Vista - Re-install a pre-installed OS

I would like to re-install Vista Home Basic but it was pre-installed and no DVD/CD was supplied from Dell. How can I re-install?

Hello hoogachagga,

Welcome to Vista Forums.

On my dell desktop, press F8 at the dell logo to enter boot options. Click on Repair your computer. Select keyboard layout, next. To access recovery options, log on as local user. Click Dell factory image restore. Might be a Dell factory tools button before the image restore button. Follow the instructions. Warning: this will restore the C drive to the factory state. Any personal files on the C drive will be erased.

This is from my desktops manual (XPS420). Laptops may be different, but you can check your manual or download from Dell for your comp.

Hope this helps.

Gary

Hi Gary,
Thanks for a very quick reply - very impressed!!
Shall try your suggestion and post feedback.
Cheers,
Peter

I had a hand me down desktop given to us and it had no recovery disks as well and did not have the factory image of OS partitioned, it is an older Dell. I called Dell and explained my situation, even though it was out of warranty by quit a few years, they switched all the registered documents over to us as the new owner of the PC and sent out the OS DVD, apps DVD, a bonus DVD with some nice gadgets and the web site to down load drivers which I did and burned to DVD. When they arrived the next day because Dell sent it overnight on them, I reinstalled OS with the new recovery disc's. It might be worth a call to them. I spent a little over 30 minutes on the phone with Dell and now the wife is a happy camper. It can't hurt to try. good luck.