How to Perform a Windows 10 Factory Reset from Boot [Step-by-Step Guide with Images]

Factory resetting is a surefire way to fix many Windows problems. If your computer is running significantly slower than it used to, you have malware that you can't get rid of, or you're preparing to sell your computer, then resetting is your best bet.

Depending on your device's settings and the version of Windows you have installed, you can reset your Windows laptop or desktop in different ways. This article, brought to you by Tools, will show you how to perform a Factory Reset on Windows 10 from boot.

What to do before performing a Windows 10 factory reset

When you perform a factory reset on Windows 10, your computer goes back to an earlier state. A factory reset performed from the boot menu will restore your computer's settings to how they were when it left the factory. It will eliminate any issues that might have been causing problems on startup, and it will also delete important files and changes you've made to the computer.

Thus, before you start learning how to reset Windows 10 from boot, make sure that your data is backed up. You can create a system image for your Windows 10 computer so that you can easily restore your files and pre-installed apps. Tools like Todo Backup can help you with that.

Todo Backup Home is a practical backup and restore tool for Windows 11/10/8/7. It allows you to automatically back up your system, files, disks, partitions, applications, and more. Moreover, it lets you create different types of backups, such as full backup, incremental backup, and differential backup.

It also lets you make ISO images of your operating system and create an image of an SD card. More importantly, you get 250GB of free cloud storage and a Secure Zone to protect your vital data from ransomware.

Step 1. Launch Todo Backup on your computer and click “Create Backup” on the main screen, then click the big question mark to choose what to backup.

Step 2: Click "OS" to start the backup task if you want to back up the Windows operating system.

Step 3: The system will automatically select the Windows operating system, along with all system files and partitions, so you don't need to make any manual selections here. Next, click on the illustrated area to choose where you want to save your system image backup.

Step 4. The backup location can be another local drive on your computer, an external hard drive, a network, cloud storage, or a NAS. Typically, we recommend using an external physical drive or cloud storage to keep your system backup files.

5. If interested, click on the Options button to customize settings such as enabling daily, weekly, monthly or event-based scheduled backups, and differential and incremental backups. Click on "Backup Now" to begin the Windows system backup process. Completed tasks will be displayed as cards on the left side.

Reset Windows 10 from a Recovery Drive (Method 2)

There are several ways to access “Reset this PC” in Windows 10. However, if your system is so messed up that you can't log into Windows, you may need to reset it from the boot menu. First, you'll need to access the Windows Recovery Environment, so it's recommended that you create an installation disc or a recovery drive beforehand. Let's learn how to reset Windows 10 to its factory settings from the recovery drive.

Step 1. Insert the recovery drive or installation disc to boot your computer.

Step 2: In the Windows Setup, choose your preferred language and region, and then click Next > Repair your computer.

Click on “Repair your computer”.

Step 3: Go to Troubleshoot > Reset this PC to reinstall Windows.

Click on "Reset this PC" and then "Get started".

Step 4. Choose "Remove everything" or "Keep my files." If you select the former, your installed programs and settings won't be preserved.

Select an option

Step 5: Follow the on-screen instructions, then click “Restart” to reset your computer.

Click on "Restart now".

Step 6. When it's done, you'll need to go through the initial setup and log in to Windows.

Bonus Tip: Reset Your Laptop from Boot Without a Password

If you're already logged into your laptop, performing a factory reset is very convenient. Just open Settings, go to Update & Security > Recovery > Reset this PC, and follow the on-screen instructions.

That said, if you can't remember your laptop password, you might want to try alternative solutions from time to time. Here's a practical way to reset your PC to its factory settings without a password.

