How to Restore the Factory Settings for Windows XP

You must format your hard drive before restoring your computer to factory settings.

Factory settings refers to the state your computer was in when you first purchased it. That is, a computer that has been restored to factory settings has a clean installation of the operating system on it and only the files and programs that come with the operating system. Therefore, to restore your computer to factory settings for Windows XP, you need to format your hard drive and perform a clean installation of Windows XP on your computer.

Things You'll Need

• Windows XP Installation CD

Instructions

1. Boot your computer from the Windows XP installation CD. Insert the CD into your CD-ROM drive and restart your computer. When prompted, press any key on the keyboard to boot from the CD.

2. Press "Enter" on your keyboard when you see the first Windows XP splash screen. This screen is blue and is entitled "Welcome to Setup." This opens the Windows XP setup options.

3. Press "F8" on your keyboard after reading the Microsoft license terms.

4. Delete any partitions on your computer. You'll encounter a screen displaying all of the partitions present on your computer. Select a partition using the arrow keys on your keyboard and press "D." Delete partitions until you are left with only one drive option labeled "Unallocated Space."

5. Press "Enter" on the last remaining drive option. Select "NTFS" from the formatting options and press "Enter" again. Your hard drive is now formatted.

6. Allow the Windows XP installation CD to install Windows XP back onto your computer. This could take a few minutes. Once installed, you can complete the setup by following the on-screen instructions.

Tips & Warnings

• Back up your data if you want to save it before restoring your computer to factory settings.

References

• Microsoft: How to Install or Upgrade Windows XP
• Windows Supersite: Windows XP Clean Install