Really, it isn't difficult. The methods, whether it's a hidden partition,
or a disk, is pretty much the same.
If you have a disk, then the first thing to do is make sure that the
computer is set to boot from a cd in the system bios settings. Put the
disk in the cd drive. Now, depending on your brand, this may differ, but
with Dell, you restart your computer..not power down, just restart, and as
soon as the screen goes black, tap the Delete key repeatedly until it boots,
which will be to the bios.
Then, using the keyboard left/right/up and down arrow keys ( mouse does not
function in this mode)
find the boot priority, select the cd rom drive, press enter, and make sure
it is located in the first position in the lineup of devices. Exit and save
the changes..there will be an option for this.
Now when the computer restarts it will boot to that recovery disk. Now,
since I don't have a recovery disk, I'm not sure what you will see next, but
it should be something like giving you the option to format your main drive,
or you may have the option to reinstall, or clean install. Then you just
follow the on-screen prompts.
With a hidden partition, HP for example uses the F10 key to access the
recovery partition, pressing F10 at boot up, but I'm not sure. Anyway,
Google it..it's really pretty easy and not worth paying someone to do it for
you. One thing I'd suggest, when you do this, make a set of recovery
disks. With some manufactures this option is given when installing.
Be advised that a reformat will wipe out all of your personal data, word
documents, pictures, music, etc. so back those up to a cd or the like so you
can reinstall them later. And whatever software you have, AV programs, etc
will have to be reinstalled.
Depending on how much you have it can take a bit of time.
Make sure that you don't connect to the internet until you are ready to
reinstall your Av programs.
If your system came with a manual, all this should be covered in it, but
Google it anyway, and print the instructions before your begin.
