If you’re concerned about a serious malware infestation, removing all files might be the smart choice, but otherwise, it’s just a question of which you prefer to do.
Without keeping your files is the more comprehensive option, since it will remove any potentially harmful files that may have found their way onto your computer, and if you have many junk files that you no longer need taking up hard drive space it will clear them out, but keeping your files can also be convenient.
#Factory reset pc Pc
Then you’ll be presented with the choice to Reset your PC whilst keeping your files, or to reset without keeping your files. Once you’ve backed up files that you want to keep, you can perform a system Reset by going to the “Reset This PC” menu from the Start menu, and select “Get started” from under the “Reset this PC” heading.
This is great for ensuring that you are provided with comprehensive cleaning, as everything on your computer will be wiped. Any files, documents, images, videos, or anything else stored on your computer will be completely wiped during this process. If you’re going to go for this option, you will need to fully backup the contents of your PC, perhaps on a USB drive.
#Factory reset pc install
This is a more comprehensive system wipe, that will restore your Windows install to the default state it was in when the initial installation was first completed. This is similar to the option to refresh your PC, but with the option of removing all files stored on your system. This is not a total system wipe, and whilst it will reliably get rid of the vast majority of malware, due to some files remaining untouched during this process, there are other options that offer a more comprehensive solution for wiping your computer clean for a new start. Upon completion, you’ll have a Windows install that has been cleaned of harmful elements or misconfigured settings. Windows says that this process will take 20 minutes in total, but it will depend on your hardware configuration and other factors. Windows will then guide you through the step-by-step process to complete a refresh.
#Factory reset pc software
Once you’ve backup up any important files associated with software that will be uninstalled during this process, you should be ready to select “Get started”. From here, go to the “Device performance & health” tab, and select “Additional info” from the “Fresh Start” section.įrom there, you’ll be taken to the “Fresh Start” screen, which will give you some details about the process, and give you the option to “Get started”. To access the option to refresh your Windows 11 installation, open “Windows Security”, which you can access from the Start menu. You will have to reinstall a lot of software, so it’s recommended that prior to conducting a refresh, you backup any important files associated with the software you have installed, like game save files or configuration files. It’s relatively noninvasive and lets you keep any saved files on your computer. If you’re having a few minor problems with your Windows install, and just want to undo some changes that might have been made to core operating system files, this may be a good option. This will leave any files stored on your computer intact, but it will uninstall any software that you have installed, except for those you’ve installed from the Windows App Store.
This is the least invasive option officially supported by Windows for repairing any major issues with your Windows installation.