Reset the PC and keep your file This reset option will reinstall the Windows operating system and preserve your personal files, such as photos, music, videos, and personal documents. It will remove installed applications and drivers, as well as revert any changes you made to the settings.
1. No, you will not lose your Windows OS if your factory restores your computer. It will instead reinstall a fresh update of Windows 10.
You do not have to reinstall your operating system if you reset your computer to factory settings. Resetting your computer to factory settings is handy for correcting problems with the PC's hard drive or the Windows OS.
It's important to know what a factory reset actually does, though. It puts all applications back into their original state and removes anything that wasn't there when the computer left the factory. That means user data from the applications will also be deleted. However, that data will still live on the hard drive.
Factory Reset Your Windows PC
A factory reset restores your computer to its original state by erasing all data from your hard drives. Since you don't want the new owner to be able to access the stored data on your drives, it is best to reset the device to erase everything on it.
It's important to clear all computer data before selling your system. It's not enough just to clean your cache and delete your files, however. Even a standard wipe of your hard drive may not be enough. Forensic software is getting better all the time and can recover data even on a computer that has been cleared.
Factory resets can fix many chronic performance issues (i.e. freezing), but it does not remove the device's operating system.
In summary, Windows 10 Reset is more likely to be a basic troubleshooting method, while a Clean Install is an advanced solution for more complex problems. If you don't know which method to apply, first have a try on Windows Reset, if it doesn't help, fully backup your computer data, and then perform a Clean Install.
You can delete it, but keep in mind that you'll be deleting your Windows.old folder, which contains files that give you the option to go back to your previous version of Windows. If you delete your previous version of Windows, this can't be undone (you won't be able to go back to your previous version of Windows).
Important: Resetting your PC (or using Fresh Start) will remove most of your apps, including Microsoft Office, third-party anti-virus software, and desktop apps that came pre-installed on your device. You will not be able to recover removed apps, and will need to manually reinstall these apps.
This is an easy way to uninstall Windows 10. For that, you need to press Windows and I keys to open Settings and then click Update & Security > Recovery > Go back to Windows 7 (or Windows 8). After that, follow the on-screen instruction to finish the Windows 10 uninstallation.
The answer to the question, “Is Windows 10 or 11 better?” depends on your unique needs. Windows 10 is a solid operating system that can allow you to work, play, and interact with useful apps. And Windows 11 can help you in the same way, but with enhanced features for gaming and interface layouts.
System Reset is good if you want a clean slate, and it can be effective at removing malware as well since it does a much deeper clean than the Refresh. Cons: It deletes your personal files as well as reinstalling the system files. It's similar to a total reinstall in that respect. When should you use it?
Use the installation media to perform a clean install
Connect the installation media you created to your PC and perform a clean install of Windows 10. Select the Start button, then select Settings > Update & Security > Recovery .
Running a factory reset, also referred to as a Windows Reset or reformat and reinstall, will destroy all data stored on the computer's hard drive and all but the most complex viruses with it. Viruses can't damage the computer itself and factory resets clear out where viruses hide.
Important: A factory reset erases all your data from your phone. If you're resetting to fix an issue, we recommend first trying other solutions. Learn how to troubleshoot Android issues. To restore your data after you reset your phone, you must enter security info.
Generally speaking, no: A factory reset will leave a device on the same operating system version the reset was performed from. There are many reasons a factory reset won't “roll back” to older firmware; OS architecture limitations, security exploits, or software incompatibilities.
Data loss: A factory reset erases all data on the device, including apps, files, and settings. This can be a problem if you haven't backed up your data beforehand. Device damage: If a factory reset is interrupted or not done correctly, it can potentially cause damage to the device or render it unusable.
Factory reset a Windows laptop
Ready to clean the drive and reinstall Windows? Go to Settings > System > Recovery. At the top of the window, you'll see Reset this PC. Click on Get Started and select Remove Everything from the box that appears.
To stop data leakage, you need to wipe and reset your laptop's hard drive. Thus, you can sell it without leaking privacy. If you are going to sell or gift your laptop or PC (installed with Windows 10/8.1/8/7), make sure you have cleared all of your data.
Windows 11 is definitely worth the upgrade to improve the performance of your device, unlock the latest features, including widgets and Android apps, and create a personalized user interface.
Not only is Windows 11 considered faster and snappier than Windows 10, it also comes with many new features improving performance, user-friendliness, device compatibility (runs Android apps), and even gaming. It does come with some interface changes which might take some getting used to and also requires a recent CPU.
To roll back to Windows 10 from 11, open Settings > System > Recovery and click “Go Back.”