Restoring and resetting Windows 10. Creating a reset disk on a flash drive

Hello admin! It won't load on my laptop Windows 10 build 1607 . I wanted to reset the operating system, I booted from the Win 10 installation flash drive, but in the menu “Select an action” and then “Troubleshooting” there is no option “Return the computer to the initial state" What is the best way to reset Windows 10? to normal operating condition so that it works as before. I copied all the important data from the disk (C:) to a portable one. HDD USB. What to do next?

How to reset Windows 10

Hello friends! This process can be called Windows 10 reset or reset. It is produced in cases where no amount of your actions can make the operating system work normally. In previous versions of Windows (7, 8.1) this process was called, the laptop’s hard drive contained a special hidden partition on which a WIM image with Windows files was located in a compressed state; if necessary, the user could run the rollback program built in by the laptop manufacturer and a brand new one would be deployed onto the hard drive operating system. In Windows 10, there is no longer a hidden partition with factory Windows (we save disk space), but you can reset the operating system to its original state. Windows 10 reset files are now taken to storage system files Windows, or rather -V WinSxS folder(address C:\Windows\WinSxS).

Unfortunately, in the latest Windows 10 build 1607, reset can be done in one way - only in a running operating system. In the previous build of Windows 10 (Version 1511) it was possible due to some errors.

Well, or in very clever words, in the latest Windows 10 build 1607, a reset can only be done in one way - in Windows RE(Windows Recovery Environment - Environment Windows recovery(winre.wim file)), located on the first hidden partition of the hard drive, size 400-500 MB.
In the previous build of Windows 10 (Version 1511), it was possible to reset by booting from bootable media (DVD, flash drive with Windows 10) into the Windows Preinstallation Environment - Windows PE(boot.wim file).

How to reset Windows 10 build 1607 on a running system

Left-click on the Start menu and select Settings.

"Update and Security"

Select "Recovery", then "Return the computer to its original state" and click “Start”

If you want to reinstall Windows 10 again, select “Remove everything”.

We read what consequences a reset will have for our operating system.

Resetting the operating system to a pristine state was not invented in vain. Sometimes the computer starts to slow down terribly, glitch and generally behave inappropriately. If no utilities for cleaning your PC from various rubbish help, then there is only one way out - “resetting” the settings. There is enough information on the Internet about how to reset Windows 10 to factory settings. The trouble is that all these “manuals” are scattered, inconsistent and fragmented. Our task is to combine all these scanty “guides” into one full-fledged instruction, when reading which you will not need to look for more detailed information.

A little about Windows 10

"Ten" is the latest OS from Microsoft. The latter in the sense that new version there will be no more, there will only be global updates for the current one. Opinions about the tenth version are mixed. Some users praise its speed and appearance, while others report terrible optimization and a bunch of spy functions. To each his own, and we will not list the pros and cons of this OS (although the fact of espionage is obvious). Our task is to figure out how to reset Windows 10 to factory settings.

However, we cannot ignore the “ten” innovations, which directly relate to our topic. First on this list is the updated Recovery and Security component. For those who recently migrated from Windows 7, this menu item will become a little unusual. And it's not just about appearance. The “Recovery” item has two sub-items: “Return the computer to its original state” and “Special boot options”. Now more about them. Having analyzed all the functions of these components, we will understand how to reset Windows 10 to factory settings.

Restore default settings (Windows utility)

So, in order to find the “Recovery” item, you should go to the “Start” menu and select the “Options” tab. After it opens desired window, go to the “Update and Security” tab. And already there we select the “Recovery” item. It has two subparagraphs. They allow you to restore the original state of a PC or laptop, but have different parameters and properties. The recovery utility itself works by retrieving a saved system image located in a special system partition on HDD. Now about each recovery method in more detail.

Return to original state (general information)

"Return the computer to its original state." Based on the name, it is clear that this item returns us to the original state of the computer, which it had immediately after installing the operating system. The mechanism is simple. The fact is that the “ten” creates a checkpoint upon completion of the system installation. It is the state of the computer from this point that is recreated. In this case, all installed programs will disappear. You will just have a bare system with some device drivers. After rolling back to a system checkpoint, you will have to restore everything from scratch.

Other options

"Special download options." This item allows you to boot Windows with special settings needed to restore or change system files. This option allows you to restore the system to a working state using media with a system image recorded on it. But this method is used only in the most extreme cases. In the meantime, we are interested in how to reset Windows 10 to factory settings. This means that this method is not suitable for us, because if you use it, you can lose all your data.

