- 1). Insert the recovery or restore disk into the CD or DVD-ROM drive. Restart the computer. The disk will be detected and the recovery process will be initiated. Follow the on-screen prompts. You may be required to select the option to restore the computer to factory settings. On some systems, such as Sony VAIO, this option is called "System Image Recovery."
- 2). Restore the system by accessing the option from the start menu. For instance, in Sony VAIO, this option can be accessed from the "Control Panel" in the start menu. Select "System and Security" and the "Recover System Settings" option and follow the on-screen prompts. In Gateway systems, the recovery option is in the start menu's "Accessories" folder. Then select "System Tools" and "System Restore."
- 3). Return the system to default factory settings by prompting the restore process by pressing the correct keys. The correct keys vary per manufacturer. For example, Dell and Sony laptops both require users to press the "F8" key just as the computer begins to restart. Toshiba requires that you press the "0" and power button simultaneously when turning the system on. Acer requires users to select the "Alt+F10" keys upon system startup to initiate recovery. In addition, Acer requires a password be entered. You may enter the default password of six-zeros (0,0,0,0,0,0) if you don't have a password.
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