How to RESET Or Do A CLEAN REINSTALL of Windows!, by Caddac on YouTube. 11 min 20 s.
- Video length
- 11 min 20 s
- Time to do it
- 1 to 2 hours
- Difficulty
- Medium
- Steps
- 10
What you need
Steps
Back up your documents, photos and browser bookmarks to an external drive or cloud storage. A reset can wipe everything, so copy anything you cannot lose.
Plug the laptop into the charger and keep it connected for the whole process. A power cut mid-reset can leave Windows broken.
Open Settings, then System, then Recovery. Under Reset this PC, click Get started to begin the built-in reset.
Choose Keep my files to remove apps and settings but keep personal files, or Remove everything for a fully wiped drive. Pick Remove everything if you are selling the laptop.
Choose Cloud download or Local reinstall when asked, then confirm and let Windows restart. The reset can take 30 minutes or more.
For a clean reinstall, check your Windows licence first. A digital licence linked to your Microsoft account reactivates automatically after reinstall.
On another PC, download the Windows Media Creation Tool from Microsoft and use it to write Windows to your USB drive.
Plug the USB into the laptop and boot from it. Restart and press the boot menu key, often F12, F2 or Esc, then pick the USB drive.
Choose your language and click Install now. Pick Custom install, select the main drive and delete the old partitions to start clean.
Follow the setup screens, sign in with your Microsoft account and let Windows finish installing. Then reinstall your apps and restore your backup.
Tips and common mistakes
A reset keeps your files but removes installed programs, so note down the apps you need before you start.
Never unplug the laptop or close the lid during a reset or reinstall, even if the screen looks stuck.
If you plan to sell the laptop, use Remove everything and choose to clean the drive so old files cannot be recovered.
The Media Creation Tool needs a blank USB drive, so move any files off it first.
Questions
Will a reset delete my files?
Only if you pick Remove everything. The Keep my files option removes apps and settings but leaves your personal documents and photos in place.
Do I need a product key to reinstall Windows?
Usually not. Most laptops have a digital licence tied to the hardware or your Microsoft account, so Windows reactivates on its own after the reinstall.
How long does a factory reset take?
Plan for 30 minutes to over an hour depending on the drive speed and whether you choose a cloud download. Keep the charger plugged in the whole time.
This guide was drafted from the video's details and general task knowledge. It has not been checked against the full video. Check the video and relevant product instructions before following a procedure. Report a correction.