Return to original state (step by step)

Step 2. Click on the “Start” button in the “Return the computer to its original state” item.

Step 3. A window appears with a choice of recovery options: “Keep my files” and “Delete everything”. We are interested in the first option because it saves our data. We choose him.

Step 4. After some waiting, a list of programs that will be removed during the recovery process will appear. Since we have nowhere to go, click “Next”.

After a successful reset, you will see a window asking you to configure basic system settings ( account, time zone, etc.). This means that everything went as it should. Now you have a completely clean system without any garbage. After reset Windows settings 10 to factory settings, all that remains is to start “tuning” the newly installed OS.

If the system does not boot

There are times when the OS is so “killed” that it refuses to even boot. What to do in this case? How to reset Windows 10 to factory settings on your computer in this case? There is an exit. We just need a boot disk (or USB drive) with “ten”.

The method of such a reset is in many ways similar to the method on a functioning system. Only instead of “Start” and other tabs you will need to perform slightly different actions. So, let's describe all this step by step.

Step 1. Insert the disk (or flash drive) into the PC and in Boot set it to boot from this media.

Step 2. Boot in the same way as during the Windows installation process. Only when a window appears asking you to install the system, click “System Restore” in the lower left corner.

Step 3. Go to the “Diagnostics” item and click the “Return the computer to its original state” button.

And then everything happens according to the scenario described above. Same warnings, same buttons to press. After a reboot, your iron friend will be cheerful and cheerful again. Although a little empty. Many people also ask about how to reset Windows 10 to factory settings via BIOS. The answer is that this does not always work out. The BIOS itself must support such a function, but there are not enough of them. So it's better to use the usual method.

Reset on mobile "ten"

Microsoft promptly released an updated version of the OS for mobile devices on Windows. They also sometimes need a rollback to an ideally clean state. That's why we'll look at how to reset Windows 10 to factory settings on your phone. Everything is simple here. By the way, there are several reset methods here.

The first method is suitable if the smartphone is locked. To reset, press the mechanical keys of the device one by one in this order: volume +, volume -, on, volume -. After this, the gadget will reboot and the rollback will be completed.

The second method is used if everything works fine. You need to go to the settings menu, select the “Device Information” tab and click the “Reset settings” button. That's all. After rebooting, you will receive a pristine device.

I use the third method very rarely, because in its process you need to climb into engineering menu apparatus. And this doesn't always end well. But still, this is another answer to the question of how to reset Windows 10 to factory settings in mobile version. So, on the dialing keyboard we enter the combination ##777# and get into the engineering menu. Here we select the “Reset” button and the device reboots. That's all.

Conclusion

To summarize, I would like to say that it always involves some risks. For example, the saved image may be “overwritten”, and then the device will turn into a brick. But it's worth a try anyway. Moreover, now you know how to reset Windows 10 to factory settings. So why not try it? Still, this is better than installing the system from scratch.

In this article, we will look in detail at several ways in which we can reset Windows 10. This will allow us to restore factory settings by automatically reinstalling Windows 10 and return our laptop or computer to its original state. After this procedure, the system will be as good as new, as if you had just installed it. During the process of restoring factory settings, it is possible to save personal files (which are stored on the system drive) or delete them. Operating system settings will be reset, and user-installed programs will be removed. You can reset Windows 10 both from under the system (and in several ways), and from boot disk, or flash drives. When the system won't boot.

If you have come to this page, then most likely Windows 10 on your computer or laptop refuses to start. In this case, I advise you to first try to fix the problem that is preventing the system from starting. You can also try to do the same. In any case, you can always execute , or disk. If you have a laptop, then I advise you to install the system according to the instructions. In it, I showed in detail the installation process on a laptop.

The function itself, which allows you to reset and return the computer to its original state, is most suitable not for solving problems with starting the system, but for quickly reinstalling the operating system. When, due to some settings, programs, or drivers, the computer is unstable, starts to freeze, slow down, etc. This is an easy way to get a clean system without a complex reinstallation process.

Resetting the system through Windows 10 settings

This is the simplest and most common method, which I recommend using first. Only provided that the computer turns on and you have the opportunity to go into the system settings. If the system does not boot, then you need to use a boot disk. If this is your case, then scroll down this page and see the appropriate section.

Open Start and go to Settings by clicking on the gear icon. Open the "Update and Security" section.

Go to the "Recovery" tab. There you will see the “Reset your computer to its original state” section. Click on the "Start" button.

