{"appState":{"pageLoadApiCallsStatus":true},"articleState":{"article":{"headers":{"creationTime":"2018-01-04T13:20:00+00:00","modifiedTime":"2018-01-04T13:20:00+00:00","timestamp":"2022-09-14T18:16:08+00:00"},"data":{"breadcrumbs":[{"name":"Technology","_links":{"self":"https://dummies-api.dummies.com/v2/categories/33512"},"slug":"technology","categoryId":33512},{"name":"Computers","_links":{"self":"https://dummies-api.dummies.com/v2/categories/33513"},"slug":"computers","categoryId":33513},{"name":"Basic Skills","_links":{"self":"https://dummies-api.dummies.com/v2/categories/33514"},"slug":"basic-skills","categoryId":33514}],"title":"How to Reset Your Laptop","strippedTitle":"how to reset your laptop","slug":"how-to-reset-your-laptop","canonicalUrl":"","seo":{"metaDescription":"Whereas refreshing a laptop resets system files to factory defaults and retains all your files and some apps, resetting not only resets system files, it gets ri","noIndex":0,"noFollow":0},"content":"Whereas refreshing a laptop resets system files to factory defaults and retains all your files and some apps, resetting not only resets system files, it gets rid of all your personal files and apps you installed. Resetting is for those times when nothing else has gotten your laptop working again. Make sure that you have exhausted other troubleshooting before resetting your computer, as it could result in lost data.\r\n<ol>\r\n \t<li>To begin, in the Start menu, click Settings, and then click Update & Security.</li>\r\n \t<li>In the resulting Update & Security window, click Recovery in the left pane.</li>\r\n \t<li>Under Reset this PC in the right pane click Get Started.\r\n\r\n<img class=\"aligncenter wp-image-248556 size-full\" src=\"https://www.dummies.com/wp-content/uploads/laptops-for-seniors-5e-recovery.jpg\" alt=\"recovery Windows 10\" width=\"535\" height=\"400\" /></li>\r\n \t<li>In the following screen, choose either Keep my Files, Remove Everything, or Restore Factory Settings.\r\n\r\n<img class=\"aligncenter wp-image-248557 size-full\" src=\"https://www.dummies.com/wp-content/uploads/laptops-for-seniors-5e-reset-laptop.jpg\" alt=\"reset laptop\" width=\"535\" height=\"300\" /></li>\r\n \t<li>In the following screen, if you’re positive you want to proceed, click the Next button.</li>\r\n</ol>\r\n \r\n<p class=\"article-tips warning\">The Reset procedure is a somewhat drastic step that will remove any apps you installed and files you saved. Remember, you can back out of the Reset procedure at any time up until you hit the Reset button. Just click Cancel.</p>","description":"Whereas refreshing a laptop resets system files to factory defaults and retains all your files and some apps, resetting not only resets system files, it gets rid of all your personal files and apps you installed. Resetting is for those times when nothing else has gotten your laptop working again. Make sure that you have exhausted other troubleshooting before resetting your computer, as it could result in lost data.\r\n<ol>\r\n \t<li>To begin, in the Start menu, click Settings, and then click Update & Security.</li>\r\n \t<li>In the resulting Update & Security window, click Recovery in the left pane.</li>\r\n \t<li>Under Reset this PC in the right pane click Get Started.\r\n\r\n<img class=\"aligncenter wp-image-248556 size-full\" src=\"https://www.dummies.com/wp-content/uploads/laptops-for-seniors-5e-recovery.jpg\" alt=\"recovery Windows 10\" width=\"535\" height=\"400\" /></li>\r\n \t<li>In the following screen, choose either Keep my Files, Remove Everything, or Restore Factory Settings.\r\n\r\n<img class=\"aligncenter wp-image-248557 size-full\" src=\"https://www.dummies.com/wp-content/uploads/laptops-for-seniors-5e-reset-laptop.jpg\" alt=\"reset laptop\" width=\"535\" height=\"300\" /></li>\r\n \t<li>In the following screen, if you’re positive you want to proceed, click the Next button.</li>\r\n</ol>\r\n \r\n<p class=\"article-tips warning\">The Reset procedure is a somewhat drastic step that will remove any apps you installed and files you saved. Remember, you can back out of the Reset procedure at any time up until you hit the Reset button. Just click Cancel.</p>","blurb":"","authors":[{"authorId":8999,"name":"Nancy C. Muir","slug":"nancy-c-muir","description":" <p><b>Nancy C. Muir</b> has written more than 50 books on technology and business topics including Windows, Office applications, PCs, laptops, and Internet safety. She has presented workshops to Fortune 500 companies on project management and related software. Her credits include more than a dozen <i>For Dummies</i> books. 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How to Reset Your Laptop

By: Nancy C. Muir and

Updated: 01-04-2018

From The Book: Laptops For Seniors For Dummies

Laptops For Seniors For Dummies

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Whereas refreshing a laptop resets system files to factory defaults and retains all your files and some apps, resetting not only resets system files, it gets rid of all your personal files and apps you installed. Resetting is for those times when nothing else has gotten your laptop working again. Make sure that you have exhausted other troubleshooting before resetting your computer, as it could result in lost data.

To begin, in the Start menu, click Settings, and then click Update & Security.
In the resulting Update & Security window, click Recovery in the left pane.
Under Reset this PC in the right pane click Get Started.
In the following screen, choose either Keep my Files, Remove Everything, or Restore Factory Settings.
In the following screen, if you’re positive you want to proceed, click the Next button.

The Reset procedure is a somewhat drastic step that will remove any apps you installed and files you saved. Remember, you can back out of the Reset procedure at any time up until you hit the Reset button. Just click Cancel.

About This Article

This article is from the book:

Laptops For Seniors For Dummies ,

About the book author:

Nancy C. Muir is the owner of a writing and consulting company that specializes in business and technology topics. She is the author of more than 100 books, and she has taught technology courses online.

This article can be found in the category:

Basic Skills ,