How to restore to factory default

Mine is the original pre-loaded Windows 7 Home premium.  Under the Repair, it has 3 steps that the first step is to insert the Windows installation disk that was not included in the purchase.

OK I found the apps, I chose the option to restore to factor default, it restarted the computer and went to the same page of Repair and asked for the installation disk.

I assume you are reaching the Repair page by using F8 before Windows begins to load.  When you reach Repair, what do you see?  Some computers of that vintage show a window containing about half a dozen options.  If you have that version, what is the last option on your window?

EDIT:  If you have the options window I mentioned, you might look for my post on this thread; I show a couple of screens that might help.

Do you have Data Safe Local installed?  If you do, access to the factory image should be found through that application.

Thanks for responding.  One more data point to remember.

Best of luck to you!

You may need to contact Dell.  Activating the process for restoring to the factory image should ask you to log in, but should not require the Windows 7 DVD.  Are you sure there are no other options you might be overlooking

Yes, I used F8 to reach the repair your computer page, then it showed 1. insert windows installation disk 2. select language 3 xxx ... I also used the "Dell Safe Data" application, I chose the restore the whole system option and it went to the "Repair your computer" page again.  I pressed enter, it went to the page of "choose an operating system to start where has only Windows 7 or windows memory diagnostic.  I also try to re-boot with "image recovery USB", it still went to the same page, but the option changed from Windows 7 to "Windows setup [EMS enabled].  When I chose this one, it went back to the previous page of "1. insert the windows installtion disk".

When I pressed enter, it went to 2 options to start the computer; Windows 7 or Windows diagnose test. I tried to choose both and it restarted in normal mode.

OK, I just saw your advice.  THen I will just delete the file manually.  Thanks a lot.

At that page of "Repairing your computer", there is no option but just the steps 1, 2 and 3. The only things can choose is ENTER or ESC.  When enter, it goes to "Choose below to start your Windows, then only choice is Windows 7 or windows diagnostic test.

Just in case you're still looking at this, have you tried using that page you see to make a selection?  What happens if you select option 2 and click on it or press Enter?

Sorry, but I can't see what you're doing.  From what point are you reaching this question?  Using F8 before Windows loads to reach the Advanced Startup menu, you should be using the arrow keys to select Repair Your Computer.  When you use Enter to select this option, you should be seeing a set of options or a prompt asking you to select the language the computer will use.  Just after that you should get a prompt telling you to log in as a user with Administrative privileges.  You see none of that?

EDIT:  By the way; Dell has changed the process for restoring their computers a couple of times in the last few years.  The instructions that I believe should be valid for your computer are here:  Restoring the Dell Factory Image.  If nothing you can do allows you to reach the image restore feature, I can only assume that someone has altered the disk structure or the Master Boot Record to the point that the factory image file is no longer valid.  If that is the case, using a Windows 7 installation disk will be the only way to restore your machine.

You might want to consider simply deleting your files and using the Windows defragmenting tool.  Once you delete the files, the defragment tool will move the remaining files around so that all their sectors are consecutive.  During this process, the newly deleted files will be overwritten several times and their file names deleted from the directory.  Unless you are very worried about the recovery of the files by an unauthorized individual, this action will normally be sufficient.  The normal Windows tools will not be able to retrieve them.