Laptop Windows Recovery Hot Key

Question

I have a Dell Latitude E6400 laptop that I need to boot to the recovery area to try to reset or reformat. For some reason I cannot get the options to pop up as me what to do next and I do not have the Windows disc.

Questions

1. What key buttons or combinations should I try for further options?
2. What options are available to me if there are no further options?

I basically want to go into the recovery area and then just do a factory reset to all the defaults if possible. I do not want to repair and I do not care about any data on this thing either.

Answer 1

See if the below helps you any, the resource URL is at the bottom.

Turn on the computer and tap the "F8" key several times to load the "Vista Advanced Boot Options" menu.

Click or use your keyboard's directional keys to select "Repair Your Computer." Press "ENTER" to open the "System Recovery Options" window.

Select the appropriate keyboard layout for your Dell Latitude E6400 laptop computer. Click "Next."

Click "Dell Factory Tools," then "Dell Factory Image Restore." Click "Next."

Click "Confirm Data Deletion" to proceed with the system recovery process. After clicking "Confirm Data Deletion," you will no longer be able to backup data (images, movies, document, etc.) files from the computer and the partition will be formatted. Ensure that you have backed up your system data onto another computer or removable media device before proceeding. The recovery process will take approximately five minutes.

Click "Finish" to restart the computer. Allow the operating system to boot up completely, which completes the recovery process for your Dell Latitude E6400 laptop computer.

RESOURCE: http://www.ehow.com/how_8005941_recover-latitude-e6400.html