How do you do a reformat or recovery on dimension 4300 without a cd?

Question

I need to get my computer back to day 1.  I do not simply want to do a reinstall of windows.  How do I do a complete destructive recovery on my dell dimension 4300?  I do not have the recovery disk, it never was sent with the computer.  I have none of the service packs installed on my computer either since I never did updates (which I do plan to do this next time around).  I have so much junk on my computer & even after running anti-virus programs & spyware programs the problems continue.  I must be infiltrated because I went to download hijackthis & my computer would not do it.  HELP!:smileysad:

ejn63 · Answer

You will need to do a manual reinstall of Windows, followed by all patches, drivers, etc.; there is no other way. You will need an XP CD to do the job - if you did not get one, you can try calling Dell, but you may wind up having to borrow one from another Dell owner, or purchase a copy of XP at retail.

shesagordie · Answer

440mopargirl.

The closest you can revert a system to "day one" is to reinstall the operating system and applications. Unless you have the Dell operating reinstallation CD, like the one shown here

http://support.dell.com/support/kb/images/10830594.gif

then you are out of luck, you will have to buy a new retail copy of windows.

Bev.

440mopargirl · Answer

I thought that there was a difference from reinstallation vs. recovery.  From what I understand a recovery is more intensive in removing everything.  I do have the windows xp reinstallation disc.  What I do not have is the system recovery disc or SRCD.  I want to reformat not reinstall.  Am I thinking this correctly?

shesagordie · Answer

440mopargirl.   Dell does not provide a a system recovery CD for your computer, only a XP reinstallation, Drivers & utilties and applications CDs, plus other various CDs for you to carry out a complete manual software reinstallation.   When anyone formats a hard drive, this removes ALL the data stored on it, therefore you will have to reinstall everything.  Also, partitioning and formatting is a procedure of reinstalling XP.   Bev.

Storage, Drives & Media

Was this post helpful?