How to Factory Reset a Windows Computer Without Losing Data

What is a factory reset?

When your computer is running slow, giving strange error messages even when there's nothing wrong, or freezing up even though you have plenty of storage space, you need to fix it. Some people might call in a tech, but you really don't have to. You can just factory reset your computer to clear everything out, fix any problems, and get rid of corrupted files. Then it'll restart your computer with the operating system reinstalled. If you're wondering how to factory reset a Windows PC without losing data, we've got you covered!

How to Factory Reset Your Computer Without Losing Data

There are several ways to reset your computer to factory settings, and they vary in how they work, how difficult they are to use, and how much data they save. Choose the one that best suits your needs.

1. Option 1: Use the "Reset this PC" feature
2. Option 2: Reset via Advanced Startup Menu
3. Option 3: Use the Microsoft Media Creation Tool
4. Option 4: Back Up Data with Todo Backup

Option 1: Utilize the "Reset this PC" feature

Windows has a built-in Reset feature that's the fastest way to reset. You'll see two options: Reset while keeping your files, or removing everything without a backup. All of your files, folders, documents, and media will be saved, so you'll lose all of your apps even if you choose to keep your files.

On some older devices, you might need to use the Windows Recovery Environment menu to perform a factory reset. However, the Recovery Environment is one of the most critical components of a computer, and if done incorrectly, it can mess up your system. If you can't find it, you should skip to the second option instead of using the Recovery Environment menu.

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Option 2: Reset using the Advanced Startup menu

You can use the “Advanced Startup” menu to access the “Windows Recovery Environment” feature, which will reset your computer to its factory settings when you can't get to it any other way.

Reset your PC through the Advanced Startup menu by following these steps:

Step 1: Press Win + I to open the “Settings” app.

Step 2: Go to System > Recovery.

Step 3: Click on “Advanced startup,” and then click “Restart now” on the right.

The system should restart into the Windows Recovery Environment. If it doesn't, press the F11 key on your keyboard when you see the manufacturer's logo during startup to access the Advanced Boot Options menu.

Now, follow the steps in Windows RE.

Step 1: Click Troubleshoot, and then click Reset this PC.

Step 2. Two options will show up. Click on "Keep my files" and hit the "Next" button.

Step 3: Click the “Reset” button. A confirmation prompt will appear; click “Continue.”

It saves your files and personal data but doesn't back up your apps, software, or other drivers.

Option 3: Use the Microsoft Media Creation Tool

The Microsoft Media Creation Tool allows you to use ISO files, particularly to create an ISO image, an exact replica of all your data. You can then store and retrieve it through a CD, DVD, or similar medium. However, this requires a good grasp of the technicalities and complexities involved.

To reinstall the operating system using the media creation tool's media image while preserving your data, follow these steps:

Step 1: Visit the official Microsoft website and download the Media Creation Tool.

Step 2: Once the download is complete, right-click on the file and run it. You can also double-click the file to launch it.

Next up, you just need to translate the sentence into American English:

Step 3. If you're connected to a network, choose "Download" to install updates, then click "Next" to proceed.

Step 4. Head over to choose what to keep. You'll be presented with several options to select the data you wanna preserve, like apps, files, and system settings.

Next up, we just need the American English translation for the caption of this image: "".

Step 5. Click on the "next" button to reinstall your Windows operating system.

Your computer will restart, and all your settings and configurations will be saved. However, this could make the factory reset ineffective. So, there's another efficient and helpful option that keeps all your data intact.

Solved: Windows 10 Reset Stuck or Not Working

After going through these methods, resetting your computer will no longer be a challenge. If you encounter issues while resetting your PC, you can find a solution with just a few clicks.

Option 4: Back up data before factory resetting your PC using Todo Backup

If you don't want to lose any of your data, including files, media, documents, and apps, but still want the reset to take effect, you can use a tool like Todo Backup. Todo Backup allows you to back up Windows files and folders to different locations. For instance, you can back up data to an external hard drive. After resetting your computer, you can transfer the important data from the external hard drive to your PC.

This tool would back up all your data and save it in cloud storage, to be restored when needed, with just an active Internet connection! And if you do not want to reset your device but still wish to protect your data, the app could help there, too.

Users prefer this third-party app to other built-in Windows features because it requires no special technical skills to use or to back up. If you're not tech-savvy, this is a one-stop solution.

Main Features of Todo Backup:

• Free
• Backup and restore files, disks/partitions, and system
• Full backup/incremental/differential backup modes
• Simplified backup management by merging, deleting, or compressing files
• Encrypted backups for enhanced security and privacy

Here, we will walk you through the complete steps of backing up important data with the Todo Backup tool.

Step 1: To begin the backup process, click the Select Backup Items button.

Step 2: You'll see four backup categories: Files, Disks, OS, and Mail.

Step 3: A list of local and network files will appear on the left side of the screen. Expand the directories and select the files you want to back up.

Step 4: Choose where you want to save the backup, as instructed onscreen.

Make sure your backups are encrypted, and set up a backup schedule by clicking on Options within the Backup Options. You can also choose to start a backup at a specific time by clicking on Options within the Backup Schedule. There are many other customizable options for you to explore as well.

You can store the backup files on your computer, in the tool's cloud service, or on a network-attached storage (NAS) device.

Step Six: Todo Backup allows clients to store backup copies of their files on third-party cloud drives or on the company's own cloud storage.

If you want to back up to a third-party cloud service, choose “Local Disk,” then scroll down and click “Add Cloud Device,” and enter your account information.

Click “Cloud Backup,” register, and log in with your tool account to store backup files in the tool's own cloud storage service.

Step 7. Click Back Up Now to start the backup process. When it's done, it appears as a card on the left side of the screen. Right-click it for more options to dig deeper into the backup job.

Things to Remember Before Doing a Factory Reset on Your Computer

Resetting your computer to its factory settings can seem like a hassle, and a daunting task. You will lose data, so back everything up first.

You might be interested in the article on how to fix Windows 10 reset getting stuck.

Moreover, software makers go to great lengths to ensure that programs cannot be used without payment. As such, in this solution, you would need to transfer the app's credentials – via a license and a password – to another computer and deactivate it on your device. And if you cannot save your apps, you can reinstall them after backing up.

Also, make a list of all important settings, programs, and personal files, whether or not you back them up. As you back up, note where you got the files from.

Prompt to prevent data loss during factory reset

To prevent data loss, you should back up your data as mentioned earlier. Additionally, you should choose a method that preserves most of your data while allowing for effective resetting in case of file corruption or software issues. If you don't have a way to save all your data or prefer not to use third-party recovery tools, using an external hard drive is advisable. You can backup all your data to the external drive and then reinstall after a factory reset. Also, make sure to move all system files (those located on the C drive) to a local drive and transfer them to the external drive.

wrapping up

It would be great if you could find the answer on how to factory reset a PC without losing data. This will remove everything, but you can use the “Reset PC” feature, the Advanced Startup menu, and an ISO file from the Windows Media Creation Tool. However, we recommend using Todo Backup, which is safe and reliable and will keep all your data intact.

Frequently Asked Questions?

A: Will I lose Windows if I reset my PC to factory settings?

A.1. No, you will not lose your Windows operating system if you reset your computer to its factory settings. It will be reinstalled with the latest Windows 10 updates.

Q: How can I restore my laptop to its factory settings?

A.2. You can restore the laptop to its original state by resetting it, but choose “Remove everything” instead of “Keep my files.” This will erase all the data on the computer and return it to its starting point.