Restoring Compaq Presario Desktopt To Factory State

[porkchop]

My Compaq Presario Desktop is slowing to a stop and i would to try and bring it back to factory state.
Is it possible to bring it back to factory state and still retain files. How can this be done and how do i bring it back to factory state. I do not mind if i have to lose some files . Thank you .

[hc4361]

What Operating System is it?

[Buenchico]

As Hc4361 indicates, it would help to know which version of Windows you've got. We might also need to know if you've got a disc with Windows on it.

[porkchop]

I got it as Windows XP

[hc4361]

Is it still XP?

[porkchop]

i will have to do a search for a disk

[porkchop]

Still XP, would that be correct? I am not too much of an expert.

[hc4361]

If you take it back to factory default then you will lose your files - it will be exactly as it was when you bought it.

[porkchop]

maybe it has been updated to Windows 8 ??

[Buenchico]

If you've got the original Windows XP disk you can do a 'repair install' to get your computer working like new (but without losing any files). I've done it several times in the past myself:
https://www.lifewire.com/how-to-perform-a-windows-xp-repair-install-2624915

However Microsoft's support for XP ended 2½ years ago, meaning that there are increasing security risks from continuing to use it. £69.95 (including carriage) for one of these would be a far better option:
http://www.accomputerwarehouse.com/product-info/dell-optiplex-380-pentium-e6700-3-2ghz-2gb-ram-80gb-hd-windows-7-pro
(NB: That link isn't just the result of a bit of googling. That's the firm where I buy my computers from and I can highly recommend them)

[Buenchico]

Click the Start button at the bottom left of your screen. If 'Computer' (or 'My Computer') is shown there, RIGHT-click on the entry and then select 'Properties'. That will tell you which version of Windows you've got.

[porkchop]

Thank you all for all your help. I will do a big search to see if i have the original disk. I purchased the Tower and Monitor brand new so if it came with a disk i should still have it around the house. Hope it won't be the same old story of me finding a rubbish Donald Duck DVD and not find the most important CD.I changed the monitor to a bigger LG screen but the tower is in perfect condition. I keep it clean and keep it free from dust both inside and outside.If i can't find the original disk is it possible to download a Windows XP disk using another computer?

[Buenchico]

If you've not got the original XP disk, a 'repair disk' would probably be all you need:
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Windows-XP-Home-Edition-ReInstall-Repair-Restore-Re-install-32-bit-full-/201705801970

[porkchop]

Hi Buenchico . I followed your instruction and came up with this.The model is Microsoft Windows XP
Home Edition
Version 2002
Service Pack 3

[Buenchico]

^^^ Thanks for that.

Purchase a disk from the eBay link above.

Place it into your computer's CD drive.

Restart your computer.

Hopefully your PC is set to try to boot from a CD before the hard drive. If so, you'll see instructions on what to do on your screen. (If your computer simply boots up as normal though , ignoring the disk its CD drive, we'll have to tell you how to change the BIOS settings on your computer).

However I still think that it's time to upgrade to at least Windows 7. Windows XP simply isn't secure any more!

[porkchop]

One more thing please, if i try to make a recovery CD fro computer what type of CD should i use. Would a CD-R be ok?

[Buenchico]

A Windows XP machine might not even have a CD writer (or rewriter) built into it. It's possible that your CD drive only reads CDs and can't write them.

However, assuming that you've got a CD writer, you need whatever type of disk is compatible with that drive. CD-R is definitely the most common format.

Even so, I'm not sure that you're in a position to make a recovery CD anyway. You almost certainly need to use a disk which Microsoft designed specifically for the task. It's either a full Windows CD or a recovery CD like the one in my eBay link previously.

[porkchop]

Thanks for all the info Buenchico, and most of all ,your time! I will go away and study what i have to do with the Compaq Presario Windows Xp and i will report back whenever i get things going again. Looks like it will take loads of time but i have patience, in the mean time i am using an old Dell Inspiron.
Regards, Happy Xmas

[porkchop]

Just found out that i can burn pictures from Compaqto a CD-R.