How to Perform Windows 10 Factory Reset from Boot [Step-by-step with Pictures]

Jerry updated on Jan 11, 2024 | Home >Computer Instruction

The surefire way to fix many Windows issues is to perform a factory reset. A reset is the most practical choice if your computer is significantly slower than it once was, you have malware you can't get rid of, or you want to sell it.

You may factory reset a Windows laptop or desktop in different ways, depending on your configuration and the version of Windows that is installed. This post offered by EaseUS will tell you how to perform Windows 10 factory reset from boot.

What to Do Before Factory Reset Windows 10

When you perform Windows 10 factory reset, your PC will revert to its earlier state, The Windows 10 factory reset from boot will restore the computer's settings to how they were when it first left the assembly line. It removes any issues with the computer booting and can also delete the important files and changes made on the PC.

Therefore, you should ensure you have a recent backup of your data before diving into how to factory reset Windows 10 from boot. You can make a system image of your Windows 10 computer; thus, you can restore your files and preinstalled apps easily. EaseUS Todo Backup is the one that can meet your needs.

EaseUS Todo Backup Home is a practical backup and restore tool for Windows 11/10/8/7. It lets you automatically back up your systems, files, disks, partitions, apps, etc. In addition, it lets create different types of backups, such as full, incremental and differential backups.

And it enables you to make an iso image from your operating system and create an image of an SD card. More importantly, you can enjoy 250G free cloud storage and a Security Zone to safeguard essential data from ransomware.

Step 1. Launch EaseUS Todo Backup on your computer, and click Create Backup on the home screen and then hit the big question mark to select backup contents.

backup outlook mail step1

Step 2. To back up your Windows operating system, click "OS" to begin the backup task.

backup outlook mail step2

Step 3. Your Windows operating system information and all system related files and partitions will be automatically selected so you don't need to do any manual selection at this step. Next, you'll need to choose a location to save the system image backup by clicking the illustrated area.

system backup

Step 4. The backup location can be another local drive on your computer, an external hard drive, network, cloud or NAS. Generally, we recommend you use an external physical drive or cloud to preserve the system backup files. 

backup outlook mail step4

Step 5. Customiztion settings like enabling an automatic backup schedule in daily, weekly, monthly, or upon an event, and making a differential and incremental backup are available in the Options button if you're interested. Click "Backup Now", and the Windows system backup process will begin. The completed backup task will display on the left side in a card style.

backup outlook mail step 5

Factory Reset Windows 10 from Boot Using Recovery Drive

You have a few options for accessing "Reset this Computer" in Windows 10. Yet, you might need to factory reset Windows 10 from boot if you have a serious system malfunction and cannot log in to Windows. You must first enter the Windows Recovery Environment, so make an installation CD or create a recovery drive in advance. Let's learn how to reset Windows 10 from boot to factory settings via a recovery drive.

Step 1. Insert the recovery drive or installation CD to boot your PC.

Tip
Alternatively, you can press the power button to turn your PC off when the Windows logo appears and then turn it on. Repeat three times, and your computer can also boot into WinRE.

Step 2. Choose your preferred language and region in Windows Setup and click Next > Repair your computer.

click repair your computer

Step 3. Choose Troubleshoot > Reset this PC to reinstall Windows.

click reset this pc

Step 4. Choose Remove everything or Keep my files. If you choose the first option, your installed programs and settings won't be retained.

choose an option

Step 5. Follow the on-page guide, confirm, and click Restart to reset this PC.

click restart

Step 6. After it is finished, you must perform the initial setup and login to Windows.

Notice:
1. This method is suitable for all PC manufacturers. The main procedure will be the same whether you wish to factory reset a Dell laptop with Windows 10 from boot or a Lenovo laptop with Windows 10 from boot.
2. Some brands of computers may allow you to enter the recovery environment by pressing specific keys, such as ALT+F10 keys for Acer, which makes factory reset much easier.

Bonus Tip: Factory Reset Laptop from Boot Without Password

It is convenient to perform a factory reset on your computer if you have signed into your laptop. You only need to access the Settings panel, navigate to System > Recovery > Reset This PC, and then follow the on-screen instructions.

Nonetheless, you should occasionally try alternative solutions if you can't remember your laptop's password. A practical method for factory resetting your PC without the password is listed here.

To utilize the Windows installation disk on the laptop without any problems, you must first download it from the official Microsoft website and copy it to your USB drive. Then you should follow the instructions listed below.

Step 1. Boot your Windows 10 PC from the USB drive.

Step 2. After the installation interface pops up, click Next and then click Repair your computer.

click repair your computer

Step 3. Select Troubleshoot > Reset this PC.

Step 4. Click Remove everything to delete your data entirely.

Step 5. Choose the C drive. Click Only the drive where Windows is installed if you wish to save your files on others drives.

Step 6. Click Reset to factory reset your PC without a password.

The Bottom Line

That is all about how to perform Windows 10 factory reset from boot. To factory reset your Windows 10 from the boot, you need a recovery USB drive to help you.

It is worth noting that you should back up your essential files before resetting your computer. EaseUS Todo Backup Home is a backup tool that can help you to do such a job! It can also help create a bootable media to perform a system restore from the boot when needed. Just download and try it!

FAQs

1. Can you factory reset Windows from boot?

You can start a factory reset for Windows using the Advanced Startup menu to perform a factory reset from boot (for example, if you cannot access Windows normally). If Windows is operating normally, go to Settings > Update & Security > Recovery in Windows 10 to open this option.

2. How do I factory reset Windows 10 without logging in?

Follow the instructions listed below to factory reset your Windows 10 without logging in.

Step 1. Boot your Windows 10 PC from the USB drive.

Step 2. After the installation interface pops up, click Next and then click Repair your computer.

Step 3. Select Troubleshoot > Reset this PC.

Step 4. Click Remove everything to delete your data entirely.

Step 5. Choose the C drive. Click Only the drive where Windows is installed if you wish to save your files on others drives.

Step 6. Click Reset to factory reset your PC without a password.

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Updated by Daisy

Daisy is the Senior editor of the writing team for EaseUS. She has been working at EaseUS for over ten years, starting as a technical writer and moving on to being a team leader of the content group. As a professional author for over ten years, she writes a lot to help people overcome their tech troubles.

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Written by Jerry

"I hope my articles can help solve your technical problems. If you are interested in other articles, you can check the articles at the bottom of this page, and you can also check my Facebook to get additional help."

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