How can I restore a Dell Vostro 1700 to factory settings ( setup ) For some reason my C drive says It's full? can you please help
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Ready
Ok... Do you just want to clear the error message about the drive C being full?
no I really want to restore to factory settings. but yes I don't know how to fix the c drive
When you do a factory reset, it will wipe out the drive then restore your computer to the state when you first use it
This means that all data will be lost
when I try to remove a program I get error messages
that's fine I have saved all that needs to be saved
Ok...
Please hang on...
Do you have Recovery Discs for your Dell Vostro?
yes but because of the full c drive it won't let me use it
Is it labeled System Restore disc?
no
Ok... Are you using the Dell laptop that you want to factory reset now to chat with me?
when I wipe it out I'll use a different Windows OS\
Oh? What do you mean? When you wipe it out, you will install another Windows OS? What OS is it using now?
it has windows Vista
business
And you want to use which OS then?
Windows XP
Ok... Do you have your Windows XP Disc now with the Product Key?
But If I can restore maybe I'll rethink the different OS. I have it but not with me at the moment. it's in a box
When you want to load XP to the Dell laptop, you can do it directly since loading XP has the option to WIPE out your drive before loading the XP OS...
So how do you want to proceed? Factory reset first?
ok
yes please, I've got the laptop and it's powering up now
Ok please do the following to start factory reset
1. Turn on the computer.2. When the Dell splash screen appears during the computer startup process, press and hold <Ctrl> and then press <F11>. Then, release both keys at the same time.
Is it giving you a Dell PC Restore by Symantec window?
So what happened when you press Ctrl + F11?
safe mode
with networking etc start normally
Pressing Ctrl + F11 gives you that options?
yes still trying
Please give it another try. Press and hold Ctrl key, then press F11 key then release
now it did internal HDD CD/DVD/CD-RW ETC
BIOS SETUP
Oh not that one....
Did you press Ctrl + F11?
YES TRYING AGAIN VERY SLOW MAYBE THIS is now going to work maybe
nope back to safe mode start normally
at the top says windows error recovery
then what else did it display on screen?
the safe mode start normally etc
Oh that is not the right screen... I am sorry to tell you but the Factory Reset option in your laptop is not built-in
To do a factory reset, you need a System Restore CD or DVD
oh great
These CDs or DVDs should have been created manually when you first use the computer
did not know that
Ok... let me explain further
k
System Recovery can come in different ways. Newer laptops automatically have a spacial partition (Drive D or Drive E) called RECOVERY. Hitting Ctrl+F11 will trigger the RESTORE process that will make use the recovery partition
Those laptops that DO NOT have the RECOVERY partition, there are 2 other ways that they can do a factory reset
i have a F drive titled recovery
1. Manually creating recovery disc using a pre-installed software in your system2. Or you should have got the recovery disc when you open the box in your computer when you bought it
i can check to be sure what it says
Ok. Is your Dell originally running Windows Vista?
its a reinstallation disk
yes
Ok... If your Dell is in Vista originally, please try this further:
1. Restart the computer2. Before Windows loads, keep pressing the F8 key
3. You should get Advanced Boot Options screen
advanced boot options
Cool? See it there?
Navigate to the "Repair your computer" option
Then select the appropriate language and click then click "Next" button.
all i see directory services restore mode
yes thats there
Sign onto the system as an administrator. Without admin rights, you will be unable to perform the system restore.
Then select "Dell Factory Image Restore" and click "Next".
that option not there
What options do you have there?
only system restore windows complete PCrestore
Cool... try to use complete restore
command prompt and windows memory diagnostics tool
Please choose the complete PC restore option there
it says restore from a backup
other options? Is there a browse button there to point it to Drive F where the recovery partition is located?
no valid backup locations could be found
asks for location date & time computer
no browse button
In the location, can you point it to Drive F? Or type F: there
can a command prompt do something
no it wont let me put anything
oh ok... Did you choose complete PC Restore ?
Please try to do system restore (the other option in the previous screen)
no restore point
Hi, please check this:
When you see the DELL banner, press Ctrl+F11 immediately
Please get the right timing and see if your get the Dell PC Restore screen
internal HDD CD/DVD/CD-RW
Oh ok... please do the F8 thing again, restart, keep pressing F8. Ctrl + F11 really don't work with your model
IVE TRIED THIS SO MANY TIMES IN THE LAST 4 months or more
Ok... please try F8 then choose the system restore option, not the complete PC rstore
When you are in Advanced Boot Options,Press the <Down Arrow> on the keyboard to select Repair Your Computer on the Advanced Boot Options menu, and then press <Enter>.
no restore points created
no choices to click on
In the Advanced Boot options, is there a Repair Your Computer option? Please choose it then...
days my computer is running in a limited diagnostic state
After choosing that repair option, did you LOGIN as an administrator?
im sorry about all this.
it now is doing arepair checking your system
oh ok... so the repair is now in progress? good to know that...
it says attempting to repair
also says it might take over a hour to complete
Oh ok... just take your time then... Please be patient on this as the process really take some time...
im very patient so no problem :)
Oh ok...
this is the longest this process has taken sooooo maybe it's going to keep going
Oh... How is it going there? Already restoring?
Or still checking?
still checking
Oh ok... some more time....
hope this help isn't by the hour
oh yeah... it is not a per-hour service. In fact, we can reconnect anytime
Until the problem is resolved
Can I get back to you tomorrow? I just want to sign off for the day now. It is already 3:30AM here in the Philippines.Please bookmark our chat page so that you can easily get back to me anytime. To bookmark, click Favorites => Add to favoritesI will just get back to this page tomorrow to see your replies...
Thanks....
ok thanks it just finished so we will see thank you
How is it going? Did the repair complete successfully?
Please let me know your results so that I can help you further....
It did not work I still haven't been able to restore the Dell Vostro using Vista Business
Thank you for choosing justanswer.com I will be glad to assist you today. Are you trying to restore via disk or right off of the hard drive?
I don't have the restore disk, but I'm trying to get my dell Vostro 1700 running Windows Vista. Not happy with Vista at all. Somehow my C drive says it's full (i say "impossible") SO full I can't install a program to erase anything or everything. So I've tried everything to restore to factory settings with no luck. I'm tempted to give up and maybe get new hard drives installed. Or maybe try this service one more time.
So what do you have?
There is another way but you would need to format the C: drive do you have a windows XP disk at all. You see I am going to be honest with you and if you so unfamiliar with a computer and hard drive space and windows requirements that's not good. However if you have a windows XP disk you can manually format the C: drive but you would need to remove the disk right when windows starts the format. Once done then you can run the recovery software you will just ned to make sure you don't delete the recovery partition. Evidently the C drive does not currently have enough free space to store the expanding files the recovery software uses. Or the other option is revoery software will be needed. Especially if the built in recovery fails comepletly.