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Dell Inspiron 531
I am looking to do a factory reset on my Inspiron before it gets sold. All my google searches suggest I hit F8 before the windows screen loads up. I have done this repeatedly with gentle key strokes, repeated key strokes etc etc.
Can anyone advise if there is an alternative way to do a factory reset?
Many thanks
Brian
shesagordie
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January 5th, 2015 13:00
It's always handy to include the version of windows that is installed in a post.
Best to wipe the hard drive clean using an eraser utility.
I've found DBAN, very effective for erasing all the data from a hard drive. Go HERE for more information.
Bev.
Mary G
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January 5th, 2015 13:00
What operating system? The Dell manual that you can read at Dell Support is a better source for info, but factory resets cannot be performed if the recovery partition is damaged or missing or if windows has been updated to a diff operating system. Factory reset is not usually available on older computers because of one those reasons. You can boot to your reinstall disk to do a custom install, delete the windows partition and reinstall windows.
SecretGardener
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January 5th, 2015 15:00
SecretGardener
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January 6th, 2015 06:00
Thanks once more Bev for the advice. The link takes me to the same suggestion of the repeated F8 pressing and this is just not happening. Have even tried an alternative keyboard. Moving onto a large mallet next for the F8 process.
Brian
shesagordie
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January 6th, 2015 06:00
SecretGardener
The Dell 'Factory Image Restore' feature can become corrupted.
If your system was purchased after April 22, 2009, check out the following document.
http://www.dell.com/support/article/us/en/19/DSN_336966?c=us&s=dhs&cs=19&l=en
Bev.
Philip_Yip
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January 7th, 2015 06:00
First follow the instructions here to install the latest version of Dell Backup and Recovery:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7yOz10Y8GCE&list=PL1RkaknDn7v88-b9HVWAauoWSHDQhoe4w&index=2
It may fix your recovery partition or inform you whether or not its corrupted. If it is fixed, then you can make a recovery USB and restore from it or the internal recovery partition. As your intent is to sell the system use DBAN after you have made the Recovery USB (remove the Recovery USB while using DBAN). DBAN will of course securely wipe the drive including the recovery partition. These will be remade when you install with the Recovery USB
If Dell Backup doesn't work you will need to clean install Windows Vista. See my guide here for details which will instruct you with downloading and preparing media, updating Windows fully, driver installation in the correct order and the creation of a new recovery partition with Dell Backup and Recovery:
http://dellwindowsreinstallationguide.com/a-clean-install-of-windows/