How To Reset Your Windows 10 Laptop

This article shows you how to reset your laptop running Windows 10:

On the Windows 10 Start menu, click the Gear icon and select “Settings”.

Select “Update & security”.

Click “Recovery” in the left pane.

Pick one of three options:

1. Reset this PC
   This is the best option for starting fresh.
2. Go back to an earlier build
   This option is made for Windows Insiders who want to roll back to a previous version of the OS.
3. Advanced startup
   This option lets you boot off a recovery USB drive or disc.

Click “Get started” under “Reset this PC”.

Click either “Keep my files” or “Remove everything,” depending on whether you want to keep your data files intact. Either way, all of your settings will return to their defaults and apps will be uninstalled.

If you chose to “Remove everything” in the prior step, you can now select “Just remove my files” or “Remove files and clean the drive”.

“Remove files and clean the drive” will take a lot longer.  However, if you are giving your computer away, this will ensure the next person will have a hard time recovering your erased files.  If you are keeping the computer, you can choose “Just remove my files.”

In the “Warning!” screen, click “Next” to confirm that you won’t be able to roll back to a prior version of Windows.

Click “Reset” when prompted.  Windows will restart and reset itself.

Click “Continue” to exit and continue to Windows 10.

Enjoy your fresh Windows 10!