Two teenagers share this desktop. With all their downloads, etc, it runs as slow as molasses and take forever to switch from one user to another. they don;t care if I wipe out all their personal stuff so I thought if I did a factory restore, it would run fast again. will this work?

(I've run spybot, ccleaner, adware and have norton protection.
deleted all programs not used.)

I don't know about Dell. Although that is what I have. My kids have an HP and I just had to do the same thing to there's. I would have been insane if I had to of used it. It worked wonderfully on theres. They are back to speedy quick. Good Luck!!

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This is my first Dell machine. I usually get HP's. I do know that Dell does pretty much everything different than most other manufacturers. Is there a "Help and Support" listed on the start menu? If so, go there and type in "System Restore"..and see what comes up. I haven't had to do that yet, but I would also be curious to see how it goes.

Also, do you have Vista or XP? That does make a difference.

OK...checked mine (I have Vista Home Premium). Here is what it says:

How do I start System Restore?
Click to open System Restore(*NOTE: This is a link within the "Help and Support" area. Just go to Start/Help and Support and type in "System Restore". There will be an option that says "System Restore Frequently Asked Questions. Click on that, then on "How do I start System Restore".) If you are prompted for an administrator password or confirmation, type the password or provide confirmation.

Note
Before you start System Restore, save any open files and close all programs. System Restore will restart your computer.

If you cannot start your computer at all...

Start System Restore from a command prompt

You can start System Restore from a command prompt window if you cannot start your computer in any mode other than safe mode with command prompt.

Start your computer in safe mode with command prompt. For more information, see Start your computer in safe mode. If you are prompted for an administrator password or confirmation, type the password or provide confirmation.

At the command prompt, type rstrui.exe, and then press ENTER.

Note
If you use System Restore when the computer is in safe mode, you cannot undo the restore operation. However, you can run System Restore again and choose a different restore point if one exists.

I'm pretty sure every Windows computer offers this option. It sounds like Dells come with operating system CD's, which you'd want to insert, and choose to perform a recovery. Some info here:

Dell System Restore

FYI, anything in one of the folders that comes with Windows, like My Documents, and anything on the Desktop will be lost.

Ok, yea...foryoubabyblue's way is probably better. Easier to understand than mine. I just went to where I could find the info on my own machine.

So whichever way you want to go. I would definately back everything up that you want to save. If you have any CD's around.

Also, I noticed that was for a system that has XP. If you have Vista, my above method is what you want to use. Sometimes I really miss XP . Things like this were alot easier, IMO.

I have a dell used to have a hp! give me the hp anytime over the dell! the hp I could totally wipe the computer when I got a nasty virus but not the dell I have yet to find a way to totally wipe it! if anyone knows please let me know!

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I just got a new Dell last month. My DS totally wiped my old Dell and did a clean install of XP with the back-upCD that came with it . (The old Dell was 4 years old.) He did have to use some of the software that came with it originally for drivers and such. The grands and DH are using it now, and it is awesome, just like new!

Oops, I just assume anyone who wants to do a recovery has XP -- while the people with Vista usually ask how to get XP back! Really, neither's a bad operating system, but every time a new one's released, it tends to be released with not enough memory, and with enough bugs to make it inconvenient. I did a destructive recovery on an older Compaq (same as HP now) which wasn't great, but it did clean the computer up. If there aren't CD's for the computer, there's usually a key you can tap on startup (BEFORE Windows loads!) to get to a recovery partition on the hard drive. F8, delete, something like that. There's an article on that here: Inside the Dell PC Restore Partition

Okay. I've read these suggestions and decided to try ctrl/f11 to just wipe out everything to factory settings. BUT......when I do this, it comes up " keyboard error or no keyboard present"

now what? any ideas?

it's a dell dimension 2350

Pressing keys shouldn't generate a keyboard error, but it looks like that shouldn't matter. Anyway, your model looks like it uses a CD install, so Dell gives you: Documentation

the documentation link says it's fro windows xp reinstall.....is that like doing a system restore?

That should clear everything off the computer and set it back to how it shipped if you choose the option where it warns you you'll lose stuff. That's the 'Esc' one. That's my understanding though, I've never owned a Dell, but this is more about Windows than who makes the computer.