Is your laptop running too slow compared to how it did a few months ago? Or are you not able to start Windows 10 directly? Well, surely there is some failure in the system that is delaying everything or making it not work. A forced restart when it was updating, some kind of malware ... Anyway, the definitive solution is to format. Delete everything and leave it as when you took it out of the box . Don't know how to do it? Well, keep reading this tutorial.
Of course, before we start, keep in mind that we are going to tell you how to restore a Windows 10 laptop to its factory state. There will be different ways of doing it, but the process is risky and means ending all the content you have on your computer. Make sure, if you can, to make a copy of the folders, files, photos, audios and other important documents. Upload them to the cloud, copy them to an external hard drive or transfer them to a pendrive. But keep in mind that everything will be deleted if you don't save it previously.You should bear in mind that the process that we are going to explain can be carried out on computers that have a Windows partition in their storage . That is, those computers with Windows pre-installed as standard. Currently it is the majority of laptops, but if they do not have this partition you will not be able to restore Windows 10. All that said, let's get started.
index of contents
- Restore system
- Reset this PC (from Windows)
- Reset the laptop (outside of Windows)
- Set up Windows again
Restore system
Before giving it all for lost, and if we can start Windows 10 normally (or even if it works slowly) we can try to restore the system to a previous version. That is, return the computer to a point some time ago, when the last backup was made. Something that will erase any more recent changes and, in theory, return everything to its being. At least when it is restored. In this way, all programs and documents will not be erased and, in theory, correct operation will be restored. The only key is to have carried out a backup when everything was working correctly.
To restore the system follow these steps:
First use the Windows search engine to find the System Restore menu. To do this, type " Recovery " and you will see it as a suggestion within the Control Panel.
On the screen that appears you will find three options. Choose the second one, which says Open System Restore . Confirm as administrator to continue with the process.
This starts a wizard that will guide you through the entire process. This wizard informs you that it will try to restore the proper functioning of your computer to a previous state. But the important thing is that you know that some programs and files may disappear in the process. Continue clicking on Next to follow the steps.
The next point is to choose the copy or the moment to restore the computer . That is, the backup of the past that is available to restore. By choosing it, the computer will return to that point, with the programs it had at that moment. But of course, for this you have to have backup copies made. Choose the one you want and click Next.
From this moment on, the computer takes its own control and seeks to reverse changes and advances regarding the backup. The process can take quite a while, so make sure the laptop is connected to the power and be patient. After that, everything will be as if the laptop were in the stage that was chosen . If this has solved the problems you will not have to do anything else. If not, go to the next point.
Reset this PC (from Windows)
With this process, we will format the computer when it leaves the factory . That is, we will erase absolutely everything: programs, personal documents, saved files ... Keep that in mind before you start. Of course, in this case we will start the process from within Windows, so it is recommended for those who suffer with a slow computer but who can access the system normally. If you cannot start Windows, go to the next section of the tutorial. If you can get in, follow these steps.
Search the Windows search engine for the Recovery menu. You can find it in the Update and security section .
Here you will see a menu with the option Reset this PC , where you are told that you can solve different problems with your computer. Click the Start button.
This will bring up a blue pop-up menu with two options. Either Keep my files, which eliminates the configuration, programs and others but keeps the folders and documents (not all), or Remove everything , with which the computer is completely erased. Here our recommendation is that, if you have been able to start Windows, remove everything important from the computer and choose the Remove everything option. In this way any problem is solved and you will not have to waste time with several formats.
The next blue screen offers us two ways to delete the files. A quick and leaving traces that a computer specialist can recover, or a slower and more definitive one that cleans the hard drives so that absolutely nothing can be recovered . Again, the best option is the second, by ensuring that there is no trace of anything left on the laptop so that no viruses or bugs remain after the process.
A last screen reminds us that the process is about to begin, and that with it accounts, programs, applications, documents and also settings will be deleted. If we click on the Reset button, the process begins.
The process can take several hours, so make sure to keep the laptop connected to the power so that the battery does not drain and the process does not interrupt . Nothing should get in the way of the restoration process, otherwise the computer could be rendered useless. Once the process is finished, your computer will start as when you purchased it. So it will be necessary to install and configure Windows 10. We will explain it further down in this tutorial.
Reset the laptop (outside of Windows)
But if it is impossible for you to start Windows to carry out the process of the previous point, you always have an emergency way to do it . This process is recommended for those who cannot access Windows (start account and look for the recovery menu), but you have to fulfill an essential requirement: that your computer turns on. That is, that the components continue to work. If so, follow these steps.
The first thing is to turn on the computer regularly. Click on the start button and, immediately afterwards, start repeatedly pressing the F10 button , located in the first row of keys.
This opens the recovery menu without the need to load Windows. Two options appear on this screen: either restart the PC to see if everything returns to normal, or start the recovery process with the See advanced repair options button . We select the latter.
Windows offers us different options to restore the laptop. As in the previous section, we will always choose the total restoration of the PC to ensure that everything returns to its point of origin and make sure that any virus or bad installation disappears completely. Therefore, on this screen we choose the option Troubleshoot .
In the next one, we must choose Reset this computer, which will take us to a new screen where we can choose if we want to Keep my files, to save documents, or Remove everything , to perform an exhaustive format. If we choose the second option, a new screen will tell us if we want to remove the user's files or even clean the drive or disk. As we have already said above, if you want to get rid of any problems, it is best to remove everything from the laptop. Of course, you should know that you will have no way to recover any document or file that would have been left on the computer.
Before you begin resetting your computer, a final blue screen reminds you of what to do and which files, accounts, and configuration changes to delete. Click on the Reset button to start the process.
This can take several hours, so arm yourself with patience. Remember to keep your laptop connected to the power so that there is no problem during the process. When it is finished you will have the computer clean inside, as it just left the factory. It will be time to reconfigure Windows 10.
Set up Windows again
Once we are done with resetting the laptop, there will be no trace of programs, files, photos and documents on it. It will be like fresh out of the box, ready to configure and start working with it from scratch. That is, without a trace of viruses, bad installations, programs or anything that can cause it to run slow or not start Windows. But there is an arduous task: configure it.
At the beginning of this tutorial we talked about the need to have a special Windows partition on the computer. Most laptops already bring it to be able to reinstall Windows without having to insert a CD or a pendrive with the operating system. That is, they already have it loaded inside. That is why, when we start the laptop again we will find the Windows installation wizard to guide us through the process .
We will only have to fill in the fields that require us. Of course, it is very important to choose, at first, the language of the system. Look for Spanish (Spain) in the initial language list so that you do not have any problems when operating both in the configuration and later in Windows. Or use any other language that interests you.
After that, you will go through a screen where you can connect your computer to the Internet . This point is important if you want the configuration process to be completely carried out at this time, being able to update different questions if necessary. Choose your network and enter the password to continue.
The rest of the process goes through different screens in which to configure details such as sending location and experience information to Microsoft, giving a name and password to an administrator or user account, and even configuring the Cortana assistant. Everything is guided so you only have to choose the option that suits you and go to the next screen.
The last stage of Windows setup is completely automatic. The computer will indicate that it is making the last settings. So relax and breathe, because it may take a few minutes . After that Windows will start as usual, with the desktop pristine and everything clean. Like newly released.
The problems of any unexpected shutdown during an update, or a bad installation of some program, or even the presence of a virus will have disappeared completely. Everything should be fine and correct. Of course, now you have another arduous task: download programs such as the browser, install commonly used tools and leave everything as you wanted . Of course, try to avoid the problems of the past so as not to reformat your computer soon. With the time that you will have invested in it, surely you will not have too much desire.