restoring pc to factory settings

[LindyK]

  can anybody help me? I need to restore my pc back to factory settings as it's running soooo slow because of all the junk that my kids have downloaded. I was able to do it on my other pc as it had a recovery disc with it but this does'nt have anything with it HELP!!!!!

[dl65]

LindyK......Have you considered cleaning out all the crap ? Which operating system is loaded on the pc in question ?

dl65  

[LindyK]

Thank you so much for taking the time to reply to my inane garbling! Anyway it's Windows XP

[merlin_2]

save whatever you need to disks.......and reload the recovery disks that came with the pc.........or you could download avanced system optimizer from majorgeeks.com.............>what proceessor have you got.....intel3/4 amd....?and what ram have you got........if unsure........type msinfo32 in run box......it should tell you ?

[dl65]

LindyK.....Ok .....here's what I would suggest ......
I would download the following programs if you dont already have them........
CCleaner.... http://www.majorgeeks.com/download4191.html
Spybot .... http://www.majorgeeks.com/download2471.html
MicroSoft Antispyware Beta ....
http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/details.aspx?FamilyID=321cd7a2-6a57-4c57-a8bd-dbf62eda9671&displaylang=en

I am making the assumption that you do have a current updated anti virus program installed .

So ...once you have the above mentioned apps dowloaded and installed .......be sure and get the latest updates for all of them ....... Then ....
Turn off the system restore feature in XP ........
Shutdown ypour pc and restart it in SAFE mode ...... ( repeatedly tap the F8 key as its starting up and you will be given a number of options as how to start ......choose "SAFE MODE" ........
Then run a scan of the pc with your anti virus app.
delete anything it finds .
Then run the CCleaner ......
Delete anything it finds .
Then run Spybot
Delete anything it finds
Then run MS Antispyware ........
Delete anything it finds ......
Now shutdown and re start in normal mode and see how things are working ......
Let us know .......

dl65  

[GX1_Man]

Well done, sir.    That is the definitive answer, especially because she has no way to reload her OS.

[merlin_2]

make model of pc.........maybe you can ask the makers for replacement recovery disks........to restore factory settings you may need them?

[Fed]

LindyK, you have just received some very good advice from DL65, work through it step by step & I'm sure you will be very pleased with the results.
Tell us how you go.

[merlin_2]

Still need recovery disks..........?or install disks for o/s.

or options like the f8 key on boot up......last good config.....or the recover cmd......in the prompt.....