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Reset settings on a windows 10 computer. Quick system rollback

When looking for ways to reset your computer to factory settings, the Internet yields many results. This is an extreme option, but it can solve many problems with Windows 10/8/7.

Resetting to factory settings involves returning the operating system to its original state by deleting all information stored on the device.

This method is often performed to troubleshoot many computer problems. Perhaps it is experiencing performance problems, is running slowly, has picked up a virus, or you want to delete all files, passwords, programs and other confidential information, and then eject the device. All this can be achieved with a factory reset.

How to reset Windows 10/8/7 to its original state

Let's list the different methods.

Method 1: Using a Recovery Partition

This section is needed to reset the system to factory settings in case of failure. If it is installed on a GPT disk (GUID Partition Table), then in the management tool Windows disks you will find a dedicated system recovery partition. In addition, there is another type of partition from the supplier (manufacturers Dell, HP, Lenovo and others). Both types are able to restore the system to factory settings.

To reset /8/7 do the following:

Step 1. Reboot your laptop.

Step 2 To get into the recovery environment during computer startup, press the appropriate key. In fact, at different manufacturers devices specific key is different. For example, Dell (F8), Acer (Alt + F10), HP (F11), Samsung (F4), Lenovo (F11), Asus (F9), Toshiba (0).

Step 3 After that, follow the simple instructions of the wizard.

Method 2: Reset the laptop

This method is ideal if your laptop does not have a recovery partition.

Step 1. After clicking the Start button, select Settings.

Step 2 Click Update & Security.

Click "Update and security"

Step 3 Then go to the "Recovery" tab. To start resetting the system to factory settings, click "Start".

Step 4 It will then display two options including "Keep my files" or "Delete everything". Make the right choice.

Step 5 Then you will see a list installed applications, which will be deleted after the reset procedure is completed. Click next.

Step 6 Click Reset.

Enter WinRE if the appropriate reset window does not open. Go to Diagnostics/Reset PC/Keep My Files/Select Account/Enter Password/Reset.

Method 3: Use a Windows Restore Point

Try doing a factory reset using the hotspot created after you bought the laptop.

Step 1. When starting the device, press F8. Then select " Safe mode» using the command line.

Step 2 After launching the command line using administrator rights, enter "rstrui.exe" in the appropriate window. As a result, the system recovery options will open and you can reset Windows 10 to factory settings in accordance with the instructions.

The need for a system backup

You can fix laptop lag or other problems by resetting in one of three ways, however, all user data and programs since the device was purchased will be deleted. You will have to reinstall them, which takes a lot of time and effort. In this case, it is recommended to back up your system regularly. You end up resetting Windows to an earlier date.

The note! In most cases, you need to use the built-in backup tool. However, the whole process takes time, and the copy itself takes up too much space.

Try a system backup and restore program called MiniTool ShadowMaker.

it is very easy to use;
among the main functions: backup system, partition, disk and Windows 10/8/7 recovery;
The program is equipped with a scheduler.

Windows 10/8/7 backup

Step 1. After opening the laptop and installing MiniTool ShadowMaker select control local computer or another device on the same local network.

Step 2 In the corresponding window of the program, find the system disks that will be used to boot the laptop during the backup operation (by default, the system partitions of the current OS are defined). To select a storage location for the system image, click Destination. Better choose external hard drive that can be connected to a laptop via a USB cable.

You will then see the source and destination partition.

In the backup window, look for the "Schedule" option that allows you to run the task regularly. Four modes are available here, such as Daily, Weekly, Monthly, and Event. Make the right choice.

Step 3 Perform a system backup operation by clicking the "Back Up Now" button. Then wait a few minutes until the task is completed.

Why you need a system restore

You know three ways to reset Windows 10/8/7 to factory settings and how to back it up using MiniTool ShadowMaker.

Resetting the system to factory settings will erase all user data and programs. Then they need to be downloaded again (a lot of Internet traffic will be consumed) and installed. This is not the best way to solve system problems, so use it when all else fails.

