Windows 10 is the current flagship operating system by Microsoft. It is one of the most stable and user-friendly operating systems of the new generation.
Microsoft tries to keep things to run smoothly by releasing new updates and patches every month, but these have gained the reputation of being rather buggy.
However, every desktop and laptop today comes with pre-installed Windows 10 because it is very user-friendly and easy to navigate, and easy to sort out any issues or errors.
Day-to-day tasks can be performed with ease on Windows 10, and the chances of things going astray are minor. But, if things do go wrong, Microsoft has included some neat options in their operating system that can help you get things back on track.
The ‘reset your PC’ option in Windows 10 is a more convenient way to fix issues rather than reinstalling Windows 10 from scratch. It restores your PC to its default factory settings while either removing only the apps and settings or all the data on the PC. It is up to the user to decide wich option to use.
Windows recovery option
Windows 10 comes with some nifty features that allow the user to reset the operating system to an earlier stage or back to the factory settings when things go wrong.
These are great options when your laptop or desktop starts behaving strangely, or an installed update or software has encountered an error that is causing your system to crash.
Windows 10 allows the user to pick few recovery options from its recovery menu. To get to the recovery menu:
- 1Click on the Start Menu
- 2Select “Settings”
- 3Click on “Update & Security”
- 4On the left-hand side, click on Recovery.
The three options you get here are:
Reset this PC
- 1Under ‘Reset this PC’ click on Get Started.
Here you will see two options:
What does each option do?
Once you have made your selection, then Windows 10 will give you a chance to re-evaluate the situation and will ask you if you wish to go ahead. The process will take time depending on how much you have altered your PC since you got it. Your computer should begin the reset process after which it will restart and boot back up. You will notice that your PC will look like it did on day one when you first booted it up.
If you selected to keep your files, then they should be unharmed and right where you left them. If you select to delete your files then your entire PC will look brand new. You should also see a difference in performance as all the apps and software you had installed are now gone.
This is how you reset your PC from within Windows 10. But, if you are unable to access the recovery options from your settings, then there is another way.
4 Ways to Reset a Windows 10 PC
Reset your PC from boot
If you have installed some application or software that is preventing your PC from starting up properly, you might have to reset your PC. But, how do you reset your PC if you cannot log in?
Thankfully Microsoft realized this while designing Windows 10. They included the option to reset your PC or make changes during the booting phase.
To access this menu, you will need to turn off or restart your PC before you see the logo when your PC restarts, rapidly hitting the F8 key. In some cases, you might have to use a combination of the function key ‘fn’+F8 to get this working.
Once you time it perfectly you will see a new screen where you will have a few options.
From here you will need to click on “Troubleshoot” as there you will find the option to reset your PC. When you click on it, you will see two options.
Reset This PC
Just like how you do it after logging in from within Windows 10, here as well you will be given two options. You can keep your files, or you can remove everything.
Keeping your files will remove all the apps that were not part of the default setup of your PC. All the apps and software that you downloaded since you first bought your PC will be removed. Every setting that you changed will be restored back to the factory defaults. Your personal files will be there, but everything else will be restored to the normal factory defaults.
Remove everything option will delete all the files on your PC, including all your personal data. This is best done when you have a backup of everything that is on your PC and would like to have a clean format.
Advanced Options
Instead of clicking on “Reset this PC” if you select “Advanced Options” then you will see some alternate options for fixing your PC.
Conclusion
Windows 10 is very user-friendly and gives the user a plethora of options to repair their Windows when something goes wrong. It’s best to know exactly what you install on your PC and note when it starts to act differently. This way, you can easily retrace your steps and find the culprit software or app that caused the issue.
