If you are looking to reset your PC either to clean out some corrupted settings or software, you also may need to do a full wipe before selling etc. Then this guide will show you how to reset your Windows 10 PC.
In 2020, they added a new ‘cloud download’ feature. This allows the reset program to download a clean version of windows 10 first before resetting the PC. This is ideal if your PC has corrupted and the image that windows use for restoration is corrupt.
The basic steps to reset your PC using the new cloud download feature are as follows:
- Launch Settings from your taskbar.
- Then select the update and security tab
- On the left-hand side select the recovery option
- You will then see reset this PC at the top. Click on get started
- You will then be presented with two options. Keep my files and remove everything. If you just want the OS settings and programs wiping use keep my files. However, if you want a fresh install with no user data then select remove everything.
- You will then be presented with two other options. How would you like to reinstall windows? Cloud download / local install. For me, I would use cloud download to remove any issues when restoring your PC. However, either may work fine and the local install doesn’t need to download any data.
- Select NEXT
- Finally press the RESET (this may take some time to fully complete)
Once the steps are done and the reset process is complete you should be good to go!
How to make a Windows 10 Bootable Drive
Sometimes it’s necessary to fully wipe or reinstall Windows. Either the OS has been corrupted or you have a new SSD or hard drive and it needs an OS installed on it. To create a windows 10 bootable drive you must follow the steps below.
- You will need a USB drive of at least 8GB (I would recommend a 16GB version to future-proof any updates to this)
- You will need a windows PC to create the bootable drive.
- On your windows PC download and install the windows 10 USB tool.
- Follow the instructions in the tool and it will start creating the USB.
- Once done boot up your PC and select the USB as the boot drive and it will begin the process of installing windows 10.