Does System Restore affect the Registry?

Question

I am just about to perform a Factory Restore on my Dell Vostro 1220. I would ideally like to return the registry to its factory settings as well as I have been hit by a couple of viruses in the past that might still have remnants in the registry.

Will a Factory Restore clean up the registry?

Mooly01 · Accepted Answer

Hi Simon,

It sounds like you want the factory restore option if you want to undo eveything. Dells factory image is much more than a restore point. Running a factory restore wipes the hard drive completely and then rebuilds the image from a copy of the operating system that lives on hidden partition. It will put the PC back to day one. It will be like when you first switched it on for the very first time. Everything you had before is gone.

Once you have problems with viruses and other issues a clean start is the only way to go.

Why not use a program such as Acronis and then when you have the basic PC set up as you want and all updates done you can make an image of that and keep it as a new recovery image.

DELL-Chinmay S · Answer

Hi, You are most welcome.  Please feel free to get in touch in case you have any further questions.

DELL-Chinmay S · Answer

Hi,

It does make changes to registry. Installation/Un-installation (or deletion) of any program make changes to the registry. For more information, you can refer to link: http://bit.ly/125NWNL .

For more information regarding PC restore, you can refer to link: http://dell.to/VNR1yv

Before you proceed, I will advise you to take a complete backup of your data (pictures, music, applications, videos, documents) as this step leads to complete data loss. Remove all the external peripherals (like printers, scanners, any USB device except keyboard and mouse) connected to your computer.

Please reply for further clarifications.

simonbramble · Answer

Perfect answer. Just what I wanted to know. Thanks

Mooly01 · Answer

The thread title question is 'system restore' but the enquiry mentions 'factory restore'. These are two totally separate processes. System restore attempts to undo changes made to the operating system and as such alters the registry and system files while retaining user data. It attempts to 'roll back' the operating system to the date of the restore point chosen. Factory restore is totally different putting the PC back to day one condition... its like a new PC. Everything is gone... you start again. Sorry if that is obvious but the question does say 'system restore'

simonbramble · Answer

... thinking about this further... I want to completely remove all programs and have a virgin registry (just like when I first bought the machine). I know uninstalling programs does not always clear out the registry. I guess then I need Factory Restore.... to give me back a PC with nothing more than the operating system, virgin registry and a few config files. Office, Acrobat, cutesy screensaver programs that carry viruses etc are all gone, including their registry entries....

simonbramble · Answer

Hi Mooly01

Thanks for the clarification. I assumed Dell took a restore point at the time of manufacture and I want to roll back to this point. However, I want to delete all files and registry changes made since I bought the PC, so I guess Factory Restore is what I need...

I will look closer at this when I actually do the deed

Simon

simonbramble · Answer

The deed has been done. I backed up everything using Norton Ghost, did a screen dump of all my installed programs, made sure I had the original installation files for everything I wanted to load back on, then did the Restore.

It took 1 day to get everything re-installed, but now the PC is running perfectly. It will take a time to fine tune all of the packages to how I need them, but so far all is looking good.

I checked the registry and that is clean too.

Thanks very much for your assistance...

Simon

Johann_46 · Answer

How about PC restore on Inspiron 15R-SE with Windows 8? http://dell.to/VNR1yv links to XP, Vista or Windows 7 and F8 does not work on my Inspiron.

Dell_Abhishek_B · Answer

Hi Johann_46,

In Windows 8 there are no options for the F8 menu, instead of that you have the option Dell Backup and Recovery.

Note: Restoring the original factory image erases ALL existing data. This includes files, folders, programs, drivers, E-mails, photos. Before performing a PC Restore, back up all personal files. If you do not back up your personal files, the data will be lost.

This feature enables the user to recover the system to a previous date or to the factory image. To recover the system from within windows, follow these steps:
1. Plug in the AC Adapter
2. Click the Recovery tile

3. Click System Recovery

4. Click Yes, Continue

5. Select the recovery point, then click Restart

6. The system would prompt the user to ensure that they are selecting the correct backup point. Click Yes once verified

7. The system restarts and goes ahead with restoring the factory image as per the recovery point selected. Follow the on-screen instructions to setup the Operating System.

Please, let me know why you want to do a PC restore. In case the system is not booting to windows and you are having an issue to go to the Recovery tile, follow the steps below to do a PC restore.

Restart the system from the power menu while holding the Shift key.
In Advanced Windows option click on Troubleshoot.
Click on Dell Backup and Restore option to initiate PC restore.

Hope this helps. Do reply if you have any further questions.

Dell_Abhishek_B · Answer

Hi Johann_46,

The Dell Backup and Recovery uses the factory image on the partition. This is a new feature on Windows 8, where if you restart the system after holding the shift key or if the system fails to boot up for 3 consecutive time, it will automatically come up with the Advanced Windows Options, you can click on troubleshoot on this screen and get recovery options.

You do not need any recovery media to do this. However, it is always recommended that you create a recovery media using the Dell Backup and Recovery. In case the recovery partition gets corrupt or the hard drive fails, you can restore the system using the recovery media.

Please check the link below for more information on Dell Backup and Recovery.

http://dell.to/VU9Cqy

Hope this helps. Please reply for any further questions.

Johann_46 · Answer

Thanks, the 15R-SE is my first notebook. So I don't have any experience with this kind of PC restore of a factory image located on a partition. Do I need recover media such as dvd or usb stick to perform a recovery of the factory image or does the Dell backup and recover procedure uses the factory image on the partition?

Johann_46 · Answer

Thanks, now its clear for me.

Dell_Abhishek_B · Answer

Hi Johann_46, Glad to help. Do write back for any further help with the new system.

Mooly01 · Answer

Thanks for the update Simon, good to know it all went well.

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Does System Restore affect the Registry?

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