Factory reset procedure

To completely clean your computer, follow the three steps in the following order:

Make a backup of the data you want to keep.
Use shredder programs to clean your computer.
Perform a factory reset.

The exception is Windows 10 with a built-in uninstall feature. junk files so skip step 2.

Note! does not guarantee that all data on the computer will be erased. Some of them are hidden in a format that the system cannot read. So, if someone uses a program to recover files, he will easily return them back.

Video - How to reset Windows 10 to factory settings

Video - Windows 10 Reset

Consider everything possible ways how to reset windows 10 to factory settings.

As a result, an automatic reinstallation of the system will start.

Reset settings (or hard reset) - This is a factory reset procedure. All options and settings will be returned to their original settings.

Windows 10 has two types of reset:

With saving user files . After the reset, you will get a completely new system, in which only standard build applications will be installed. All parameters will be reset, but files and folders with photos, videos, documents will not be deleted;

Complete deletion of all data . As a result, you will receive a copy of the OS, which is identical to the freshly installed “clean” Windows. Will need to be done basic setup(specify the region, date, time, log into your account or create a new one).

Rollback to the original settings should be done if your computer starts to slow down, programs take too long to load, or the system boots for more than a few minutes.

What does a reset give?

All unnecessary programs and the processes will be deleted;
Erroneous settings and temporary files that "litter the system" will disappear. Instead, the correct parameters will be set, which will ensure the normal operation of the OS;
Viruses, pop-up ads and other malicious applications are removed.

Method 1 - Reset with Windows 10 already installed

Note that if you upgraded to Windows 10 from the seventh or eighth version of the OS, within 31 days you can return the previous system and stop using dozens.

To do this, go to the "Options" window (shortcut Win + I) and select the tile "Update and Security".

In the new window, click on the section "Recovery". A box will appear on the right side of the window. "Come back to…".

Click on "To begin" and wait for the computer to restart with the old version of the system returned. User files, programs and settings will not be saved.

If the deadline for returning to the old version of the OS has passed or you want to get a factory reset Windows settings 10, in the "Reset the computer to its original state" field, click on the "Start" button.

Only settings and installed applications will be removed.

The appearance of the desktop and all your folders on your hard drive will remain intact.

Also, you can delete all information.

Select the desired option:

Click on the "Reset" button after a new window appears with a message about the readiness to return to its original state:

The system may reboot several times, and as a result you will get a "clean" version of the OS, to be reconfigured:

Set the parameters of your location;
Enter the router network password;
Sign in to your Microsoft account.

Method 2 - Using the ToolRefresh Windows

Refresh Windows Tool is a built-in utility for executing reinstalling Windows 10 in automatic mode.

The service is available for builds released after August 2016.

If you are using old version Windows 10, we first recommend that you update the system in the Settings window and then start using the service.

Follow the instructions to run the Refresh Tool:

Open the system settings window using the Win + I keys;
Next, click on "Recovery";
In the right part of the window, find "Advanced options" and click on the line "Learn how to start over";

Next, you will be redirected to a Microsoft web page with detailed instructions on how to clean Windows installation 10. Click on the hyperlink called "Download tool now";

Run the downloaded file and in the window that appears, check the box "I accept the agreement";
Further specify whether you want to save your files and personal data.

Follow all the instructions that will appear in the utility window.

Once the installation process is complete, you will be able to start using a clean version of the OS.

All parameters and settings will be returned to their original state.

Note! The system rollback process can take a long time. It all depends on the number of files to be deleted and the current OS settings.

Method 3 - Reset using a bootable USB flash drive or disk

If for some reason you were unable to restore the factory settings using the above methods, you can use boot disk or flash drive.

The essence of this method is that you download Windows image 10 to any other device and move the file with the ISO extension to a USB flash drive or disk.

If you already have a license disk with which you installed the OS on your computer, you can use it.

Note! Builds installed on your computerWindows10 and the version stored on the drive must be identical. For example, onflash drive you can downloadWindows 10 professionalonly if the same modification of the system is installed on your computer.

To create a bootable drive, use a drive emulation program.

