How to reset laptop to factory settings vista without cd

By the way, factory reset laptop or computer is a way to remove Windows forgotten password. This article was helpful. If I reset can I just start with a clean new computer? This one has vista. I can install win 7 sitting in the closet I can use. Am I right on this? It is an Acer travelmate I really want to put Linux on to learn how to use it.

Preparation Factory reset laptop would make your files and programs lose. We use cookies to make wikiHow great. By using our site, you agree to our cookie policy. Cookie Settings. Learn why people trust wikiHow.

Download Article Explore this Article methods. Tips and Warnings. Related Articles. Author Info Last Updated: September 16, Method 1. Select the radio button next to the restore point for which you want your computer restored. You can either choose the restore point recommended by Windows, or choose a different restore point. Method 2. Click on the Start menu, then click on the arrow next to the Lock icon. Click on the name of the operating system you want repaired.

Select the restoration point to which you want your computer restored. Method 3. Power on your Windows Vista computer. Press the F8 key repeatedly as your computer boots up. The Advanced Boot Options menu will display on-screen. If the Advanced Boot Options menu does not display, restart your computer and continue to press F8 repeatedly before the Windows logo displays on-screen.

Select your username from the dropdown menu and type your Windows Vista password. Choose the restoration point to which you want the state of your computer restored. Method 4. Insert your Windows Vista Installation disc into the disc drive of your computer.

Method 5. Disconnect all non-essential external peripherals from your computer. Examples of non-essential external peripherals are printers, flash drives, and scanners.

This method requires downloading the program from a third-party, but it gets the job done in four simple steps:. This method accomplishes the same goal as running System Restore through Safe Mode but is only available if the user had System Restore activated in Vista.

Although this is a slightly more involved option, the user could also reinstall Windows Vista. The problem is that the user needs a copy of the installation CD to use this method. The bonus is that reinstalling Windows Vista will restore the PC to its factory default settings. If the user retained and can locate the program's activation code, reinstalling this edition of Windows becomes much simpler. In many cases, a user will want to restore their PC without losing all the data.

The following steps benefit users by establishing a backup or multiple backups and rebuilding from that data source. So, the key here is to create a restore point. The following steps enable this feature:. A user can still restore their files even with the backup remotely located on another computer.

Once the user chooses the desired source for the backup, the prompts guide users through restoring the PC to a previous state. One thing to note is that many manufacturers have stopped including recovery disks. However, they do provide options for recovery with manufacturer-specific tools. There are also ways to access manufacturer-specific restore options by hitting the following shortcuts during the boot screen:. There is also another option for Dell Studio Vista users.

The process involves using the Dell Factory Image Restore option.