How to Reset Windows 11 Without Losing Data from BIOS?

Resetting Windows can help resolve various issues related to your computer/laptop. However, sometimes you might find it difficult to reset the system. If you're unsure how to restore Windows 11 to factory settings from BIOS, read on. This guide from Tools will show you how to seamlessly reset your laptop through a few simple steps. Let's learn more about the Windows factory reset process and its related aspects.

Back up your computer before performing a factory reset

Before resetting Windows, it's recommended that you back up your data. This is essential to prevent any loss of information due to unexpected errors. You can use the built-in backup tool in Windows 11 to create a system image, but it might not be as comprehensive as you'd like.

If your system encounters technical issues and an unexpected event occurs, it might lose data. In such a scenario, the best approach is to use a Todo Backup tool. This particular tool is designed to back up your data.

It can back up your files, system, disks, partitions, and applications, and save the backup image to different locations. It lets you transfer Windows to another computer without boot issues, and perform full, incremental, and differential backups.

After reinstalling Windows 11, you can download your data from the cloud. Furthermore, you can schedule backup processes to save your files conveniently in the cloud. For peace of mind, it also allows you to back up selected files, folders, or disks. In summary, Todo Backup is an ideal choice for backing up your data before resetting your system.

How to Perform a Factory Reset of Windows 11 from BIOS In certain scenarios, you might need to boot your computer from BIOS to perform a factory reset of Windows 11. Here's a step-by-step guide: 1. **Restart your computer:** First, turn off your computer and then restart it. During the startup process, quickly press the designated key to enter BIOS. This is typically F2, F10, Delete, or Esc, but it depends on your computer manufacturer. 2. **Enter BIOS settings:** After pressing the correct key, you'll see the BIOS interface. Use the arrow keys to navigate to the "Boot" or "Startup" menu. 3. **Adjust boot order:** In the "Boot" menu, locate "Boot Order" or "Boot Priority," and use the arrow keys to select it. Then, move the USB drive or DVD drive (if you have recovery media) to the top of the boot order. 4. **Save and exit:** Press F10 (or the key indicated on-screen) to save the changes and exit BIOS. Your computer will restart according to the new boot order. 5. **Insert recovery media:** If you've created a Windows 11 recovery media (like a USB drive or DVD), make sure it's inserted into your computer now. 6. **Boot from recovery media:** Your computer should automatically start from the recovery media. If it doesn't, you may need to enter BIOS again and confirm the boot order. 7. **Start the reset process:** Once the system boots from the recovery media, you'll see a screen with several options. Choose "Troubleshoot," then "Advanced options." Next, click "Reset this PC." 8. **Select the reset type:** You have two options: "Keep my files" and "Remove everything." Choose one based on your needs. If you want a complete factory reset, it's recommended to choose "Remove everything." 9. **Follow the prompts:** The system will guide you through the reset process, showing an estimated time and warning messages. Confirm your choice and let the computer complete the reset. Please note that performing a factory reset will delete your personal files, apps, and settings. Make sure you've backed up all important data and are prepared to reinstall necessary software.

Upon completing the backup process, you should factory reset Windows 11 from the BIOS stage. We have detailed steps on how to perform a factory reset from BIOS for your reference.

Enter the BIOS.

First, you need to access the BIOS settings by pressing a specific key during system startup. Typically, you can use the F1, F2, Del, or Esc key. If you're unsure which key to use, consult your device manual. Press and hold the key continuously while booting up until the BIOS setup screen appears.

Change settings

From the BIOS screen, navigate to the "Exit" tab and select "Load Setup Defaults". This will help your system identify the settings you want to restore during the factory reset. After selecting this, choose "Save & Exit" or press F10 to save your changes.

Select Load Setup Defaults.

Initiate factory reset

After pressing these keys, your system will restart, and you can now select the "Troubleshoot" option from the screen, followed by the "Reset this PC" option to initiate the process. You may need to click "Reset" again to confirm.

Click on "Reset this PC"

After the reset, the system will walk you through the Windows setup process, where you can set your preferences, create user accounts, and personalize your system.

