Filter
Top Products
Reinstalling Software 121
If you reinstall Windows XP with less than 200 MB of free hard-disk space available, System
Restore is automatically disabled.
To see if System Restore is enabled:
1
Click
Start
→
Control
Panel
→
Performance and Maintenance
→
System
.
2
Click the
System Restore
tab and ensure that
Turn off System Restore
is unchecked.
Using the Operating System Media
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 (see "Using Windows Device
Driver Rollback" on page 116). 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 119).
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
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.
NOTICE: The Operating System media provides options for reinstalling Windows XP. The options can
overwrite files and possibly affect programs that are installed on your hard drive. Therefore, do not
reinstall Windows XP unless a Dell technical support representative instructs you to do so.
1
Save and close any open files and exit any open programs.
2
Insert the
Operating System
media.
3
Click
Exit
if the
Install Windows
message appears.
4
Restart the computer.
When the DELL logo appears, press <F12> immediately.
NOTE: If you wait too long and the operating system logo appears, continue to wait until you see
the Microsoft
®
Windows
®
desktop; then, shut down your computer and try again.