the "dell pc restore", if it works properly, will restore the computer to the exact way that it was when it came from the factory, at least, that is what i would expect..

 

if you want a clean install without all of the "junk" that comes with the factory-install, you should do a clean install of win xp et al instead of using "dell pc restore"..

 

imo, it is a good idea to do a clean reinstall of win xp et al with new dells.. also, i would used dell's harddrive "debug" utility before doing the clean reinstall of win xp et al..

 

http://support.dell.com/support/topics/global.aspx/support/kb/en/document?dn=1011054&c=us&l=en&s=dhs&cs=19

 

look over the "reinstall guide" for your computer in "dell support".. if you do not find a reinstall guide for your computer in dell support, look in the owners manual that came with your dell..

 

backup anything that you want to save, like "favorites"/bookmarks, pictures, documents, etc..

 

make sure that you know how to reinstall your modem drivers, or your "nic" "adaptors", so that you will be able to reconnect to the internet..

 

you need to have a firewall running before reconnecting to the internet, after doing a clean reinstall of win xp.. if your win xp cd is win xpsp2, the windows firewall will be on, by default.. otherwise, you will have to turn the windows firewall on after installing win xp, or use another firewall that you have saved to disks..

 

the windows firewall in win xp and win xpsp1 is not compatible with AOL-dialup (i don't know about the windows firewall in win xpsp2, if it is compatible with AOL-dialup), so, if you are using AOL-dialup service, you need to have another firewall saved on disks that you can use, instead..