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The Daily Insight

How do I reset Windows to new?

Author

James Olson

Updated on March 10, 2026

How to Factory Reset Windows 10
  1. Open Settings. Click the Start Menu and select the gear icon in the lower left to open up the Settings window.
  2. Choose Recovery Options. Click the Recovery tab and select Get started under Reset this PC.
  3. Save or Remove Files. At this point, you have two options.
  4. Reset Your Computer.

Hereof, how do you reset your computer to new?

Navigate to Settings > Update & Security > Recovery. You should see a title that says "Reset this PC." Click Get Started. You can either select Keep My Files or Remove Everything. The former resets your options to default and removes uninstalled apps, like browsers, but keeps your data intact.

Likewise, how do I restore Windows 10 to factory settings without settings? You can do this by using the boot option menu when you start the PC. To gain access to this, go to the Start Menu > Power Icon > and then hold down Shift whilst clicking the Restart option. You can then, go to Troubleshoot > Reset this PC > Keep my files to do what you ask.

In this manner, how do I do a system reset on Windows 10?

How to Factory Reset Windows 10

  1. Open Settings. Click the Start Menu and select the gear icon in the lower left to open up the Settings window.
  2. Choose Recovery Options. Click the Recovery tab and select Get started under Reset this PC.
  3. Save or Remove Files. At this point, you have two options.
  4. Reset Your Computer.

How do I restore laptop to factory settings?

How to Reset Your Laptop

  1. To begin, in the Start menu, click Settings, and then click Update & Security.
  2. In the resulting Update & Security window, click Recovery in the left pane.
  3. Under Reset this PC in the right pane click Get Started.
  4. In the following screen, choose either Keep my Files, Remove Everything, or Restore Factory Settings.

Related Question Answers

Is factory reset bad for your computer?

No, “constant factory resets” are not “normal wear and tear” A factory reset doesn't do anything that can damage your hardware that the same amount of normal use wouldn't do. If your disk is an SSD, keep in mind that SSDs have a certain number of write cycles per cell before the any particular cell wears out.

How can I reset my HP laptop back to factory like brand new?

How do you factory reset an HP laptop with Windows 10?
  1. Click on the Start menu and choose the “Settings” option.
  2. In the search bar, type “reset.”
  3. From there, choose theReset this PC” option once the results have popped up.

How do I reset Windows 10 before booting?

This is the easiest way to access Windows 10 boot options.
  1. All you need to do is hold down the Shift key on your keyboard and restart the PC.
  2. Open up the Start menu and click on “Power” button to open power options.
  3. Now press and hold the Shift key and click on “Restart”.

Does a factory reset delete everything?

When selling an old phone, the standard procedure is to restore the device to factory settings, wiping it clean of any personal data. This creates a new-phone feel for the new owner and offers protection for the original owner.

How long does it take to reset Windows 10?

It could take as long as 20 minutes, and your system will probably restart several times.

How do I reset my computer without losing windows?

If you just want a fresh Windows system, select “Keep my files” to reset Windows without deleting your personal files. You should use the “Remove everything” option when selling a computer or giving it to someone else, as this will erase your personal data and set the machine to its factory default state.

Why can't I reset Windows 10?

If you can't factory reset Windows 10, it may be that your recovery partitions may be corrupted, thus making the reset not work. In this case, ensure your computer meets all Windows 10 system requirements then reinstall Windows using the installation media tool by taking these steps: Select Download tool.

Why can't I reset my PC?

A PC reset is more like a fresh installation of Windows because any apps and drivers installed previously will be wiped out, and only those pre-installed or that came with your PC are left on the system. Your recovery partitions may be corrupted, thus making the PC reset not work.

Can you reset Windows 10 from BIOS?

To run a Windows 10 factory reset from boot (in case you can't get into Windows normally, for example), you can start a factory reset from the Advanced Startup menu. Otherwise, you may be able to boot into the BIOS and directly access the recovery partition on your hard drive, if your PC manufacturer included one.

How do I reinstall Windows 10 from scratch?

To reset your Windows 10 PC, open the Settings app, select Update & security, select Recovery, and click the “Get started” button under Reset this PC. Select “Remove everything.” This will wipe all your files, so be sure you have backups.

Can you factory reset a computer from BIOS?

Use the arrow keys to navigate through the BIOS menu to find the option to reset the computer to its default, fall-back or factory settings.

What f key does a System Restore in Windows 10?

Restart your computer. Press the F11 key to open System Recovery. When the Advanced Options screen appears, select System Restore.

How do I permanently delete everything off my laptop?

Head to the Start screen, find the Charms bar, click on Settings and then hit Change PC settings. Finally, choose Remove Everything and Reinstall Windows. When you choose to erase data, make sure you click on the "throughly" option rather than the "quickly" as a safety measure.

How do I factory reset my laptop without turning it on?

Another version of this is the following
  1. Power off the laptop.
  2. Power on the laptop.
  3. When screen turns black, hit F10 and ALT repeatedly until the computer shuts off.
  4. To fix the computer you should choose the second option listed.
  5. When the next screen loads, choose the option "Reset Device".

How long does a laptop take to reset?

one to three hours