Injunarts1,

 

The Dell Reinstallation CD for Windows XP is just that, an OEM version of Microsoft Windows XP.  The other disks are for device drivers and application software that shipped with you system.  If you do a clean install of XP using the Dell Reinstallation CD for Windows, you will then need to install the drivers for your 3000's chipset, video, audio, network interface card, modem, etc.  Additionally, you will have to install any application software such as MS Word, Roxio Media Creator, and so forth.  Depending upon your system configuration and the software you use, this can take hours or days to complete.

 

The simplest way to put your system back to its "as-shipped" condition, would be to use the Dell PC Restore by Symantec.  To do this, simply restart your computer.  While the Dell logo is on the screen, press the Ctrl and F11 keys at the same time and then release them at the same time (If at first you don't succeed, try again). You will be presented with the PC Restore menu.   If you continue, the system will then be automatically restored to its "as-shipped" condition.  All drivers and applications that shipped with your system will be installed.  The whole process normally takes from 8 to 15 minutes.

 

See this for a details on what the Dell PC Restore by Symantec does and does not do:    https://support.dell.com/support/topics/global.aspx/support/dsn/en/document?c=us&docid=181284&l=en&s=gen#1

 

Tony

Not all computer has the PCRestore feature...

 

To check if yours have it:

Go to start

Right click on My Computer

Click on Manage

On the Computer Management, click on the Disk Management on the left side

Look the Drive 0 and check if there's a partition for about 4-6Gb. If so, you have it and as tgsmith said, is the easiest way to do it.