Restore to factory settings

You may not have it the keys in the right manner.  Sometimes its a little tricky.  Read the instructions below and try again.  Hope that partition was not corrupted, preventing you from doing this procedure.

 

1. Power the computer on.
2. When the Dell screen appears press and hold the key on the keyboard, press the key, then release them both at the same time.
   The Dell PC Restore by Symantec window appears.

NOTE: Press the keys one time only. If you press them more than once, a keyboard error occurs and the process has to be initiated again. If you find the utility does not start after several tries or you receive an error you will need to proceed to Install Windows Using the Windows XP CD.

1. Press the key to highlight Restore and then press the key.
   A caution message appears advising that all data will be lost.
2. Press the key to highlight Confirm and then press the key.
   The Progress window appears. Once the process is begun, Dell PC Restore usually takes only 8 to 10 minutes to complete.
   When the restore is complete, the message The system recovery process was successful appears.
3. Press the key to highlight Finish and then press the key.
   The computer will restart.

Tshughart, if you are using a USB - wireless keyboard then try switching the port the receiver is plugged into.  Try one of the ports on the back of the tower.