Preparing a laptop to give to charity

You may struggle to find drivers for Windows 7 that are compatible with your hardware. This system was originally shipped with Windows XP. 

Using Dell PC Restore by Symantec

NOTICE: Using Dell PC Restore permanently deletes all data on the hard drive and removes any

applications or drivers installed after you received your computer. If possible, back up the data before

using PC Restore. Use PC Restore only if System Restore did not resolve your operating system problem.

NOTE: Dell PC Restore by Symantec may not be available in certain countries nor on certain computers.

Use Dell PC Restore by Symantec only as the last method to restore your operating system.

PC Restore restores your hard drive to the operating state it was in when you purchased the

computer. Any programs or files added since you received your computer—including data

files—are permanently deleted from the hard drive. Data files include documents, spreadsheets,

e-mail messages, digital photos, music files, and so on. If possible, back up all data before using

PC Restore.

To use PC Restore:

1 Turn on the computer.

During the boot process, a blue bar with www.dell.com appears at the top of the screen.

2 Immediately upon seeing the blue bar, press .

If you do not press in time, let the computer finish starting, and then restart

the computer again.

NOTICE: If you do not want to proceed with PC Restore, click Reboot in the following step.

3 On the next screen that appears, click Restore.

4 On the next screen, click Confirm.

The restore process takes approximately 6–10 minutes to complete.

5 When prompted, click Finish to reboot the computer.

NOTE: Do not manually shut down the computer. Click Finish and let the computer completely

reboot.

6 When prompted, click Yes.

The computer restarts. Because the computer is restored to its original operating state, the

screens that appear, such as the End User License Agreement, are the same ones that

appeared the first time the computer was turned on.

7 Click Next.

The System Restore screen appears and the computer restarts.

8 After the computer restarts, click OK

If the above doesn't work then you will need an XP installation disc which unfortunately isn't going to be easy to find.

No you cannot install the Windows 7 on this laptop.

www.dell.com/.../ArticleView

has directions on how to restore to factory settings