How do I restor my PC to factory settings and is that even what I need

TheCause · 03 May 2012

I have formatted about 6 times. I changed a setting in msconfig to make my startup faster, but I accidentally checked a box that the guy didnt check on the tutorial.

This is what I did that caused all of these problems.

I accidentally checked the box that said "Maximum Memory."
Thats when all this crap started happening.

Ever since then, Everytime I start my pc I get this error.

mem.png picture by AlmostArtafact - Photobucket

I have formatted tons of times and the error is still there.
Also it jacked up something in my ram. I cant have like skype and msn open at the same time, photoshop and msn, vmware open at all, anything like that. My screen resolution will go from the highest (1920x1200 for a tv which is what I use) to like 480x whatever. My pc is super unstable now. Chrome crashes atleast 10 times a day.

A guy had me turn the pc off, take out the ram, turn it back on and wait for an error. Then turn it off, put the ram back in and see what happens. This actually worked, he said it flushes something or something idk. But it worked and I could have vmware,skype,msn and ,photoshop open all at the same time and it wouldnt crash lol. But anyway, after I restart my PC or it goes to sleep, same crap happens again, crash after crash :\.

Also, I have pretty much nothing the startup and when I turn my pc on, it idles out at about 3/4 memory usage.

I have tried resetting my bios, and formatting.

Anything else you suggest, like a super format 3000 or something I dont know about?

Also, I tried creating a system managed page file, it worked a little, not much though.

I thought if I formatted and reset my bios to factory settings it would fix it. Like I said nothing works.

Also, here is about where my Memory idles out at as soon as I turn it on.
Like I said everything was perfectly fine until I changed that setting.

seavixen32 · 03 May 2012

Knowing who your computer manufacturer would help, but in any event I'd forget a factory restore and go for a clean install, as this excellent tutorial explains.

Clean Reinstall - Factory OEM Windows 7

TheCause · 03 May 2012

I have an Emachine. I do not have the "Emachine version of Windows" that came with my pc, because it was old and I wanted to upgrade. So I borrowed a burnt Windows 7 CD from a friend. That is what I am currently using.

Also, what is the difference between a clean install and just formatting, deleting all your partitions and reinstalling Windows again? I have done that about 6 times =X

seavixen32 · 03 May 2012

Have you tried deselecting Maximum Memory then click OK to confirm the change?

A clean install wipes your hard drive and installs Windows without all the bloatware that manufacturers put on their system before they ship it to you.

You say you borrowed a Windows DVD. How have you activated it? If you are using pirated or non-licensed software you are bound to get problems when Microsoft's validation server cottons on to the fact you're not using legal software.

TheCause · 03 May 2012

Yea I deselected Maximum Memory.
And as for a clean install, as mentioned I have formatted 6 times and re installed Windows after deleting all of the partitions.

seavixen32 · 03 May 2012

Can you confirm you are using a legal Windows DVD?

MilesAhead · 03 May 2012

I'm not sure what's going on. In the first screen shot it shows that you have no swap file. Then below it has some dialog box about starting the conversation. Is that popping up when you log on or what?

Also try setting the system to let Windows control the swap and see if it makes any difference.

btw you can use a Windows install DVD legally for an evaluation period. Just don't put in any product code when you install. Don't use your friend's product code or he might find his activation wiped. Just use a blank product key. You have at least 90 days evaluation period before you have to activate. When it asks you if you want to activate now just click NO until you decide to buy it. If fact if you search the Tutorial section there's an article how to extend the evaluation by another 30 days.

TheCause · 03 May 2012

MilesAhead said:

I'm not sure what's going on. In the first screen shot it shows that you have no swap file. Then below it has some dialog box about starting the conversation. Is that popping up when you log on or what?

Also try setting the system to let Windows control the swap and see if it makes any difference.

btw you can use a Windows install DVD legally for an evaluation period. Just don't put in any product code when you install. Don't use your friend's product code or he might find his activation wiped. Just use a blank product key. You have at least 90 days evaluation period before you have to activate. When it asks you if you want to activate now just click NO until you decide to buy it. If fact if you search the Tutorial section there's an article how to extend the evaluation by another 30 days.

I edited my original post so it is a little more legible. What happened is I changed the setting in msnconfig. Rebooted and now I get the error about a paging file etc. Even after formatting my PC 6 times and re installing Windows 6 times, the paging file thing always pops up EVERYTIME Windows loads. Also, yes, I have set the paging file to a System Managed size. It works a little bit, but I still cant have multiple programs open at the same time. That is the main problem, not the fact that Windows asks me to create a paging file every time it starts, but the fact that I cant have many programs open at all. The computer works fine for the first hour or so that its on, but the more stuff I do on it the more unstable it becomes.

Im guessing re formatting, and re installing Windows would be the closest to factory settings I can get? I was just wondering what kind of file might have been changed when I accidentally left that box checked on msconfig, seems how I have re formatted so many times and it never goes away. As mentioned I have also restored my bios to default.

ignatzatsonic · 03 May 2012

TheCause said:

I have an Emachine. I do not have the "Emachine version of Windows" that came with my pc, because it was old and I wanted to upgrade. So I borrowed a burnt Windows 7 CD from a friend. That is what I am currently using.

Also, what is the difference between a clean install and just formatting, deleting all your partitions and reinstalling Windows again? I have done that about 6 times =X

What exactly is "the Emachine version of Windows"?? I've never heard of it and would expect an ordinary version of Windows to work. You could download it.

A clean install typically means booting from the Windows installation disc and then choosing "drive options, advanced" at the partition screen, at which point you delete all partitions and continue. Is that what you did?

TheCause · 03 May 2012

ignatzatsonic said:

TheCause said:

I have an Emachine. I do not have the "Emachine version of Windows" that came with my pc, because it was old and I wanted to upgrade. So I borrowed a burnt Windows 7 CD from a friend. That is what I am currently using.

Also, what is the difference between a clean install and just formatting, deleting all your partitions and reinstalling Windows again? I have done that about 6 times =X

What exactly is "the Emachine version of Windows"?? I've never heard of it and would expect an ordinary version of Windows to work. You could download it.

A clean install typically means booting from the Windows installation disc and then choosing "drive options, advanced" at the partition screen, at which point you delete all partitions and continue. Is that what you did?

Yes sir, that is exactly what I did. By eMachine version of Windows I mean the one that comes with all of the eMachine software on it.