Most popular utilities:

Daemon Tools;
Ultra ISO;
Nero Burning ROM;
Alcohol 120%;
Gizmo Central and others.

All of the above programs have free versions, with which you can easily add a previously downloaded OS image to disk and make it bootable.

Also, in the BIOS settings, you should specify a new queue for loading computer components.

In the first place should not be the OS, but your drive. After making changes to this queue, turn off the PC, connect the disk / flash drive to it and press the "Power" key again.

A system installation window will appear, in the lower left part of which you need to select the "Recovery" field:

As a result, you will be redirected to the "Select Action" window. Click on the Troubleshooting tile.

In the new window, click on "Diagnostics". Select the Reset tile and wait for the reset to complete.

Also, you can start reinstalling the system, for this, in the window indicated in the figure above, click on the "Install" button and in the new window select whether to save user files or not.

This factory reset method will be effective if you cannot start the OS due to a fatal error or virus software.

Method 4 - Instructions for laptops

On all laptops, the developer provides for the possibility of a quick recovery.

To do this, a special partition is allocated on the hard disk of the system for the factory copy of the OS.

If you have formatted the HDD, you will not be able to rollback using this method.

Does your computer have a separate disc called Recovery? In this case, you can start with new system. This version of Windows 10 will keep all the programs and settings that the manufacturer installed.

The way you run the reset utility can vary.

It all depends on the brand of your laptop:

HP - immediately after pressing the "Power" key, click on F Instead of Windows icon 10, the Enable Recovery Service window will appear. Follow the instructions to rollback an existing OS to its original state;
ASUS - press F9 to start working with the window recovery utilities manager. Next, select "Reset current version of Windows" and wait for the process to complete. After automatic reboot computer, you will start using a “clean” firmware;
Samsung - click on F4 in the process of turning on the computer. Next, select "Reset OS to factory version";
Acer and Lenovo - press the key combination Alt+F On laptops from Acer, you will need to enter an access password. The default is six zeros. 000000 . Also, the built-in recovery utility can be run in the Windows environment. If it was not possible to start the software during the power-on process, find the Recovery icon in the list of all installed programs and open the utility.

Please note that often users are faced with the fact that when you press the desired key, nothing happens. The normal system boot starts instead of the recovery window appearing. This is due to the activated option "Accelerate download" inBIOS.

Enter the system menu by pressing the ESC key after turning it on (also, your laptop model may have its own way to start the BIOS. The floating line at the bottom of the power-up screen will tell you how to do this).

In BIOS, open the "Boot" tab ("Download") and deactivate the "Boot Booster" option, as shown in the figure below:

Outcome

As you can see, resetting Windows 10 to factory settings is easy with an already turned on system.

If you encounter OS startup errors or a virus, use a boot disk or distribution kit with a system image.

Calling the diagnostic window will help not only to find and fix errors, but also to roll back to the original version of the OS.

Thematic videos:

Resetting Windows 10 to its original state will help solve a number of critical problems that arise in the operation of the operating system. If your PC has become much slower than usual, there is constant increased activity of the hard drive, frequent reboots, etc., you are dealing with malware which will not disappear on their own.

If you can’t deal with them, no applied methods help, or you suddenly decide to sell your computer or laptop, returning the OS to its original state is the most convenient solution. Depending on the installed version Windows, you have several different ways return to "factory settings".

Before proceeding with the steps that will be described in this article, you should make sure that you have a backup copy of your important files and preferably on external plug-in drives or in the cloud. Don't think that you, as a superspecialist, aren't in danger of losing them when something goes wrong.

Performing a factory reset will destroy all user-installed programs and files on the system drive. If important data is stored on a different logical partition of the hard disk than the system partition, the data will be saved in their previous directories.

Personally, before reinstalling the OS, I always forgot to back up useful web browser bookmarks that accumulated over a long period of time. Therefore, it was not very pleasant to lose them. Let's take a look at 4 ways to reset the OS.

