How do a complete factory restore on dell inspiron 1525 when after f8 it says unable to locate file?

A persistent operating system error on your Dell Inspiron 1525 laptop requires more than just a system restore as there is a problem with a driver that a system restore cannot correct.

A full factory reset of the laptop wipes the hard drive clear of all data including existing driver settings and programs and installs the original operating system back to the hard drive.

Once cleared, previous computer files and programs are non-recoverable.

Press "Power" on the Inspiron 1525, and continuously press "F8" on the keyboard when the Dell logo appears on the laptop's screen.

Press the down arrow to highlight "Repair Your Computer," and press "Enter" to select the highlighted onscreen option.

Click your preferred keyboard layout, and click "Next" to continue with the laptop's restoration process.

Type "administrator" in the username field, click "OK" and click "Dell Factory Tools."

Click "Dell Factory Image Restore," and click "Next." Click the checkbox next to the hard drive reformat confirmation, and click "Next."

Click "Finish" to reboot the OS after the restore process finishes, which can take up to 10 minutes.

Hope this helps.

RTM - Read The Manual

Get onlineand got to www.google.com In the google search box type: "DellSupport" (without the quotes and put your manufacturer name before Support). Look for downloads and drivers. Enter your model number and operatingsystem when requested. Look for Manuals and search them for Factory Restore.

Resetting a Dell Inspiron to the factory settings allows the user to restore the Dell Inspiron to the original operating condition as if it was just taken out of the box. Dell system includes a restore utility called 'Dell Symantec System Restore' to reset or restore your Dell system to factory setting.

Get the step-by-step how to guide..http://technical-support-squad.blogspot.in/2012/08/dell-inspiron-how-to-factory-reset.html

Hello.

You probably have an operating system problem with corrupted files.

Boot your system to Safe Mode (press F8 repeatedly when powering on). Go to System Restore and choose a date when your system worked OK. Note: with System Restore, all your updates will roll back to that date. Follow the process.

Hope this helps.

Check this link Click
Best of Luck.

Before reformatting the pc you must back up necessary files and applications that you might have. Because during the process all files would be deleted and pc would be back to its factory default. You may follow the steps below to reformat the pc.

1. Turn on the computer. When the Dell logo
appears, press <F8> several times to access
the Vista Advanced Boot Options Window.
2. Select Repair Your Computer.
3. The System Recovery Options window
appears.
4. Select a keyboard layout and click Next.
5. To access the recovery options, log on as a
local user. To access the command prompt,
type administrator in the User name
field, then click OK.

6. Click Dell Factory Image Restore. The Dell
Factory Image Restore welcome screen
appears.
NOTE: Depending upon your configuration,
you may need to select Dell Factory Tools,
then Dell Factory Image Restore.
7. Click Next. The Confirm Data Deletion
screen appears.
NOTICE: If you do not want to proceed with
Factory Image Restore, click Cancel.
8. Click the checkbox to confirm that you want
to continue reformatting the hard drive and
restoring the system software to the factory
condition, then click Next.
The restore process begins and may take
five or more minutes to complete. A message
appears when the operating system and
factory-installed applications have been
restored to factory condition.
9. Click Finish to reboot the system.
Operating System Reinstallation
Before you Begin
If you are considering reinstalling the Windows
operating system to correct a problem with a
newly installed driver, first try using Windows
Device Driver Rollback. If Device Driver Rollback
does not resolve the problem, then use System
Restore to return your operating system to the
operating state it was in before you installed
the new device driver. See "Using Microsoft
Windows System Restore" on page 38.
NOTICE: Before performing the installation,
back up all data files on your primary
hard drive. For conventional hard drive
configurations, the primary hard drive is the
first drive detected by the computer.
To reinstall Windows, you need the following
items:
• Dell Operating System media
• Dell Drivers and Utilities media
Restoring Your Operating System
NOTE: The Dell Drivers and Utilities media
contains drivers that were installed during
the assembly of the computer. Use the
Dell Drivers and Utilities media to load any
required drivers. Depending on the region
from which you ordered your computer, or
whether you requested the media, the Dell
Drivers and Utilities media and Operating
System media may not ship with your
computer.
Reinstalling Windows
The reinstallation process can take 1 to 2 hours
to complete. After you reinstall the operating
system, you must also reinstall the device
drivers, virus protection program, and other
software.
1. Save and close any open files and exit any
open programs.
2. Insert the Operating System disc.
3. Click Exit if the Install Windows message
appears.
4. Restart the computer.
5. When the DELL logo appears, press <F12>
immediately.
NOTE: If you wait too long and the
operating system logo appears, continue to
wait until you see the Microsoft® Windows®
desktop; then, shut down your computer
and try again.
NOTE: The next steps change the boot
sequence for one time only. On the next
start-up, the computer boots according to
the devices specified in the system setup
program.
6. When the boot device list appears, highlight
CD/DVD/CD-RW Drive and press <Enter>.
7. Press any key to Boot from CD-ROM.
Follow the instructions on the screen to
complete the installation.
manuals are here http://support.dell.com/support/edoc...5/en/index.htm

check if computer is mute, check in sound properties if speaker headphones is selected, check if sound device is detected in device manager. try uninstall reinstall sound driver. to perform factory image, press F8 up to 10 times during the DELL LOGO, select repair your computer, select language then click next, click Dell Factory image Restore.

Hi,
To restore your laptop back to factory defaults you will need the restore cds that were supplied with your laptop.
Insert the cd (or the firs if is more than one) and restart your laptop.
When the message appears "Press any key to boot from cd" press enter and follow the wizard to reinstall the operating system and restore your laptop.
Please note that you should backup any data that you would like to keep before the above procedure.

chances are that if you formated the d: partion that you destroyed the factory image restore. You will have to do a clean install of windows.

hi..
if you have windows xp then you need to turn your computer as soon as you do that before you see the windows xp logo hold down the control key and keep tapping f11 key.it should take you to the screen fro factory settings and if it is windows vista then you can go ahead and press f8 and then choose repair my computer,hit enter which will then prompt you to login in once you log in it will tell you to choose the options from the options listed below choose the one which says restore factory default...you computer will be restored to factory settings..

vedhick