Whilst the Non-destructive option should keep your personal data, we recommend that you make backups if you can.

• Save a copy of your personal documents onto floppy disks, memory cards or high capacity disks. You can backup large amounts of data using your CD writer, and create your own archives. Please refer to the Tutorials section in Packard Bell InfoCentre to learn how to create backups, or click on the link down the right hand side of this page.
• Return your computer to its original configuration.
  • Remove any additional hardware components (such as sound cards, video cards or network cards) that you may have added to your computer.
  • Reinstall the original Packard Bell hardware components if you have removed them.
  • Make sure that your keyboard, mouse, monitor and speakers are connected properly (if appropriate for your computer).
  • Disconnect any additional devices that you have connected to your computer (such as printer, scanner or camera).

Start the recovery from Microsoft Windows?:

• From Windows? you can start the recovery through the Smart Restore program. Click Start > All Programs > Packard Bell Support > Smart Restore. On the screen below select the highlighted icon.
• A new window will open up, click on OK to restart your computer and begin the recovery process.

If you can no longer get Windows? to start:

• Power on your computer. When the Packard Bell logo appears, press and hold the [F11] key for a few seconds to start the Recovery Program:
• The computer will load the recovery program and display the screen below.
• Select either Windows? XP System Restore or Recovery Program as appropriate and click Next to continue. System Restore is recommended if the computer will start into Windows?.
• Selecting Windows? XP System Restore will restart the computer and launch the System Restore program.
• Selecting Recovery Program presents the screen below.
• Selecting a Partial Recovery and clicking Next displays the Restore a user account screen (shown below).
• Selecting a Complete Recovery and clicking Next displays a summary screen. You will be warned of data loss when proceeding with a complete recovery, your computer will be returned to its out of the box setup.
• Select one of the users listed and click on Next to continue. Other users data will still exist after recovery, but you will have to browse to it manually as their profiles will not be automatically created.
• A Recovery Program summary screen is displayed showing details of the options selected. Click on Next once more to continue.
• The recovery will now begin and will take up to 15 minutes.
• Upon completion a summary screen will be displayed to show you where your files have been kept.

From Windows® you can start the recovery through the Smart Restore program. Click Start > All Programs > Packard Bell Support > Smart Restore. On the screen below select the highlighted icon.
A new window will open up, click on OK to restart your computer and begin the recovery process.