- 1). Open the Windows Vista computer recovery manager. Use this feature to reset your overall system defaults. Click the "Start" button, then type the phrase "Recovery Manager" over the the phrase that reads "Start Search." Press the "Enter" key, then click the "Continue" button, if prompted. Wait a moment for a dialogue box to appear, then click the "Next" button, which is generally located at the bottom of the box. Look for the question "Would you like to perform a program recovery?" Select the "Yes" button and follow the prompts.
- 2). Use the "Advanced Options" feature. Reset system defaults by clicking the "Start" button, then "All Programs." Scroll through the list of programs until you find "Recovery Manager." Note that some computers (Hewlett Packard or Compaq, for example) might call this feature different names, but most incorporate the term "recovery" at least somewhere for you to notice. Click the "Advanced Options" button when a dialogue box opens. Choose an option from one of the radio buttons. Look for the phrase "System Recovery" to reset system defaults back to the original manufacturer settings.
- 3). Press the F11 key upon starting. Reset system defaults using a function when Windows Vista will not open at all. Turn on the computer using the "Power" button, then press and hold the F11 key when you see the letters "BIOS" appear in a black screen. Follow the on-screen prompts. Be sure to press the F11 key exactly when the "BIOS" phrase appears (hold your finger directly over the F11 key when you first turn on the computer). Restart the computer again, if pressing the key doesn't work the first time.
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