I need step by step help with restoring my dell inspiron 2500 xp back to factory ctrl f11 does not work


THANK YOU;)

When you purchased your dell it should have came with a restore cd.

If you still have this put it in the cdrom drive and have the computer boot from the cd.

Then just follow the instructions and it will uninstall everything and reinstall the PC as if you just bought it the morning.

If you do not have the cd... you will probably need to contact Dell and see if they will send you another one.

Addia, you never posted if Mouse helped you.

The main thing is the Dell restore disc. Mainly the XP one.

You could use F12 to boot to CD or F2 to get to the bios and set the boot order. (I'm pretty sure those are the right keys, check your bios boot screen to confirm).

I prefer a different set up from Dell.

One of my buddies just got laid off from work, his PC wouldn't work.

With Dell XP disc, trashed all the sorry azz Dell partitions, created a new partition, installed XP and drivers. Total time: about 1 hour (but that's me).

Many Dell computers come with a "hidden" restore partition. You can get to that partition at boot. If you boot into the restore partition, you have to confirm that you want to restore your operating system. This will completely overwrite your system -- you won't be able to save any data.

Dell support should talk you through this procedure. On the other hand, Dell support isn't all that great so maybe you're on your own.

addia, you never posted if Mouse helped you.

The main thing is the Dell restore disc. Mainly the XP one.

You could use F12 to boot to CD or F2 to get to the bios and set the boot order. (I'm pretty sure those are the right keys, check your bios boot screen to confirm).

I prefer a different set up from Dell.

One of my buddies just got laid off from work, his pc wouldn't work.

With Dell XP disc, trashed all the sorry azz Dell partitions, created a new partition, installed XP and drivers. Total time: about 1 hour (but that's me).

I just don't know what to do everything I try to do I just run into another problem. Like can't read disc well pretty much I am lost please if you can give me step by step instructions for my dell insprion 2500 xp and dell latitude c400 xp pro with same problem thank you very much

You're saying it can't read the disk. What exactly have you done and what exactly happens?

If you're having difficulties with it, it's hard to say what is wrong or what to do if you don't give details. Going step-by-step requires knowing if you have a restore CD, or a restore partition, and if there was a problem in the process, what it was.

Considering you're having the same problem on two different computers.. well, just makes me wonder. Either the disk has too many scratches, or it's the wrong one, and you're doing something wrong. I have a Dell and sometimes have trouble booting the to CD. I have to get into the BIOS and change the boot order for it to even work, and even then I have to hit a key (I think "any key" if I'm remembering correctly) in order to get it to actually do it. I'm pretty sure the F12 is to get into the BIOS to change boot order, but if you're uncomfortable doing that kind of thing, probably better that you don't. Got a friend who can do that?

You're saying it can't read the disk. What exactly have you done and what exactly happens?

If you're having difficulties with it, it's hard to say what is wrong or what to do if you don't give details. Going step-by-step requires knowing if you have a restore CD, or a restore partition, and if there was a problem in the process, what it was.

Considering you're having the same problem on two different computers.. well, just makes me wonder. Either the disk has too many scratches, or it's the wrong one, and you're doing something wrong. I have a Dell and sometimes have trouble booting the to CD. I have to get into the BIOS and change the boot order for it to even work, and even then I have to hit a key (I think "any key" if I'm remembering correctly) in order to get it to actually do it. I'm pretty sure the F12 is to get into the BIOS to change boot order, but if you're uncomfortable doing that kind of thing, probably better that you don't. Got a friend who can do that?

I didn't have a disc so I downloaded it onto a disc and it could not read it, it's a iso file for one and I don't know how to open it.I downloaded again this time onto a jump drive and then it said it couldn't find a program with enough volume to install it.The f11 don't work , there is just so much junk on it and I can't even uninstall programs cause it freezes up.T can't defrag cause there is not enough space left to run the program.I just keep running into walls , I got the computer from my sister and I haven't been able to do anything to it that's the insprion on the latitude it says system restore don't exist and everything I try on it , it says not enough memory and the same when trying to uninstall programs it freezes up

Have the ISO file on your hard drive and you need to burn the ISO to a blank disc

Download and Install ImgBurn
The Official ImgBurn Website (http://www.imgburn.com/)



Steps to burn an ISO-image (to CD , DVD , HD DVD , Blu-Ray)

1. Browse to the ISO-file you want to burn
2. Select the ISO file and right-mouse-click now
3. Choose "Burn using ImgBurn"




Once you have the ISO burned to disk, follow instructions below to install XP

How to Format Drive and Install Windows from Scratch
Lifehacker - Geek to Live: How to format your hard drive and install Windows XP from scratch - Feature (http://lifehacker.com/software/windows/geek-to-live-how-to-format-your-hard-drive-and-install-windows-xp-from-scratch-157578.php)


Once installed, you may have to go to Dell's website for drivers that the installation did not have included

Should be all right from here