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【#3】When to Factory Reset Windows 11 from BIOS In certain scenarios, you might need to boot from the BIOS (Basic Input Output System) to perform a factory reset on Windows 11. Here are some situations where this might be necessary: 1. **Severe System Issues**: If your computer encounters problems that cannot be resolved through standard methods, such as constant blue screens, virus infections, or software conflicts, a factory reset could be a solution. 2. **Restoring to Out-of-the-Box State**: If you want to revert your computer to its original state when you first bought it, without preserving any personal files or settings, booting from BIOS and resetting is necessary. 3. **Update Problems**: If severe issues arise after a Windows 11 update, preventing normal startup, you can try booting from BIOS into recovery mode to perform a reset. 4. **Hardware Changes**: After replacing major hardware components like the hard drive or RAM, you may need to reset to ensure compatibility with the new hardware. 5. **Malware Infection**: Following a deep malware cleanup, a factory reset might be recommended to ensure system security. Please note that resetting from BIOS will erase all personal data and programs, so make sure to back up important files beforehand. The steps involved vary depending on the manufacturer and computer model but generally include: 1. **Restart Your Computer**: Turn off your computer and then restart it. During the startup process, repeatedly press a specific key (usually F2, F10, F12, or Delete) to enter BIOS settings. 2. **Access Boot Menu**: In the BIOS settings, find the "Boot" or "Startup" option, and select the "Boot Menu." 3. **Choose Recovery Option**: Look for options related to recovery or emergency recovery, which might be labeled "System Recovery," "Factory Reset," or "Brand name (Dell, HP, Acer, Asus, etc.) + Reset." 4. **Follow the Instructions**: Follow on-screen prompts, confirm your intention to perform a factory reset, and wait for the system to complete the process. Make sure to consult your computer manufacturer's specific guidelines for accurate instructions on how to execute this process.

When it comes to resetting Windows 11, the question on your mind might be why you would need to do this in the first place. There can be several reasons behind this choice, all related to Windows. The most common one is that the operating system has been infected with malware.

Your system might be affected by corrupted software or programs, which can cause it to slow down. By restoring Windows to its factory settings, you'll get a fresh system with the same processing speed.

Second, it could be that you made some changes to the BIOS that are causing the issue. To undo those, you'd need to be a technical expert. But if you're not, your best bet would be to do a factory reset of Windows.

In addition, System Restore can save your default settings on the system. If you cannot find the changes that affect the performance, you should opt for a System Restore.

In short, when in doubt and you can't find a solution to your system's issues, the safest way to reset Windows 11 is through BIOS.

Additional hint: Recovering Windows 11 Factory Settings without a password from boot If you're unable to access Windows 11 but still need to reset your computer, you can attempt a factory reset during the boot process without entering a password. Here's how: 1. Restart your computer. 2. While booting up, repeatedly press F10 or F12 (depending on your computer brand; it could be another function key) to enter the BIOS settings. 3. In the BIOS settings, locate the "Boot" or "Startup" option. 4. Set the boot order to start from a USB drive or DVD. If necessary, insert a USB drive or DVD with the Windows 11 installation media. 5. Press F10 to save the changes and exit the BIOS. 6. Your computer will now boot from the USB or DVD. After the installer loads, select your language and preferences, then click "Install Now." 7. During the installation process, when asked how you want to install, choose "Custom: Install Windows only (advanced)." 8. Without formatting, navigate to the drive options, select the current Windows 11 installation partition, and click "Delete." 9. Now, choose the recently deleted partition and click "New" to create a new partition. 10. Finally, click "Next," and the system will begin installing Windows 11 on the new partition. After the installation is complete, the system will automatically go through initial setup, and you won't need to enter a password. Please note that this method will erase all personal files and programs, reverting your computer to its factory state. Therefore, make sure to back up any important data before proceeding.

If you don't know the password for Windows, you might not be able to access the system settings, meaning you can't use the above methods to reset Windows. In this case, you can follow this process to reset Windows 11 without logging in.

You just need to make sure that you have the boot device connected to your laptop and follow these simple steps to reinstall Windows.

Step 1: Turn on your laptop and press the dedicated key – such as F2, F12, or another function key – that will depend on your laptop model (Dell, Asus, Lenovo, Acer, etc.).

Step 2: On the Advanced startup screen, click Repair your computer.

Step 3: Click on Troubleshoot, and then click on Reset this PC.

Click on "Troubleshoot".

Step 4: Click on Reset, then choose either Keep my files or Remove everything, as appropriate.