A window will appear in which you need to choose one of two options: keep my files, or delete everything.

• In the first case, your personal files will not be affected.
• In the second case, if you select “delete all”, then all files will be deleted. Also, when selecting this item, you will need to choose between “Just delete files” or “Completely clean the disk”. As far as I understand, complete cleaning the disk is done so that it is not possible to recover files. If, for example, you are selling a computer.

But most likely you need to select the “Save my files” option.

All that remains is to confirm the action by clicking on the “Reset” button.

Then all you have to do is wait. The computer may reboot during the process, this is normal. I have already reset Windows 10 settings while saving personal files. Got a completely clean system. Only my files remained on the desktop. All programs were removed and the settings were restored to factory settings.

Start Again feature in Windows 10

This feature appeared in version 1703 Creators Update. If your Windows 10 is being updated and this update is installed, then you can easily perform an automatic, clean installation of Windows 10. Again, through the system settings itself.

Open “Settings”, go to the “Update and Security” section and go to the “Recovery” tab. Click on the link "Learn how to start over with a clean Windows installation».

A window will appear asking “Do you want to switch applications?” Click Yes. And in the new window, in the “Start over” section, click on the “Get Started” button.

Next we will see a short description of the function. The message that everything third party applications and the programs will be removed. All personal files and some Windows settings will also be saved. Well, depending on the computer itself, the recovery process may take more than 20 minutes.

In the next window you can see a list of all installed programs, which will be deleted during the reset process. For convenience, the system will save this list to a file and leave it on the desktop. So that you can then reinstall the necessary programs using this list.

All you have to do is click on the “Start” button and wait. If you have a laptop, be sure to connect power to it.

After restoring factory settings, you will most likely need to install some drivers and programs. By the way, do not forget that the list of programs is saved on the desktop in an .html file.

Also, on the system disk there will be a Windows.old folder with the old system. If everything is fine and you do not plan to perform a system rollback, then delete the Windows.old folder.

You need to right-click on the C drive and select “Properties”. Next, click on the “Disk Cleanup” button. Select the “Previous Windows installations” checkbox and click “Ok”.

You can continue to use your computer or laptop.

Reset via Refresh Windows Tool (if version lower than 1703 Creators Update)

This method is useful when, when you try to reset Windows 10 using the first method in this article, the error “Problem when returning the PC to its original state” appears. No changes made" or "The recovery environment could not be found."

As in the method described above, in the parameters, in the “Update and Security” - “Recovery” section, you need to click on “Find out how to start over with clean install Windows".

Only the “Start over” function will open, but a page in the browser from where you need to download the Refresh Windows Tool program. Click on the “Download tool now” button.

Save the program to your computer and run it. In the first window you need to accept the license agreement.

Next, you need to choose one of two options: “Save only my personal files,” or “Save nothing.” Click on the “Start” button and wait until the process of returning Windows 10 to its factory state is completed.

Please note that Refresh Windows Tool will download from the Internet Windows image 10. Which weighs approximately 3 GB.

As in the two methods described above, a Windows.old folder will most likely be created on the system disk, which it is advisable to delete. Since it can take up a lot of space. I wrote above how to remove it.

Resetting Windows 10 when the system does not boot (via BIOS)

Above I wrote “via BIOS”, but this is not entirely true. In fact, there is no way to reset the system settings using the BIOS menu. It’s just that many users call this the way to restore the system if for some reason it stops starting. This method can be used when it is not possible to go into the Windows 10 settings and start the reinstallation.

We will need:

• Or a recovery disk (flash drive), which you can create on another computer with Windows 10 according to the instructions: . The main thing is that the system capacity matches (x32, x64).
• Either , or . If the reset fails, you can perform a clean installation of the operating system from such a disk (flash drive).

And select “Return the computer to its original state.”

• Selecting a method to restore to factory settings. There are two options: delete personal files, or save them. In the first case, your files will remain, only Windws 10 settings will be reset and programs will be removed. In the second case, all files will be deleted.
• You may need to select an operating system.
• In the window with information about the reset procedure, I advise you to read what is written there and click on the “Return to original state” button.

After confirmation, the process of restoring your computer to its original state will begin. We're just waiting. The computer may restart.

If you set to boot from a disk (USB drive) in the BIOS, and not through Boot Menu, then when the computer restarts and the message “Press any key to boot from DVD” appears on the screen, do not press anything. For the download to go from hard drive, or SSD, not a boot drive.

