Reset Windows XP to factory settings
Kin'
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Hello,
My computer, a Windows XP, is infected with several viruses and is cluttered with inaccessible files, unused software, etc...
I've tried searching through all the tutorials, but nothing works; I still can't find a way to restore my PC to factory settings, since I don't have a CD for that or a restore point.
Please help me!
Configuration: Windows XP / Firefox 3.6.3
My computer, a Windows XP, is infected with several viruses and is cluttered with inaccessible files, unused software, etc...
I've tried searching through all the tutorials, but nothing works; I still can't find a way to restore my PC to factory settings, since I don't have a CD for that or a restore point.
Please help me!
Configuration: Windows XP / Firefox 3.6.3
20 réponses
Hello,
for a factory restoration request, the brand of the PC or laptop is required, as the procedure varies depending on the brand.
Please specify if it's a PC or a laptop.
--
the druid without the potion.
for a factory restoration request, the brand of the PC or laptop is required, as the procedure varies depending on the brand.
Please specify if it's a PC or a laptop.
--
the druid without the potion.
Hello druid,
Is it advisable to disinfect the PC before resetting it to factory settings?
--
Human beings are at their best when things are at their worst.
Is it advisable to disinfect the PC before resetting it to factory settings?
--
Human beings are at their best when things are at their worst.
That's what I thought ... only F8 works, and it brings up a boot menu. There is nothing in Accessories, for example, for a factory reset?
The easiest way is to get a version of your OS on a CD and reinstall it. You can download it from the internet (if you're using your license, which is normally stuck under your laptop, it's not piracy). You can get the drivers from the Sony website afterwards.
Don't you have a CD? Why?
But you must have a folder named i386 in the Windows directory and a file with the ".txt" extension containing the activation key (oem). Right?
But you must have a folder named i386 in the Windows directory and a file with the ".txt" extension containing the activation key (oem). Right?
Depending on the model of the Sony VAIO, the original files are downloadable ...
If you provide the model, I will give you the link to the page.
Vaio: Sony Europe:
https://www.sony.co.uk/electronics/support/personal-computers
If you provide the model, I will give you the link to the page.
Vaio: Sony Europe:
https://www.sony.co.uk/electronics/support/personal-computers
The installation program cannot proceed because the version of Windows installed on your computer is newer than the version on the CD-ROM.
Warning: If you choose to remove the newer version of Windows currently installed on your computer, files and settings will not be recoverable.
Warning: If you choose to remove the newer version of Windows currently installed on your computer, files and settings will not be recoverable.
ah yes ;-) it's your PC!
Vaio: Sony Europe (PCV-RS504 = Original installation):
https://www.sony.co.uk/electronics/support/personal-computers
Vaio: Sony Europe (PCV-RS504 = Original installation):
https://www.sony.co.uk/electronics/support/personal-computers
From your i386 folder, you will be able to create an UPDATED CD incorporating Windows XP SP3.
I advise you to familiarize yourself with disk cloning tools to back up (in multiple copies = at least 2) your hard drive or drives before playing around with installations.
Since you say you do not have a CD supplied with your PC or that you cannot create one automatically to restore your PC (a Sony program in the start menu? no?), well, back up your entire PC by cloning your hard drive.
!! Backup is one thing, but you must ensure that you can use this backup afterwards. You need a program to boot your PC in order to restore your backups.
Partitioning software will do the job, but Ghost 2003 by Symantec (Norton AntiVirus) is the reference.
I don't know which software to suggest (...); it needs to be able to boot your PC (WITH or WITHOUT WINDOWS).
After the backup, you can attempt the installations; single or multiple.
(In practice, you can install Windows XP multiple times on your PC and with the same installation key; and there is no activation needed, except you will have to accept the WGA verification if you use Windows Update.)
I advise you to familiarize yourself with disk cloning tools to back up (in multiple copies = at least 2) your hard drive or drives before playing around with installations.
Since you say you do not have a CD supplied with your PC or that you cannot create one automatically to restore your PC (a Sony program in the start menu? no?), well, back up your entire PC by cloning your hard drive.
!! Backup is one thing, but you must ensure that you can use this backup afterwards. You need a program to boot your PC in order to restore your backups.
Partitioning software will do the job, but Ghost 2003 by Symantec (Norton AntiVirus) is the reference.
I don't know which software to suggest (...); it needs to be able to boot your PC (WITH or WITHOUT WINDOWS).
After the backup, you can attempt the installations; single or multiple.
(In practice, you can install Windows XP multiple times on your PC and with the same installation key; and there is no activation needed, except you will have to accept the WGA verification if you use Windows Update.)
And why don't you try disinfecting via a rescue CD antivirus? You have Antivir Rescue CD and many other free bootable antivirus CDs for that.
Making disk images (ghost) from an infected hard drive is just adding another layer of viruses when restoring the image.
As a last resort, if disinfection doesn’t yield good results, we move to formatting the drive and installing the system on a clean drive.
--
The druid without the potion.
Making disk images (ghost) from an infected hard drive is just adding another layer of viruses when restoring the image.
As a last resort, if disinfection doesn’t yield good results, we move to formatting the drive and installing the system on a clean drive.
--
The druid without the potion.
Yes, but if you format, the i386 folder is deleted; (and you) suggest formatting (as a last resort). Don't you have him back up first? Do you buy him a XP CD? He says he has nothing else to install ... (neutral). (Note: I never said that the i386 folder is sufficient to make a CD, nor the opposite because yes, additional files are needed.)
Yes, we also clone viruses (we just remove the autoruns, the rest is not *magic*, it won't change) ! Cloning onto another hard drive (external). Antivirus experts help with the cleanup, and then if the installation files are still all there, we proceed with a clean cloning. Once the clean cloning is done, we can delete the unclean clone. And we make a double. Long to do but simple apart from cleaning the viruses of course. (Either we clean the backup or the Windows XP installation while running.)
Note: Several free software are available for cloning backups (+ mbr and tattooing). You don't have to buy software, Kin'; if you find what suits you.
Yes, we also clone viruses (we just remove the autoruns, the rest is not *magic*, it won't change) ! Cloning onto another hard drive (external). Antivirus experts help with the cleanup, and then if the installation files are still all there, we proceed with a clean cloning. Once the clean cloning is done, we can delete the unclean clone. And we make a double. Long to do but simple apart from cleaning the viruses of course. (Either we clean the backup or the Windows XP installation while running.)
Note: Several free software are available for cloning backups (+ mbr and tattooing). You don't have to buy software, Kin'; if you find what suits you.
Here are two tutorials (video and text) to recreate your XP CD and then be able to reinstall.
http://www.teletuto.fr/story.php?title=Recr%C3%A9er_son_cd_original_de_windows_XP-1
or here in writing
https://www.commentcamarche.net/