User Manual

40
Restoring Your Operating 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 “System
Restore” on page 36.
CAUTION: 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 disc
Dell• Drivers and Utilities disc
NOTE: The Dell Drivers and Utilities disc
contains drivers that were installed during
the assembly of the computer. Use the
Dell Drivers and Utilities disc 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 disc and Operating
System disc 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.
NOTE: Your computer may or may not have
an optical drive. Use an external optical
drive or any external storage device for the
procedures that involve media.
Save and close any open files and exit any 1.
open programs.