System restore will not function correctly.

[wrr276]

I've had my laptop for a number of years now and within the past 2 years it would not allow me to do a return to factory default, so i just left it alone. But now i bought a very expensive Rosetta stone package and will not download because of my firewall. My firewall is giving me a code error five and i have tried many methods to fix it and it will not work. So i decided i have to do a Factory default for the best anyways and get rid of a bunch of items i do not use. But now i am back to my original problem, my computer will not allow me to do a return to factory default or create a factory default CD. When i try an create a CD using Gateway Recovery Management the CD progress remains at 0% for 2 straight days. So is there a way i can force a Return to factory default on my laptop.
-I do not know much about my laptop but it is a Gateway laptop(older model-at least 4 years old), originally windows vista then upgraded to windows 7, 64 bit. I just filled out my system specs if it helps at all, if any other info is needed please ask!

 

[gregrocker]

Why mess with recovering all the Vista factory crapware and useless OEM utlities which have better versions built into Win7? This is a corrupt install to begin with.

Instead boot the Win7 upgrade disk to follow these same steps for a Clean Reinstall - Factory OEM Windows 7 using the key with the Upgrade disk.

 

[wrr276]

Alright i just spent the past couple of days searching for it and it turns out my dad cleaned out his file cabinet, and what does clean mean in his eyes? THROW EVERYTHING AWAY THAT IS IN IT! So i have lost all ability to be able to use the windows 7 disc and the laptop when bought originally had vista which didn't come with a cd. The laptop actually came with nothing besides a power cord. So i tried creating a CD thinking Microsoft FixIt program would perhaps fix any problems with the cd burner and right now it is at 30 minutes and still on 0%.

 

[gregrocker]

You can reinstall the Vista version which is listed on the COA sticker on the machine using the Product Key also on the sticker, after downloading and burning it to DVD using ImgBurn at 4x speed.

http://www.sevenforums.com/installa...e-vista-iso-download-available-like-win7.html

 

[wrr276]

which one do i use?
install.wim
boot.wim
X13-49121.exe

 

[gregrocker]

Follow the installation instructions in Dell download link.

There's also a way to Boot Recovery Partition using EasyBCD