RESET WINDOWS 10

Built-in option to reset the PC to its original state. The process was once rather inconvenient, but Microsoft introduced a much easier way to do it in Windows 8. It is also included in the new tenth version of the operating system and is the best way restarting the computer for most users.

To access it, open "Settings", go to the section "Update and security" - "Recovery". You will see the "Start" button at the very top right, click on it.

You will have two options to choose from: keep your files or delete everything. The first option returns the default settings and removes all user-installed applications (web browsers, office packages, games, etc.), but retains data. Delete everything - that's how it works.

In the event that you wanted to keep your files and chose the first option, in the next window you will see a list of applications that will be deleted. Windows will keep a list of them on the Desktop after the reset is complete so you can remember which ones to reinstall.

Finally, confirm the operation by clicking the "Factory" button and wait for the process to complete. It will contain steps like this after reboot:

removal of all user applications and programs;
changing parameters to factory settings;
reinstalling the system without deleting your personal files.

If you are using a laptop, make sure it is connected to permanent source nutrition.

NEW LAUNCH

Using the option " New launch» . This is similar to the above method, but has a few small differences that make it worthy of your attention. In the same "Recovery" section a little lower you will see a link "Learn how to start over from a clean Windows installation”, click on it.

This action will open the Security Center window Windows Defender with the Get Started button. Click on it to continue. Compared with the above reset method, it has the following differences:

always saves your personal files without the possibility of deleting them;
loads latest version OS;
saves some settings, but doesn't specify which ones.

INSTALLATION MEDIA

Reinstalling with installation media . If you don't want to use the previous handy methods for any reason, you can always restore factory settings using installation media. It will allow you to install a new copy OS on your PC and erase all existing files.

Download official system and create installation disk. To do this, use as the most common option or a DVD. In any case, boot from a removable device, where the Setup Wizard will guide you through the steps you need to follow to install a clean copy of the OS.

RESTORE FROM A SYSTEM IMAGE

While the three methods listed above will work for most users, there are several advanced ways to reset the OS. One of them involves using a system image, which is a snapshot of the system. If you created it in a clean state, you can restore it from the menu after a reboot.

In the advanced options, select the System Image Recovery section. Then follow the instructions of the step-by-step wizard.

As a result, you have learned about 4 ways in which you can reset Windows 10 to factory settings. Use any of them in case of critical problems or before selling the PC to others. Thank you for your attention!

Hello admin! Doesn't load on my laptop Windows 10 build 1607 . I wanted to reset the operating system, booted from the Win 10 installation flash drive, but in the "Select an action" menu, and then "Troubleshooting" there is no item "Reset this computer". How then to reset Windows 10 to normal working condition to make it work like before. I copied all the important data from the disk (C :) to a portable hard USB disk. What to do next?

How to reset Windows 10

Hello friends! This process can be called resetting Windows 10 or returning to its original state. They produce it in those cases when no amount of your actions can make the operating system work normally. In previous Windows versions(7, 8.1) this process was called , HDD The laptop contained a special hidden partition, on which there was a WIM image with Windows files in a compressed state, if necessary, the user could run the rollback program built into the laptop manufacturer and a new operating system was deployed to the hard drive. In Windows 10, there is no longer a hidden partition with factory Windows (we save disk space), but you can reset the operating system to its original state. Windows 10 reset files are now taken in storage system files Windows, to be exact -in the WinSxS folder (address C:\Windows\WinSxS).

Unfortunately in the last building Windows 10 build 1607 reset can be done in one way - only in a working operating system. In the previous build of Windows 10 (Version 1511), it was possible due to some bugs.

Well, or in very smart words, in the latest build of Windows 10 build 1607, reset can be done in only one way - in Windows RE(Windows Recovery Environment - Environment Windows recovery(file winre.wim)) located on the first hidden section hard drive, size 400-500 Mb.
In the previous build of Windows 10 (Version 1511), you could reset by booting from bootable media(DVD, flash drive with Windows 10) to Windows PE - Windows RE(boot.wim file).

How to reset Windows 10 build 1607 on a running system

Left-click on the Start menu and select Settings.