Your computer then goes through the reset process whereby your drive is wiped and Windows is reinstalled. Click Next to start the process, then click the Reset button. If that doesn’t work, choose Cloud download.įrom the Additional settings window, click the Change settings link and enable the switch for Clean data, then click Confirm. Choose Local reinstall to reinstall Windows from this device, since it will run faster than the cloud download. When prompted, choose Remove everything, just like in Windows 10. Open Settings > System > Recovery and click Reset PC. If you've updated to Windows 11, the process is largely the same as it is in Windows 10, with a few tweaks.

If you plan to get rid of the PC, just shut it down. If you plan to keep the computer, you can go through the setup process again.

When finished, your PC is rebooted, placing you at the Windows setup screen. Click Confirm, then Next, and finally click Reset to start the process.Īfter the drive is wiped and Windows is reinstalled, you can then go through the initial setup process. Choose the Local reinstall option to reinstall Windows from your computer.Ĭlick Change Settings and turn on the switch next to Wipe the drive. When asked what you want to erase, select Remove everything. In Windows 10, open Settings > Update & security > Recovery, and then click the Get Started button. However, a good hard drive eraser utility will be needed if you want a stronger and more secure method of wiping your drive.

Regardless of what version of Windows you are running, you can reset the OS to factory conditions using built-in reset features.

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