If you choose to reset this PC with “ Keep my files”, it will first put your personal files aside, format Windows partitions to perform a fresh installation, and then place them back.

It provides you with option to retain data or erase data while resetting Windows system. If you laptop is running Windows OS above Windows 8, then the easiest way for a factory reset is using the built-in Reset this PC feature. How to restore laptop to factory settings via Reset this PC If you are running recent OS such as Windows 11/10/8, then you simply use the Reset this PC feature built in the OS. Some laptop manufacturers build a hidden recovery partition, which works the same as the factory recovery disc, on the laptop hard drive. Then how to factory reset a laptop? Generally, laptops come with a recovery disc (CD or DVD) that allows you to reset your PC to factory settings. As the name suggests, factory reset will reset your laptop to factory default settings, and erase all your personal files (you can also keep them), the changes made to settings, the apps and drivers you installed. DISM is a tool built into Windows 10 that allows administrators to prepare, modify, and repair system images, including Windows Recovery Environment, Windows Setup, and Windows PE (WinPE), but anyone can use it to repair common system problems.When your laptop is running slowly or you want to give the laptop away, you may want to delete everything and reinstall Windows, which can be easily achieved by doing a factory reset. If you are dealing with this known issue, the company is recommending users to use the Deployment Image Servicing and Management (DISM) command-line tool with Command Prompt to repair the current installation, and therefore the 'Reset this PC' feature. According to the company support website (opens in new tab) (via BleepingComputer), there's a problem with certain hardware configurations that causes the feature to fail on devices running this particular release. No changes were made' error message that will prevent you from completing the reset.

However, if you have a computer running the Windows Update (version 2004), and you try to use the 'Reset this PC' feature, you may end up with the 'There was a problem when resetting your PC.

Factory reset pc