Any way to reinstall windows/ revert to factory settings

[Dave Rees]

I have been having some problems with PC performance, and
i want to revert back to the original factory settings to
see if something has really gone wrong with the computer
or if it is just too much crap clogging up the HD. I have
backed up all my files to another computer for safe
keeping, but i need to know if there is any way to revert
back to the original settings.

Any ideas?

Thanks
Dave

 

[Bob Horton]

Well, if you really have all the stuff you need (docs, downloads, email b/u,
address book, favorites, etc.) then the true test would be to wipe the hard
drive (reformat) and reinstall the O.S. You may well find that the fastest
it will ever be is in that state, before you add the 100's of updates from
MS and your programs. Some programs are notorious resource hogs that
launch all the time (check with msconfig), spyware will often slow the
machine down, viruses, etc.

HTH

Bob Horton