Reset to factory settings?

OP?

In that era. the hard drive was partitioned and a small D: drive contained all the backup reset info. Somewhere in the Program Filrs under System Tools/Recovery/Doctor (something like that) there is a recovery program that sets it all rolling. Save all personal data somewhere else =USB memory stick is good.

This is the case for my '04 HP desktop and '06 Gateway laptop. I have reset the Gateway twice. It resets to factory settings fairly fast.

But, it's likely you'll spend a day going to MS site to reload SEVEN years of Windows updates. XP Service Packs, IE6 to 8, Media Player X to 11...Be sure and get rid of original bloatware antivirus and load MS Security Essentials- all you need and free.

Your mention of a separate OS disk may or may not be crucial, depending on if yours is set up as I described.

If you have all the driver disks and OS install disk?
You best bet is to buy a new harddrive
1. Remove the old
2. Install the New
3. Install OS and all drivers
4. Patch Patch Patch
5. Install old drive in second harddrive slot
6. Copy files as needed
7. when you are done copying remove the old drive and save as a backup

New Drives are very cheap and you have all you old data saved, in case something goes wrong

Your computer may contain software to BURN a disc for "wiping" it clean, but you need to make this disc first and have instructions printed or available on another pc to get the job done. Some computers don't have the software available (older computers) but instead included these discs when new. If you cannot locate the system discs, then you must contact the company and buy a set of these install discs. Many computer users keep their files "on the cloud" and wipe their computers clean every few months or so. My son is a Sr. Programmer and cleans his every other week to keep it at top operating condition - it's a custom laptop with a high-end video card and all solid-state hard drive that starts the computer up in mere milliseconds.

Whats the make and model # of your PC? It varies widely from one to another. It's possible the factory restore software is hidden on your PC's hard drive making it easy to do a restore without needing any CD's or special discs of any kind. Otherwise the disc you have may work but that depends on the make/model and what disc you have.

You can also just reinstall using your original windows disc.
Just select overwrite system files.

Older versions of windows should be reinstalled yearly anyway.
Sometimes it's just best to wipe with a reformat then install windows fresh.

You'll need a repair disk to to purge the system of all software and bring it back to it's original factory settings. Go the this Microsoft website and follow the instructions. This site is for Windows 7. But if you have XP or another operating system, you can use the Windows site to find the correct instruction for your operating system.

Best wishes.

Create a repair disk.