How to factory reset Windows 10 Without affecting files

"Factory Reset Windows 10" means restoring your Windows 10 computer to its original state, just like when you first bought it. It erases all your personal data, installed apps, and settings and returns your device to its default settings.

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Sometimes users notice due to virus infection or system file corruption Windows 10 laptop or desktop PC freezes continuously at startup, Suddenly crashes with Different BSOD errors, Also Through Different Errors while running the windows app. Or for some users experience, Some Times windows start menu not appear properly even click on it, Edge Browser gets crashes continuously Also Some Apps does not perform properly Include the Windows Store. If the user suffers from one of any errors then can perform troubleshooting steps to fix the error. But when suffering from different errors for windows it’s hard to fix this. So for that and get Rid of this issue windows 10 has a feature called Reset This PC or factory reset windows 10. This helps to  Refresh the current installed windows 10 without effect any file and folder.

Resetting the Pc will delete all your personal files, apps and data whereas a Refresh function will change back your computer to the default settings. If you have installed Windows 10 on your computer and you are experiencing problems with it and you don’t know the cause of the problem, then you should refresh your Windows 10 PC.

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How to factory reset windows 10

Refreshing a computer can be done in two ways, one from the boot and the other from Settings. If you refresh your PC, then your files and personalization setting won’t change. And your PC settings will be changed back to their defaults, Apps from the Windows Store will be kept. But third-party apps will be uninstalled.

You need not worry though, because before the refresh is started, you will be notified of the Apps which will be uninstalled during the process. So if they are important to you, you can make a note of the apps. A list of removed apps will be saved on your desktop to a Removed Apps.html file when the refresh has finished

Steps to Refresh Windows 10 PC Without affecting files

To refresh your Windows 10 PC, you first need to go to the Recovery section inside PC settings. To go to the Recovery section click on Start then Settings.
Now on windows Settings click on Update & security. Here on Update and security windows click on Recovery on the left pane. when you click on it this will preset options Reset this pc. Go back to the previous build and also you can click Restart to Access advanced startup options.

Reset This PC

But we are going to Refresh windows so for that click on Get Started below to Reset this PC

Note: If you’re encountering problems you didn’t have on Windows 7, 8 or 8.1 and you upgraded to Windows 10 less than a month ago, you can go back to your old OS.

If you want to stay on Windows 10, click ‘Get started’ under ‘Reset this PC’. This will open the Reset window, where you’ll have a few choices.

Keep my files

This setting will uninstall all programs on your PC but won’t touch other files such as documents and settings. It will uninstall programs you downloaded from the internet and install them from discs. But when you return, any apps you have installed from the Windows Store will be reinstalled. This is a handy way to refresh your computer if it’s not running properly and you don’t want the hassle of having to restore your files.
Keep my files

Remove everything

Remove everything does the same as above, but it also removes all of your files. This is the best way to freshen up your PC without going back to your old operating system and acts like a clean install of Windows 10. If your computer shipped with Windows 10, this option keeps programs that came with your PC installed, so you won’t get a completely clean slate.

Select “Just remove my files” or “Remove files and clean the drive” if you chose to “remove everything” in the prior step. Cleaning the drive takes a lot longer but will make sure that, if you are giving the computer away, the next person will have a hard time recovering your erased files. If you are keeping the computer, choose “Just remove my files.”

Next, you have to choose between cloud download and local reinstall. Select the local reinstall option.

Windows 10 Cloud Recovery

Now you will see Getting Things Ready As Shown bellow image.

Now On the Next Screen will show which app will be removed. Windows will contain all prebuild apps and remove all costume apps like ms office etc.

Note down which app will remove so you can install them again after reset the windows, then after click next you will prompt Ready To Reset This Pc.

Resetting will

Now Click on Reset Windows will then restart and take several minutes to reset itself.

  • Remove all apps and programs that didn’t come with this pc
  • Change setting back to their defaults
  • Reinstall Windows without Removing your personal files.

Ready to reset this pc

Now installing windows This will also take some time to complete 100%.  After that, it will redirect you to the country region, language, keyboard layout and time zone setup. Set as per your own req and click on next.

On the next window Accept Microsoft’s legal stuff terms and conditions. Next Create an Account for this pc windows creates a user, add a username and password with the password hint. Click next. Windows will setup and configure apps and create a user desktop for first-time use. This will take a few minutes after that you will get a fresh Windows 10 window.

Hope This Will Helpful for you all.

Also read:

Steve Ballmer
Steve Ballmer
With over 7 years of experience in the IT industry, I have experience in IT support, helpdesk, sysadmin, network admin, and cloud computing. Certified in Microsoft Technologies (MCTS and MCSA) and also Cisco Certified Professional in Routing and Switching.

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