Problem reinstalling Win XP Pro

[nicolasm]

This Dell Dimension 8200, from 2002, has seen better days, and despite good care, is in need of a OS reinstall. I've backed up all the files I want and am ready to do the install but the computer will not boot from disk. I've set the boot order to have the CD-ROM first in the BIOS, and have even gone as far as to deactivate the harddrive in the boot sequence, either way, it won't go from the startup disk. Or if it does, it seems like it boots from the disk and then goes straight into a regular startup, then going to the Welcome screen etc. Some advice as to what to do would be greatly appreciated. Thanks

[Kareeser]

If it is a dell computer that hasn't been improperly formatted before, then you can just restore the computer to its factory default settings with the press of a button (well... not really, but you get my drift.). Dell computers usually have a special partition specifically to restore the computer back to the way it was when you first bought it

I believe it is a program you can run from the start menu... and if that doesn't work, a key combination at the startup screen usually works.

[nicolasm]

Do you know how exactly I can do that? It just doesn't make sense to me that the BIOS refuses to boot from the CD.

And if you are referring to system restore, it only goes back a few months.

[glc]

Try Ctrl+F11 at startup. If it has a restore partition, it will go into a recovery process.