How do I access the recovery partition on my computer? Or clean install windows XP?

Question

Hey there! I have a Dell Dimension 5150 & I want to a clean install with factory settings. However, I cannot access ctrl+f11 at startup like I have previously been able to do. I have been told that you can make your own CD from the partitions already saved to my computer. Which will enable me to burn my own CD of the OS & clean install from there. Bottom line is I want to be able to reinstall windows to factory settings. I have all my information on a separate drive & I just need to wipe my computer. Any suggestions?
Other information you may need:
OS: Windows XP Media Center Edition 2005

Answer 1

>Here ya go, Dell's directions to do that...



http://support.dell.com/support/topics/global.aspx/support/kcs/document?c=us&l=en&s=gen&docid=DSN_336966&isLegacy=true

Answer 2

Wolf Vampire you are completely backwards. It is CTRL + F11. The trick is you have to hold them down while the Dell splash screen is displayed.



I have just had to do this on 50 Dell Dimensions and it worked every time.

Answer 3

one thing it's f11 not cntrl f11



so get that right and you can tell if you have a recovery drive if you look at your hdd.



but you can make a recovery disk.