It seems like I wrote about all the nuances. If you still have any questions, ask them in the comments. Best wishes!

No matter how perfect the next build of Windows 10 may seem, new problems continue to emerge. Resetting or rolling back Windows 10 is caused by shortcomings in the latest updates or cluttering of the system with software garbage that slows down the PC and makes it difficult for it to operate quickly and smoothly.

Why reset Windows 10 to factory settings

The reasons for resetting Windows 10 are as follows:

1. Installing too many programs that were later removed as unnecessary, but Windows began to work noticeably worse.
2. Poor PC performance. You did a good job for the first six months - then Windows 10 began to slow down. This is a rare case.
3. You don’t want to bother yourself with copying/transferring personal files from drive C and intend to leave everything as it was for an indefinite period.
4. You have incorrectly configured some components and built-in applications, services, drivers and libraries that already came with Windows 10, but you don’t want to spend a lot of time understanding them, remembering how it was before.
5. Work has slowed down significantly due to Windows “brakes,” and time is precious: it’s easier for you to reset the OS to its original settings in half an hour in order to quickly return to the interrupted work.

Practical ways to rollback and reset Windows 10

Each subsequent build of Windows 10 can be “rolled back” to the previous one. So, you can roll back from Windows 10 Update 1703 to Windows 10 Update 1607.

How to roll back to a previous build of Windows 10 within 30 days

Take these steps:

1. Give the command “Start - Settings - Update and Security - Recovery”.

   Choose to roll back to a previous build of Windows 10

2. Please note your reasons for downgrading to an earlier build of Windows 10.

   Can you explain in detail the reason for returning to the previous one? Windows versions 10

3. Confirm the rollback by clicking "Next".

   Confirm your decision by clicking the button to proceed to further actions

4. Confirm the return to the previous build again.

   Confirm Windows 10 rollback again

5. Click the button to start the Windows 10 rollback process.

   Finally, click the return to previous version of Windows 10 button

The OS update will be rolled back. After a restart, the old assembly will start with the same components.

How to undo the latest Windows 10 update

This reset helps when Windows errors 10 accumulated in quantities at which normal work in the “ten” became impossible.

Windows 10 will begin to reset.

Video: how to reset Windows 10 with a running OS

How to Restore Windows 10 to Factory Settings Using Refresh Tool

To do this you need:

1. Go to the familiar Windows 10 recovery submenu and click the link to clean install Windows.

   To initialize the Refresh Tool download, click on the link to the Microsoft website

2. Go to the Microsoft website and click on “Download Tool Now” (or a similar link that means loading Windows 10 Refresh Tool).
3. Launch the downloaded application and follow Windows instructions 10 Refresh Tool.

   Follow the Windows Refresh Tool wizard instructions

The Windows 10 Refresh Tool application resembles the interface of the Windows 10 Media Creation Tool - for convenience, it is made in the form of a wizard with tips. Like the Media Creation Tool, the Refresh Tool allows you to save your personal data. It seems to perform the opposite function of the Media Creation Tool - not an update, but a reset of Windows 10.

During the reset process, the PC will restart several times. After this, you will start working with Windows 10 as if you had just reinstalled it - without applications and incorrect OS settings.

There is no rollback from version 1703 to 1607/1511 yet - this is a task for future updates Windows utilities 10 Refresh Tool.

Video: Refresh Tool shortcomings

How to reset Windows 10 if it has startup problems

The operation is performed in two stages: checking startup from a flash drive in the BIOS and selecting options to reset the OS itself.

Checking the PC boot from a flash drive in BIOS

As an example, here is the BIOS version of AMI, which is most often found in laptops. Insert the bootable USB flash drive and restart (or turn on) your PC before proceeding further.

1. When your PC manufacturer's logo screen appears, press the F2 (or Del) key.

   The inscription below tells you to press Del

2. Once in the BIOS, open the Boot submenu.

   Select the Boot submenu

3. Give the command Hard Disk Drives - 1st Drive.

   Enter the list of drives that are visible in the BIOS list

4. Select your flash drive as the first media.

   The name of the flash drive is determined when it is inserted into the USB port

5. Press the F10 key and confirm saving the setting.

   Click Yes (or OK)

Now the PC will boot from the USB flash drive.

The BIOS version indicated on the manufacturer's logo screen can be any (Award, AMI, Phoenix). On some laptops, the BIOS version is not indicated at all - only the key for entering BIOS firmware Setup.