To use a Windows installation disc on your laptop without any issues, you first need to download it from the official Microsoft website and copy it onto your USB drive. Follow these steps: 1. Make sure your laptop is connected to the USB drive containing the Windows installation files. 2. Restart your computer and enter the BIOS settings. This is usually done by repeatedly pressing F2, F10, F12, or Delete during startup, depending on your computer brand. 3. In the BIOS settings, locate the "Boot" or "Startup" option and set the USB device as the first boot priority. 4. Save the changes and exit the BIOS. Your computer will now boot from the USB drive and initiate the Windows installation process. 5. Follow the on-screen instructions, selecting options such as language, time, and currency formats. 6. On the "Installation Type" screen, choose "Custom: Install Windows only (advanced)." 7. Select the hard disk partition where you want to install Windows. If needed, format the partition first. 8. Wait for the installation to complete, which may take some time. 9. After installation, set up user accounts and passwords, and you can start using your new Windows system. Ensure that your laptop has sufficient battery life during the installation process or remains plugged in to prevent unexpected power loss, which could lead to installation failure.

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

Step 2: When the installer appears, click “Next,” then choose “Repair your computer.”

Click on "Repair your computer."

Step 3: Select Troubleshoot > Reset this PC.

Step 4. Click “Delete Everything” to permanently erase your data.

Step 5: Select the C drive. If you want to save your files on a different drive, click the “Drive options (advanced)” link.

Step 6. Click “Reset” to restore your computer to its factory settings without a password.

Bottom line

That's it on how to do a Factory Reset Windows 10 from boot. In order to factory reset Windows 10 from boot, you will need a Recovery USB to assist you.

Worth mentioning is the fact that before resetting your computer, you should back up important files. Todo Backup Home is a backup tool that can help you with this task! It can also create bootable media to be used for performing a System Restore from Boot, when needed. Download and give it a try!

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

**1. Can Windows be factory reset during startup?**

If you can't boot into Windows normally, you can use the Advanced Startup menu to reset from boot. If Windows is running fine, get to this option by going to Settings > Update & Security > Recovery in Windows 10.

**2. How to factory reset Windows 10 without logging in?**

Reset your Windows 10 device without logging in by following these steps: 1. First, turn on your computer and enter the Windows 10 Recovery Environment. To do this, keep tapping F8 during startup (for newer devices, it could be F10, F12, or Shift + F8), or set your BIOS to boot from a USB or DVD using the Windows installation media. 2. In the Recovery Environment, select "Troubleshoot." 3. Next, click on "Advanced options." 4. From the Advanced Options menu, choose "Startup Settings." 5. Click "Restart." Your PC will reboot and show the Startup Settings menu. 6. In the Startup Settings menu, press F4 or F5 to choose "Safe Mode" or "Safe Mode with Networking" (if you need internet access for downloads). 7. In Safe Mode, press Win + X, then choose "Command Prompt" or "Windows PowerShell" (if you're running a newer version of Windows 10) from the context menu. 8. In the Command Prompt window, type this command to initiate System Recovery: ``` ren C:\Windows\System32\sethc.exe C:\Windows\System32\sethc.exe.bak ``` Hit Enter to run the command. This renames the "sethc.exe" file, which is typically the Sticky Keys utility on the login screen. 9. Next, enter this command to replace "sethc.exe" with Command Prompt: ``` copy C:\Windows\System32\cmd.exe C:\Windows\System32\sethc.exe ``` Press Enter to execute. This substitutes the Sticky Keys program with Command Prompt. 10. Restart your computer. When the login screen appears, tap the Shift key five times quickly. This will launch the replaced "sethc.exe," now functioning as Command Prompt. 11. In the Command Prompt, type the following to start system reset: ``` init 0 ``` Press Enter to execute. This closes the current session and initiates system recovery options. 12. You'll see the "Recovery" screen. Select "Remove everything" to perform a factory reset. 13. Follow the on-screen prompts, confirming you want to delete all data and reset the device. Please note that this method may erase all personal files and settings, so proceed with caution. If you have important, un-backed-up data, consider alternative recovery methods before attempting this one.

Step 1: Boot your Windows 10 computer from the USB drive.

Step 2. When the installer appears, click “Next,” then choose “Repair your computer.”

Step 3: Select Troubleshoot > Reset this PC.

Step 4: Tap “Erase All Content and Settings” to completely wipe your data.

Step 5: Select Drive C:. If you want to save the file on another drive, click Drive containing Windows only.

Step 6. Click “Reset” to restore your computer to its factory settings with no password.