Resetting to Factory Settings

[Cake]

Hello, I have a question about resetting my computer (With Windows XP) back to factory settings.

I am looking to wipe all information from my computer hoping to rid it of all unneeded files/data. Afterwards I would install the few programs that I typically use. I would like to do this to possibly speed my machine up and make it more organized.

Is this the right thing to do? Any negative consequences of doing this? What would resetting my computer back to factory settings do besides erasing everything? Would the operating system still be in tact? I have no Windows XP install disk if so. 

Edit: Dell computer btw.

[Carbon Dudeoxide]

I think on a Dell it's called Factory Image Restore.

Anyways, this will bring the computer back to First-start conditions.

This may be a good read:
http://support.dell.com/support/topics/global.aspx/support/dsn/document?c=us&l=en&s=gen&docid=3E48AE3870775D64E040A68F5B2877D4&journalid=609C4F24302A1901E040AE0AB8E142EE&Query=&SystemID=&ServiceTag=&contenttype=&os=&component=&lang=&doclang=&toggle=&dl=

[Cake]

Thanks so much for the link. It helped a lot. 

[Carbon Dudeoxide]

Anytime.