In addition to some troubleshooting tools, Windows 11 also has a ‘Reset’ option to fix major problems with your PC. Your last resort is to fix Windows problems yourself before making an appointment at the nearest service center. Here’s everything you need to know about resetting your Windows PC and what it means.
While most things remain the same, there are still some loss of settings on your Windows 11 PC. While Microsoft promises that resetting won’t change your data, it’s best to back up all files and documents before doing so. Before we talk about how ‘Reset This PC’ works and what options you can reset, let’s find out when you should use it (and when not).
When should you use the reset option
Reset your Windows 11 PC for good reasons instead of petty reasons like a Bluetooth mouse not working, Wi-Fi stopping responding, or apps not downloading from the Microsoft Store. The company has provided troubleshooting tools for such situations. Resetting your PC just for such problems is mostly overkill.
When your PC keeps rebooting randomly after a major Windows update, Windows Security can’t remove bogus files, default apps start to malfunction out of nowhere, and you have no options. I have no choice but to reset my PC and start from scratch. The ‘Reset This PC’ tool is available on Windows 8, Windows 10 and Windows 11 operating systems. Windows 7 or Windows XP lacks this option.
If you’re having trouble browsing the web on Windows, the problem may be related to your favorite web browser. You need to clear the cache on Microsoft Edge or Google Chrome browser and try again. PC reset is not the best way.
Before using the reset option, you should always disconnect all devices from your computer. Problems can be caused by a damaged pen drive or SSD.
We have compiled a list of situations where you can use the reset PC option.
- Your PC isn’t working well and you haven’t installed apps or changed system settings recently
- You suspect your device has been infected with a virus
- Your PC is not working well after the latest update
How to Reset Your Windows 11 PC
Microsoft offers several options for resetting your Windows PC. Here’s how you can use it.
Step 1: Open the Windows 11 Settings menu (use Windows key + I).
Step 2: Select ‘System’ from the left sidebar.
Step 3: Open the ‘Recovery’ menu.
Step 4: Click ‘Reset This PC’ in the Recovery option.
You have two options to choose from.
Keep my files
- Reinstall the operating system and keep your personal files intact.
- Delete installed applications.
- Delete the changes you made to the settings.
- Restore any apps your PC manufacturer installed.
Remove everything
- Reinstall Windows 11 system and delete your personal files. Make sure to back up your data first.
- Delete the apps you have installed.
- Delete the changes you made to the settings.
- Remove any apps your PC manufacturer installed.
We recommend using the ‘Keep my files’ option first. That way, you don’t need to back up your personal files to an SSD or cloud storage. If the option doesn’t fix the problem, you can delete everything and start from scratch.
Once you initiate the reset process, your screen may go black for a while (about 10 minutes to 15 minutes). In the meantime, your PC or computer may attempt to restart automatically. You should not manually force restart your PC as it will cause the reset to fail and you may have to start over, so be patient.
Note: If you have encrypted your Windows device, you must request a BitLocker key to reset your PC. If you don’t know your BitLocker key, read the Windows support blog to learn how to find your BitLocker recovery key.
As we showed in the screenshots above, you can choose to keep your files or delete them when resetting your Windows 11 PC. The function reinstalls Windows 11 and you can access the same functionality from Settings, login screen, recovery drive or installation media.
What happens when you reset your PC
This is the behind-the-scenes situation when you reset your Windows 11 PC.
- Your Windows PC boots into the Windows Recovery Environment (Windows RE).
- Windows RE formats the drive partition before reinstalling the OS.
- The computer restarts with a fresh copy of Windows 11.
When you choose to keep your files during the reset, Windows RE puts your personal files and editing settings aside. After the system installs a fresh copy of Windows, it returns your files to their original locations and reboots the system.
Swiss Army Troubleshooting Tool
When you have performance or memory issues, you’re better off using ‘Storage Sense’ on Windows 11 to free up space. You should only reset your PC in the situations we discussed above.
Categories: How to
Source: thpttranhungdao.edu.vn/en/
