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System Recovery Options
Operating System Reinstallation
Before you Begin
If you are considering reinstalling the Windows
operating system to correct a problem with a
newly installed driver, first try using Windows
Device Driver Rollback. If Device Driver
Rollback does not resolve the problem, then
use System Restore to return your operating
system to the operating state it was in before
you installed the new device driver. See “Using
Microsoft Windows System Restore” on
page 35.
NOTICE: Before performing the installation,
back up all data files on your primary
hard drive. For conventional hard drive
configurations, the primary hard drive is the
first drive detected by the computer.
To reinstall Windows, you need the following
items:
Dell Operating System
• media
Dell Drivers and Utilities
• media
NOTE: The
Dell Drivers and Utilities
media
contains drivers that were installed during
the assembly of the computer. Use the
Dell Drivers and Utilities media to load any
required drivers. Depending on the region
from which you ordered your computer, or
whether you requested the media, the
Dell
Drivers and Utilities
media and
Operating
System
media may not ship with your
computer.
Reinstalling Windows Vista
The reinstallation process can take 1 to 2 hours
to complete. After you reinstall the operating
system, you must also reinstall the device
drivers, virus protection program, and other
software.
Save and close any open files and exit any 1.
open programs.
Insert the 2.
Operating System
disc.
Click 3. Exit if the Install Windows message
appears.