USB) that you are saving to and select paste


FORMATING PARTITIONING AND INSTALLING

This will totally wipe your hard drive and re-install a fresh copy of Windows. Depending on the original version you have you may need to download SP2, and you will definitely need all the windows updates. To this end you will need to install your Antivirus and Firewall before even attempting to go online.


1. Insert the Windows XP CD into your computer and restart your computer.

2. If prompted to start from the CD, press SPACEBAR. If you miss the prompt (it only appears for a few seconds), restart your computer to try again.

3. Windows XP Setup begins. During this portion of setup, your mouse will not work, so you must use the keyboard and it should preferebly be a PS2 keyboard s your USB ports may not be operational.

4. On the Welcome to Setup page, press ENTER.


5. On the Windows XP Licensing Agreement page, read the licensing agreement. Press the PAGE DOWN key to scroll to the bottom of the agreement. Then press F8.


6. This page enables you to select the hard disk drive on which Windows XP will be installed. Once you complete this step, all data on your hard disk drive will be removed and cannot be recovered. This will initially show your current Windows installation. Press D to delete the partion , and then press L when prompted. This deletes your existing data.


7. This page will be where you now format your hard drive after the deletion of old Windows. Select the option shown


8. You will now see a progress bar as the disc is formated, go for a cup of tea as this will take a while.


9. Now you will need to set up your keyboard for the right language and currency


10. This is where you will enter your product key. This will be with the install disc or on a sticker on the side of your system


11.When you reach this stage then say activate later as we do not wish to go online yet.


12. Again leave this one for now we will register later


13. On this page set up the users that will be on your system


14. The system will now continue to load and you now have a clean system

PREPARATION FOR FIRST USE

1. If you need SP2 then insert the disc and install now, following the prompts

2. From your backup disc install the following:

a. Antivirus
b. Firewall

You will need to reboot for both programmes.

3. Install any required motherboard drivers (e.g. wireless etc.)

4. Install any required programmes from Disc or the backup folder.

5. Install your ISP disc if that is required to get you online.

6. Go online and Update :

a. Your Antivirus
b. Windows


NOW REINSTALL YOUR E_MAIL SETTINGS

How to restore Outlook Express items

Note To restore items when you use multiple identities in Outlook Express, you may have to re-create the identities before you follow these steps. Repeat each step as needed for each identity.

Step 1: Import messages from the backup folder

1. On the File menu, point to Import, and then click Messages.
2. In the Select an e-mail program to import from box, click Microsoft Outlook Express 5 or Microsoft Outlook Express 6, and then click Next.
3. Click Import mail from an OE5 store directory or Import mail from an OE6 store directory, and then click OK.
4. Click Browse, and then click the Mail Backup folder.
5. Click OK, and then click Next.
6. Click All folders, click Next, and then click Finish.

Step 2: Import the Address Book file

1. On the File menu, click Import, and then click Other Address Book.
2. Click Text File (Comma Separated Values), and then click Import.
3. Click Browse.
4. Select the Mail Backup folder, click the address book backup.csv file, and then click Open.
5. Click Next, and then click Finish.
6. Click OK, and then click Close.

Step 3: Import the mail account file

1. On the Tools menu, click Accounts.
2. On the Mail tab, click Import.
3. In the Look In box, select the Mail Backup folder.
4. Click the mail account that you want to import, and then click Open.
5. Repeat these steps for each mail account that you want to import.
6. Click Close.

Step 4: Import the newsgroup account file

1. On the Tools menu, click Accounts.
2. On the News tab, click Import.
3. In the Look In box, select the Mail Backup folder.
4. Click the news account that you want to import, and then click Open.
5. Repeat these steps for each news account that you want to import.
6. Click Close.

Import Favorites to Internet Explorer 6

1. In Internet Explorer 6, click File , and then click Import.....Export
2. In the Import/Export Wizard, click Next.
3. Select Import Favorites, and then click Next.

Note By default, Internet Explorer creates a Bookmark.htm file in your Documents folder. However, you can import favorites that are saved under another name. To do this, click Browse, select a file or type a location and file name, and then click Next. Alternatively, click Browse, and then click Next to accept the default.

4. Select the folder where you want to put the imported bookmarks, and then click Next.
5. Click Finish.

This post has been edited by Essexboy: Oct 16 2007, 11:56 AM

my cpu is compaq and it didnt come with a windows install disk. also this hijacker deleted all of my backup restore points. im at a loss on what to do ive ran almost every scan possible on my cpu and nothing seems to work. i even tried windows live onecure and it couldnt fix the problem either. what to do what to do what to do. guess ill just shoot this cpu with my shotgun and never buy another 1!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Please follow all of the steps in this section of the Malware Forum. These self-help tools will help you clean up 70% of problems on your own. If you are still having problems after doing the steps, then please post a HiJackThis Log in the Malware Forum. If you are unable to run and/or post a HJT log, then post that in your initial post in the topic you create in that forum. Should you post in that forum please do not respond to your own topic. Our Malware Staff look for topics to help out in that have no responses. The Malware Forum is very busy with many more requests for help than we have volunteer helpers, so please be patient. If you have not had a response to a topic after 3 days then please go to the Waiting Room and read the pinned topic for instructions.

hey essexboy
i have 2 laptops:
HP Pavilion Dv6700 (came with Vista Home Premium)
Acer Travelmate 4060 (came with XP Pro)

I want to reinstall windows XP Pro on the Acer Travelmate 4060 and want to install Vista Home Premium on the HP Pavilion DV6700 but i have no windows cd's for either computers. i didn't even get a Recovery cd for the Hp Pavilion DV6700. But with the Acer Travelmate 4060, i got 3 revovery disc's (recovery cd (1) recovery cd (2) recovery cd (3)) and a System cd. So i though id give the Acer a go. I booted from the System cd and i got to a page where i was prompted with Resotre to Factory setting. But i want to Reinstall windows as i have a mean virus on there, and windows hasn't been wiped in over a year , i dont want to resotre to factory settings. and with my Hp pavilion i just got no idea where to start with this one.

So if you or anyone out there could be a help to me that would be greatly appriciated.

One last question. If i wanted to upgrade the Acer with XP pro on it to vista, do i gotta buy a vista Product key for it or can i use the Xp pro one for it?

p.s. is this as simple as ringing up Hp or Acer and getting them to send me out a windows cd for my Hp

I believe so

However, when you are offered to restore to factory settings that will wipe and then re-install windows to the state it was on the day you bought it. So I would recommend that you back up all the data you need first. The end result will be a clean install

Yes, you must buy an upgrade licence, I would recommend an upgrade disc. But first ensure that your system is Vista compatible by running the Advisor programme

Im at step 8 and it went from 0 - 20% in like 2 mins now its been on 20% for a while, how long does this actually take. and it doesn't sound like the cd is trying to be read.

Will this also take a while if i have alot of data on there - i have it all backed up.

That can be caused by a faulty memory stick or a hardware problem. Could you post in the hardware section of the forum