i dont want to restore it to a previous setting, just the factory thing, so i have nothing on there again, dont suppose anyone can run me through it please? not through the start menu either, but before the computers loaded and logs me in, around when you can open the boot menu i think...? could be far wrong though lol

Did your Vista come preloaded on your Dell something machine? i_XpUser

no i installed it later, but i just need to know how to do the system restore, i did it a while back, but forgot how to again lol bit stupid i know

First you said... i dont want to restore it to a previous setting, just the factory thing Then you said ... i just need to know how to do the system restore, Which is what? i_XpUser

ahh im sorry, im no good at computer stuff, dont know what i mean myself sometimes :P its just that i have the vista stuff, but ive not put the product key in for 45 days, which i can guess is the cut off, and now of course...i lost the key. i cant uninstall it now either. i want to restore it to xp, as ive got the key there. i can then spend time looking for the vista key. its just that i have a lot to do in a short amount of time, so i cant be messing around lookin for it. if i do a full system restore, so its back to the way it was when it left the factory, i can put everything back on in 1 night. then its all good again. you get me? i can then later find the product key when im not so rushed

OK No problem. You will have to try a get an XP disc from Dell. Then you will have to nuke the hard drive with killdisk utility in order for the Dell-supplied installation CD to work. i_XpUser

You will have to try a get an XP disc from Dell. Then you will have to nuke the hard drive with killdisk utility in order for the Dell-supplied installation CD to work. you said ^^ ive got the xp disk here so could you run me through what to do? i dont know how to nuke the hard drive?