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Dell Factory Image Restore

CAUTION Using the Dell Factory Image Restore option permanently removes any programs or drivers installed after you received your computer. Prepare backup media of applications you need to reinstall before using Dell Factory Image Restore.
NOTE Dell Factory Image Restore may not be available in certain countries or on certain computers.

Use Dell Factory Image Restore only as the last method to restore your operating system. This option restores the software on your hard drive to the state is was initially shipped. Any programs or files added after you received your computer—including data files such as pictures, music, and videos—are permanently deleted.

Accessing Dell Factory Image Restore

CAUTION Using Dell Factory Image Restore permanently deletes all data on the hard drive and removes any programs or drivers installed after you received your computer. If possible, back up the data before performing Dell Factory Image Restore. Use Dell Factory Image Restore only if other recovery methods fail.

After two failed attempts to boot the operating system, the boot sequence automatically attempts to perform system recovery options and perform an automatic repair.

Starting Dell Factory Image Restore

NOTE Using Dell Factory Image Restore permanently deletes all data on the hard drive and removes any programs or drivers installed after you received your computer. If possible, back up the data before performing Dell Factory Image Restore. Use Dell Factory Image Restore only if System Restore did not resolve your operating system problem.
  1. Turn on or restart the computer.
  2. When the DELL logo appears, press F8 a few times to access the Advanced Boot Options window.
    NOTE If you wait too long and the operating system logo appears, continue to wait until you see the Microsoft Windows desktop; then, reboot your computer and try again.
  3. Select Repair Your Computer.

    The System Recovery Options window appears.

  4. Select a keyboard layout and click or tap Next.
  5. Log on to a local computer.
  6. Select Dell Factory Image Restore or Dell Factory Tools > Dell Factory Image Restore (depending on the configuration of your computer).
  7. Click or tap Next.

    The Confirm Data Deletion screen appears.

    NOTE If you do not want to proceed with Dell Factory Image Restore, click or tap Cancel.
  8. Select the check box to confirm that you want to continue reformatting the hard drive and restoring the system software to the factory condition, then click or tap Next. The restore process begins and may take 20 or more minutes to complete.
  9. When the restore operation is complete, click or tap Finish to restart the computer.

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