Step 5. When finished, follow the on-screen instructions to reset Windows 11 from the BIOS.

Please note that selecting the "Delete everything" option will remove all files from the system. It is recommended to choose the "Keep my files" option first and check if the issue is resolved. If the problem persists, you can then opt for other choices.

In summary

We hope that after reading this guide, you've learned how to factory reset Windows 11 from BIOS. To assist you further, we also shared the steps to reset your computer without knowing the password. With these methods, you can get your system back on track.

Here, the most important thing is to back up your data using a free backup tool like Todo Backup. This will help you to reset your PC to factory settings without losing data, keeping your personal files safe even after you've reset everything. In short, this is how to save your files securely and get your system back on track after deleting malware-infected programs.

**FAQs about Restoring to Factory Settings in Windows 11 from BIOS** 1. **What is restoring to factory settings in Windows 11?** Restoring to factory settings involves resetting the operating system to its original state, deleting all personal files, apps, and settings, similar to a new computer. In Windows 11, this is typically referred to as "initializing" or "resetting this PC." 2. **Can I restore to factory settings directly from BIOS?** Not exactly. BIOS stands for Basic Input/Output System and is used for configuring hardware settings, not for performing an OS-level restore. However, you can use BIOS to boot into recovery options to initiate the process. 3. **How do I boot to Windows 11 recovery options from BIOS?** - Restart your computer and press a specific key (usually F2, F10, F12, Delete, or Esc) during startup to enter BIOS. - In the BIOS settings, find the "Boot" or "Startup" option. - Look for "Boot Order" or "Boot Priority" and set your USB or DVD drive as the first boot device (if using recovery media). - Save changes and exit; your computer will boot from the recovery media. - Follow on-screen instructions to enter the Windows Recovery Environment (WinRE) and choose "Initialize PC" or "Reset this PC." 4. **Will a factory reset delete all my data?** Yes, a factory reset will erase all personal files, programs, and settings, unless you choose the option to keep personal files (which may not be available in all cases). 5. **Do I need to create a recovery media?** If your computer cannot start normally or if you want to recover without an internet connection, creating a Windows 11 recovery media (such as a USB drive or DVD) is necessary. 6. **How long does the recovery process take?** It depends on your computer's speed, hard disk size, and the amount of data to be deleted. Generally, the entire process can take anywhere from 30 minutes to a few hours. 7. **Can I install a different version of Windows after a factory reset?** Yes, after a factory reset, you can reinstall any compatible version of Windows, provided you have a valid activation key. 8. **What should I be aware of?** Before starting the recovery process, ensure you back up all important data, as the action cannot be undone once started. Also, check your power source to avoid interruptions during the process. These are some common FAQs about restoring to factory settings in Windows 11 via BIOS. For more specific questions, consult Microsoft's official documentation or contact technical support for assistance.

1. Will resetting the BIOS delete Windows?

No, resetting the BIOS will not remove Windows from your system. However, it may delete files on your disk or wipe the disk clean, depending on your instructions.

How can I factory reset Windows 11 without using Settings?

You can restore Windows 11 to its factory settings without setting up through the Start menu. Here's how: 1. Press the Windows key + I to open Settings. 2. Click on "Update & Security." 3. In the left pane, select "Recovery." 4. Under the "Reset this PC" section, click on "Get started." 5. You'll be given two options: "Keep my files" or "Remove everything." If you want a complete reset, choose "Remove everything." If you just want to remove apps and settings but keep your personal files, select "Keep my files." 6. Follow the on-screen instructions to proceed with the reset process. This will erase your data, installed applications, and settings, returning your system to its original state. Please note that this process may take some time depending on the size of your hard drive and the speed of your computer. Back up any important files before proceeding, as they will be deleted during the reset.

• Press these keys to force your system to restart.
• Navigate to "Troubleshoot" from the options, then select "Reset this PC."
• Choose which files you want to keep on your system.
• Tap the "Reset PC" button to finalize things, or follow the on-screen instructions.

How do I reset Windows 11 from boot when the PC won't start?

If your PC won't start, you can still reset Windows 11 using the steps below.

• Power on the computer and enter "Windows Recovery Mode".
• Select "Advanced options", then click "Troubleshoot".
• Click "Reset this PC", and choose a storage option for your files.
• Click the "Reset" button to complete the process.