Dell Factory Image Restore

Does doing this COMPLETELY restore your computer to when you first purchased it? Or does it move your past files somewhere and some software might be able to restore them?

 

If they are deleted in a format, there are programs that can restore them.

I had to once restore a hard drive full of pictures and stuff that I formatted. I forget the name of the program I used.

There are a ton of them out there.

 

Alright man... You keep asking this question in many different threads, so maybe I can repeat myself to help you again.

-Yes it completely restores it to when you first purchased it
-It does not move your past files anywhere. While the magnetic bits containing your data are still existing, the allocated space is marked as FREE. If in the process of windows setup or factory image copy, some of these spaces are copied with new data, you won't be able to restore your old data, even with the most advanced tools in the industry.
-If you absolutely must get your data back, remove your hard drive and send it to a data recovery specialist. You can try to purchase said software but the chances of success are very low.
-I don't know how much more information you will need but you have threads on almost every forum I visit, and I think people have more than answered all your questions many times over. Its time for professional help.

 

You're wrong mattocs. In fact it is as Mr XPS is saying. With it you get your computer as when you first purchased it. So any files wirtten on the "C" drive will be lost when using factory restore, BTW the drive on which the restore is image resides, won't be modified. So anything that you put the will remain intact.

 

If they are written over, they cannot be restored, but as I said, if just formatted, then you can do it. I have done it.