how to do a factory reset with windows vista

[daithi]

i have a compaq presario f700
and im looking to wipe of everything off and restart the computer like its new

as like when i turned it on for the first time the reason why is things have just stopped working on it recently like the webcam and 6 months ago the cdrom drive

ive tried updating drivers with no sucess ive googled it to try do it but all i get is how to do a system restore to a previous date but the furthest restore point only goes back 1 month

id install windows 7 on it but i cant read the cd its installed on

thanks for any info

[Reapers]

if you dont have any recovery discs then hp have give you a recovery partition to use for system restores to default settings but you should also make your recovery discs

ill show you a manual that will show how restore and make your own recovery discs's

http://bizsupport2.austin.hp.com/bc/docs/support/SupportManual/c01662115/c01662115.pdf

scroll down to Recovering from the dedicated recovery partition that should install it to factory default settings

you will need a pdf reader software like adobe reader to read it
if you dont have one
get.adobe.com/reader/

after its back to default if possble make recovery discs by using the manual to help you so you have a set for backup.
To create recovery discs youll need about 4-5 dvds or a sizable usb

goodluck

[caveman_nige]

pressing F11 on startup can invoke the recovery partition to factory restore the PC or laptop, of course this only works if one has been installed in the first place at the factory.

[daithi]

cheers lads eventually got to get it to restore but the ~~~~ing camera and cd rom still wont work stuck a cd in it to try read it with no luck

[super jumbe]

After reading all your problems it looks your CD Rom could be faulty, try new CD rom or it could a simple cable connections gone lose.

[daithi]

After reading all your problems it looks your CD Rom could be faulty, try new CD rom or it could a simple cable connections gone lose.

was thinking that alright doesnt explain the webcam though
maybe there both just ~~~~ed its almost 2 and a half years old now

[Reapers]

it's possible that its a hardware problem but it can happen because of the driver issue on the webcam plus vista instabilty all of the time
cd rom could be as well.

try going to device manager and then unistalling the webcam and the drive then scan for devices see if the laptop detects and reinstalls them to working order

if it does then it was a driver issue might want to look for a newer version of the driver and possibly firmware for the drive if they have one.

Locating Model Number

Automatic Detection

http://h20270.www2.hp.com/ediags/gmn2/index.aspx?detectProducts=Start+Detection+%C2%BB&lc=en&cc=uk

or
Scroll to:
(Find the model number using HP Support Assistant)
Locate the Notebook Product Number or Model Number - HP Customer Care (United States - English)

compaq presario f700XX (drivers)
Vista -Software & Driver Downloads Compaq Presario F700XX Notebook PC - HP Customer Care (United States - English)

Vista 64 Bit - Software & Driver Downloads Compaq Presario F700XX Notebook PC - HP Customer Care (United States - English)

compaq presario f700 CTO

Vista 32 Bit -Software & Driver Downloads Compaq Presario F700 CTO Notebook PC - HP Customer Care (United States - English)

Vista 64 Bit - Software & Driver Downloads Compaq Presario F700 CTO Notebook PC - HP Customer Care (United States - English)

compaq presario f700 EM

http://h20000.www2.hp.com/bizsupport/TechSupport/DriverDownload.jsp?prodNameId=3629570***9001;=en&c c=us&taskId=135&prodTypeId=321957&prodSeriesId=354 8233

compaq presario f700 EF
http://h20000.www2.hp.com/bizsupport/TechSupport/DriverDownload.jsp?prodNameId=3629567***9001;=en&c c=us&taskId=135&prodTypeId=321957&prodSeriesId=354 8233

[daithi]

i took out the hard drive and this is it on ebay
eBay.ie: Fujitsu Esprimo V5535 GSA-T40N DVD-RW/CD-RW (item 360326261531 end time 06-Jan-11 15:29:49 GMT)

does anyone no any cheap online sites to buy them from

also could i try downloading the firmware or driver for it

scanned for devices but no luck
tried to uninstall them but not sure what to look for in programmes list

[caveman_nige]

clonesuk dot com are very good for laptop parts.. have bought quite a few bits from them

[bazzw6]

webcams on vista are a common prob microsoft say just ignore the 'prog faullt' at start up and all should work fine i investigated this for a mate yesterday... on a hp laptop.
lets face it vista is a pile of s**t.
there last major prob was with adobe flash player..adobe won't change proggy to suite vista and ms cant come up with an easy workround so your stuck with it
good old ms

top pc spares cheap and reliable can't beat em in notts area

http://www.web-systems.co.uk/