How to Factory Reset Laptop in Windows 10/8/7

Why Factory Reset Laptop in Windows 10/8/7

When it comes to computer factory reset, you should know what it is. In a nutshell, it refers to performing a restore or a reset of your computer to the original system state. To make a laptop factory reset, all the user data will be deleted.

In what situations the factory reset can be done to your laptop? To be specific, restoring the laptop to the state it came out of the factory can deal with many issues. Three factors are here: perhaps there is something wrong with the performance, for instance, your laptop runs slowly; a virus attacks the laptop; you want to remove all files, programs, passwords and some other confidential information before selling your laptop.

Well then, how can you restore the laptop to factory settings in Windows 10/8/7? Generally speaking, five ways are offered to you.

How to Factory Reset a Laptop

Solution 1: Use Recovery Partition

Usually, modern computers come with a recovery partition so as to restore it. This partition is a portion of your hard drive, and it contains all the recovery setup files necessary for a Windows clean refresh. With it, you can restore your laptop to factory settings. How to do this job in Windows 10/8/7?

1. Press one of the F keys (F1-F12) after hitting the power button. Note that the key you press varies from each brand laptop. See: HP (F11), Samsung (F4), Dell (F8), Acer (Alt+ F10), Lenovo (F11), Toshiba (0), Asus (F9), etc.
2. Follow the on-screen instructions to finish the recovery.

 

Once the recovery installer has been completed, the laptop will be in the same state as it was when turning it on for the first time.

Solution 2: Use Recovery Discs

If there is no a recovery partition on your laptop, but a recovery disc has created by you in advance for Windows 8 or Windows 10, laptop factory reset can still be made. Actually, the recovery disc also contains all of the recovery setup data which is normally saved in a recovery partition. But this way requires you to boot your laptop from the disc.

1. Choose your keyboard layout.
2. Navigate to Choose an option > Troubleshoot > Recover from a drive

3. Now things will be getting ready.
4. Select Just remove my files or Clean the drive fully based on your needs.

5. Click Recover to begin the factory reset in Windows 10/8.

Solution 3: Reset Laptop Windows 8/10

If you use Windows 8 or Windows 10 on your laptop, luckily, you can use the own function of this operating system to restore to factory resetting. How to factory reset a laptop in Windows 10 or 8?

Case 1: Windows is bootable

Take Windows 10 as an example.

1. Click the Start button and then enter Settings page to choose Update & security.
2. Go to Recovery and then click Get started option to reset this PC.
3. Then, choose an option from the pop-out window to determine to keep your files or remove everything.

4. The pop-up window shows you some apps will be removed. Just click Next button.
5. Finally, click Reset to begin laptop factory reset operation.

Case 2: Windows is unbootable

If your laptop can’t run well, please use a Windows installation disc to boot it and then enter WinRE. How do you do a factory reset on a laptop? Navigate to Troubleshoot > Reset this PC > Keep my files > Choose an account > Enter the password > Reset.

Solution 4: Perform a System Restore

Some of you may be wondering about how to factory reset Windows 7. You can boot Windows 7 via Safe Mode to run Command Prompt, type “rstrui.exe” and follow the instructions to perform a restore point. Or use a Windows 7 installation disc to boot your laptop, enter System Recovery Options interface and then select System Restore option.

Solution 5: Make a System Image Recovery

Some of you may don’t create a system restore point but choose to make a system image recovery for Windows 10/8/7 to an external hard drive in advance with a third-party program, for instance, MiniTool ShadowMaker. Usually, when creating a system image, the automatic backup setting is configured. To factory reset laptop, a system image recovery should be done and your laptop will be restored to the previous date.

Conclusion

In summary, five possible ways to restore the laptop to factory settings are introduced here. If there is a need, you will hopefully find one that can apply to your laptop.