How to Factory Reset Windows 10 and Restore Your PC

When you’re ready to sell a device of any kind, you should perform a factory reset. Phones have had a factory reset option for a long time, but Windows 10 was the first Windows version to include one. Users can use the tool to reinstall the operating system without having to use installation media. The Windows drive is cleaned up during the reset, and all apps and user settings are removed, leaving you with a new OS to install.

The tool does not always perform as expected. If the reset fails, you’ll be taken back to the desktop, where everything is still as it was. If that’s the case, try the fixes below.

How to Factory Reset Windows 10

Remove all removable storage from your system and try the factory reset again before trying any of the fixes on this list. When you try to reset your system, there should be no USB, external hard drive, SD card, or CD/DVD inserted. If it still doesn’t work, try the fixes below.

1. Perform a ‘Fresh Start’ refresh

Users can choose whether to keep or delete their old files when they use Windows reset. Another way to get an almost-new Windows 10 installation is to use the refresh option in Windows 10. Try a Factory Reset first, then a Fresh Start.

Open the Settings app and go to Update and Security.
Go to Windows Security and click Open Windows Security.
On the Windows Security window, go to the Device Performance and Health tab.
Scroll down, and under Fresh Start, click Additional Info.
Click the Get Started button (read the details under it so you know what you’ll be keeping).
Once Windows 10 has been refreshed, try the reset again.

How to Factory Reset Windows 10 and Restore Your PC

2. Perform a disk check

On Windows 10, disk errors are frequently the source of many issues. They have the potential to slow things down and interfere with a reset. If you’re running Windows 10, you won’t be able to run a disk check on the Windows Drive.

Open the Start menu and click Power.
Hold down the Shift key and click Restart.
On the Troubleshoot menu, go to Advanced Options>Command Prompt.
Run the following command to check the Windows drive for errors.

chkdsk /f C:

The command will look for and fix errors. When it’s finished, reboot to the desktop and repeat the reset.

3. Reset from the troubleshoot menu

You can start a Windows 10 reset from the Settings app, but you can also do so from the Troubleshoot menu.

Open the Start menu and click Power.
Hold down the Shift key and click Restart.
On the Troubleshoot screen, click Reset this PC. You will get the same options that you get on the desktop.

4. Reset from installation media

It’s possible that a reset isn’t working because important files are corrupted. The simplest solution is to perform the reset using installation media.

Download a fresh ISO of Windows 10 from Microsoft. Burn it to a USB disk.
Connect the drive to your system.
Open File Explorer and go to This PC.
Open the USB drive.
Run the setup.exe file in.
After you’ve completed the initial steps, you’ll see the ‘Ready to install’ screen. You have the option of keeping or deleting your apps and files. It’s entirely up to you. To complete the reset, click Install.

5. Check disk space on Windows drive

A Windows reset, like a Windows update, necessitates the availability of free space on the Windows drive. You should have at least 10GB of free space on your hard drive, but 20GB is ideal. First, make sure you have enough disk space.

Open File Explorer.
Go to This PC.
The C drive will tell you, visually, how much free space is on the drive. If it’s not enough, free up space.

6. Restore and reset

This option is only available if you have a restore point to which you can return. You must first restore to that point before attempting the reset. You won’t be able to use this method unless a restore point has been set.

Open File Explorer and enter the following in the location bar.

Control Panel\System and Security\System

In the left-hand column, select System Restore.
Click System Restore in the new window that appears, and then select the point in time to which you want to restore the system.
Run the reset from the Settings app once the restore is finished.

Conclusion

Method 4 has the highest success rate of all the methods listed above. If the reset fails and you don’t care about keeping your apps, you can use the installation media you already have to install Windows 10 from the BIOS. Before the setup begins, you will be given the option to format the Windows drive, which is a simple process with no complicated commands to run. Other drives on your system that do not have Windows 10 installed will remain unaffected. Make a backup of any important files on the Windows drive.