Running a Windows 10 reset from installation media

Wait until your PC starts booting from the Windows 10 flash drive and do the following:

1. Click the "System Restore" link.

   

2. Confirm to reset Windows 10. The reset request message here is not much different from those discussed in the guides above.

Once the reset is complete, Windows 10 will start with default settings.

Resetting from a Windows 10 installation flash drive is, in essence, restoring lost or damaged files due to which the OS could not start. Windows recovery options have been around since Windows 95 (fixing startup problems) - the steps have been made clearer over 20 years, without having to type fancy commands.

Problems with resetting Windows 10 to previous settings

No matter how clear and no matter how easy the process of resetting Windows 10 may seem, there are also difficulties here.

1. Windows 10 rollback does not run on an already running system. You have exceeded the month allotted for recovery or did not stop counting these days in the manner described above. Only reinstalling the OS will help.
2. Windows 10 reset options are not displayed when a flash drive or DVD is inserted. Check the boot order of your PC from BIOS. Make sure the DVD drive or USB ports are working, and whether the DVD or flash drive itself is readable. If hardware faults are detected, replace the installation DVD or flash drive, and service your PC or laptop. If we are talking about a tablet, check whether the OTG adapter, microUSB port, USB hub (if you are using a USB-DVD drive), and whether the tablet “sees” the flash drive is working.
3. Reset/restore Windows 10 does not start due to an incorrectly burned (multi)bootable flash drive or DVD. Rewrite your installation media - you may have written it so that it's just a copy of Windows 10 and not a bootable drive. Use rewritable (DVD-RW) discs - this will allow you to correct the error without sacrificing the disc itself.
4. Resetting Windows to factory settings does not work due to a stripped-down version of Windows 10. This is a very rare case when the recovery and update options are excluded from the Windows build - only reinstalling from scratch works. Typically, many other “unnecessary” components and applications are cut out from such an assembly, the graphical Windows shell and other “chips” in order to reduce the space occupied on drive C after installing such an assembly. Use full builds of Windows that allow you to rollback or reset without resorting to new installation with the removal of all data.

Rolling back or resetting Windows 10 to factory settings is a simple matter. In any case, you will eliminate errors without losing important documents, and your system will again work like a clock. Good luck!

We often encounter the problem of the system freezing and freezing, and when there are too many errors and the computer often does not respond to our actions, the only optimal choice is to roll back the system to factory settings. A large percentage of PC users have an operating system Windows system 10, and we are faced with the question: how to return Windows 10 to its original state, that is, reset the settings?

What are the benefits of resetting?

The biggest advantage is that the Windows 10 settings allow you not to reinstall the system or use third-party flash drives or disks. , if you wish, also runs without deleting personal files such as documents or application settings.

The process of rolling back Windows 10 from a running system

The first step is to see if you can get your computer to start normally, and if so, the steps below will fix your problem.

1. Open the Start menu and click Settings (Win + I combination).
2. Open the “Update and Security” tab, then “Recovery”. You will see the heading “Reset your computer to its original state” and the “Get Started” button - this is what you need.
3. Choose whether to keep personal files or delete everything. After everything is ready, all you have to do is click on “Reset”.

The process of rolling back Windows 10 from a boot disk

When Windows 10 refuses to start (for example, if a virus is caught or system files are damaged), you can restore the system from a boot disk. First, you need to get into the BIOS and set your disk/flash drive as the main one to boot.

To enter the BIOS, immediately after turning on the device, you need to press the F2 or Delete button, depending on your device. On different versions of dozens, the BIOS menu can be called up by different keys, if you can’t find them, .

After you have entered the BIOS, you need to enter the BOOT section. Using the F6 key, your removable media (flash drive or disk) moves to the very top. Now your media is in the first boot queue, press the F10 key to save the settings.

Immediately after the reboot, you will see a message in English “Press any key to boot from...”. That is, to boot, you need to press any key. After the menu loads, the Windows 10 installation window will appear on the desktop; instead of the “Install” button, click “System Restore”.

Next, the “Select Action” menu will open, which has three items: “Continue”, which will return you to the desktop, “Diagnostics” and “Shutdown”. We need a second point.
Click "Reset your computer."

After this, you will be faced with the already familiar choice between a complete system rollback with the deletion of all files, or saving your personal documents and then using them. Choose the right option and begin to restore the system.

Refresh Windows Tool

Another optimal way to restore the system is the Refresh Windows Tool. Go to recovery options and click "Learn how to start over with a clean install of Windows." After this, the Windows website will open to you, you will need to download this application.