E
ergolabs
Our company is doing out-of-box usability testing on (among other things) a
Dell Dimension 8300 desktop system running Windows XP Home. For each user
testing the system, it has to be in exactly the same condition it was in
when it arrived from the factory. This means that we have to restore the
system to its factory-original configuration after each use. Using the
Restore function in Windows XP is not enough for this, because it does not
allow you to set a restore point until after you have finished the initial
setup of the machine. The problem is that the reinstall CD also doesn't
restore the machine to the way it was when it came out of the box. It does
reinstall Windows XP successfully, but it forces you to enter your
identifying information as you are completing the install, rather than
leaving that for the user to do the first time the system boots up after the
install is complete. In addition, the appearance of the desktop is
completely different from how it looks when you first boot up the PC after
it arrives from the factory.
We've spoken twice, and at considerable length, with Dell technical support,
but they had no useful suggestions. (They did, however, suggest several
things that didn't work.)
Does anyone have any thoughts on how to return this Dell to its virgin
state? Is there a utility that can be run which restores the
factory-original configuration?
Thanks,
Carol Adams / Katherine McKee
Ergosoft Laboratories, Austin, TX
Dell Dimension 8300 desktop system running Windows XP Home. For each user
testing the system, it has to be in exactly the same condition it was in
when it arrived from the factory. This means that we have to restore the
system to its factory-original configuration after each use. Using the
Restore function in Windows XP is not enough for this, because it does not
allow you to set a restore point until after you have finished the initial
setup of the machine. The problem is that the reinstall CD also doesn't
restore the machine to the way it was when it came out of the box. It does
reinstall Windows XP successfully, but it forces you to enter your
identifying information as you are completing the install, rather than
leaving that for the user to do the first time the system boots up after the
install is complete. In addition, the appearance of the desktop is
completely different from how it looks when you first boot up the PC after
it arrives from the factory.
We've spoken twice, and at considerable length, with Dell technical support,
but they had no useful suggestions. (They did, however, suggest several
things that didn't work.)
Does anyone have any thoughts on how to return this Dell to its virgin
state? Is there a utility that can be run which restores the
factory-original configuration?
Thanks,
Carol Adams / Katherine McKee
Ergosoft Laboratories, Austin, TX