Windows 7 Ultimate Reset To Factory Settings
Rene Thivierge
Resetting a Windows 10 computer to its factory default settings is a useful troubleshooting technique to resolve software issues or prepare the system for resale or donation. This process erases all data, applications, and settings from the hard drive, returning the system to its original state. This guide explains how to factory reset Windows 10.
Before proceeding with the factory reset, ensure that you have a backup of any important files, documents, or settings that you want to keep. Also, make sure that you have the necessary installation media or recovery drive, as the process will delete all data on the hard drive and reinstall the operating system.
If you chose to keep your files, you may be prompted to choose which files you want to keep. If you selected to remove everything, you may be prompted to choose whether you want to fully clean the drive or just remove the files.
After the factory reset is complete, you will need to go through the initial setup process again, such as setting up a user account, configuring the time zone and language settings, and installing any necessary drivers or applications.
In conclusion, a factory reset is a useful troubleshooting technique to resolve software issues or prepare a system for resale or donation. However, it erases all data, applications, and settings from the hard drive, so it's important to have a backup of any important files or settings before proceeding with the process.
I've looked for this answer online and have come across the "systemreset -factoryreset" command which works, but it comes up with the prompt asking if I want to keep my files or remove everything, I want to remove everything, but without the prompt.
We are not doing this from any pre-exiting images, and our laptops are running the pre-loaded Windows 10 Pro install, we are just using the in-built Windows 10 "reset this PC" feature as we have no MDM configured. We just want the laptops to be totally reset so they don't contain any company information, we're not bothered about completing the OOBE once they are wiped.
We are trying to accomplish this remotely as our users are all at home, so I need to automate it and have no user involvement in the process, I just want it to factory reset, and bring the laptop up to the off-the-shelf state configuration. We have the facility to push commands and scripts to the laptops so was hoping to do this via powershell.
The systemreset command will show interface to user and it is behavior by design , however if you are able to manage devices using Configuration Manager, you could do it using Full Wipe, take a look at:
-us/mem/configmgr/mdm/deploy-use/wipe-lock-reset-devices
From what I know there is no script to run it in silence mode and wipe system and it is behavior by design, so let say if there is possibility to do so, cybercriminals might run that script and user will lose Windows but it is available in Configuration Manager or Intune, it means PC is being managed by trusted administrator.
$methodname can bei either "doWipeMethod" or "doWipeProtectedMethod". The later one will also wipe all data from the disks, especially if you want to refurbish the devices. The downside is that "doWipeProtectedMethod" can leave some clients (depending on configuration and hardware) in an unbootable state.
Additionally "doWipeMethod" can be canceled by the user (power cycle for example), "doWipeProtectedMethod" cannot be canceled. It automatically resumes after a reboot until done. The higher risk ist worth it most of the time. If you want to be sure that the devices will be in a usable state after the wipe, use "doWipeMethod" instead.
If it is important to fully wipe the data from the disks (i.e. non-recoverable) you should make sure that all disks are bitlocker encrypted. Only with encryption you can be sure that no data is recoverable with this method.
Another way, which you can do remotely and without psexec (group policy for example), would be to create a scheduled task running as SYSTEM and executing the script. You can then execute the task on demand or with a time/date schedule.
The "OEM stuff" is found in C:\Recovery\*. If you remove all contents in this folder before you initiate the device reset, it should restore a clean windows installation without any "OEM stuff". Keep in mind though, that certain driver packages will be migrated to the new installation. Sometimes these can contain additional software packages included in the device driver package (for example audio control panels from the audio driver).
@dretzer I realized the computer I was running it on didn't have a recovery partition so even running the "systemreset -cleanpc" command wasn't working.
Kaseya allows you to run scripts as System - so even though I was running locally in picture - I was trying as System most of the time.
Thanks for the help either way.
yes. thanks. I get less HP stuff restored after a reset if I delete C:\Recevery before, but still some bits I do not want. where is it getting these last bits from that performing a fresh start from intune seems to ignore? I want omit these too
Might have to look into manual cloud reinstall at shift-f10 on first boot on each machine or a bootable USB with an unattended xml to just blow the hard drive away and start again without user interaction.
Reinstalling the operating system can restore your system to its original configuration and help you fix many software issues on your device, such as slow system performance or malware infections. When using the built-in reset feature in Windows, you can choose from two different options for resetting:
Note: If your device has Device Encryption or BitLocker Encryption enabled, you may need the BitLocker key to reset your system. If you're unsure about your BitLocker key, please refer to this article: Find my BitLocker recovery key.
This reset option will reinstall the Windows operating system and preserve your personal files, such as photos, music, videos, and personal documents. It will remove installed applications and drivers, as well as revert any changes you made to the settings.
Note: Resetting your device will take a considerable amount of time. During the reset process, your screen may go black for an extended period and your device may restart on its own. Please ensure that your device is plugged in and avoid forcefully shutting it down to prevent any issues that could lead to a failed reset.
Microsoft provides two methods for reinstalling Windows, and you can choose either method to proceed. (Please note that the time required for reinstalling Windows may vary from 30 minutes to several hours, depending on the specific model/specifications of your device.)
This is a highly comprehensive reset operation as it will replace the current Windows settings with a fresh setup. User accounts, files, settings, ASUS pre-installed software, and Windows Store applications will be deleted.
Although Windows 10 is a reliable operating system, you can encounter many problems over time. You may have issues with starting up or shutting down, excessive memory usage, performance running apps, and battery draining quickly, among many other issues, and when any of this happens, resetting to factory settings will come in handy.
If you experience persistent performance issues, Windows 10 has various recovery options to reset the system to the factory settings keeping or removing your files to resolve common problems and improve performance. You even have the option to download and use the original Windows image instead of the custom manufacturer recovery image that may contain bloatware and settings you don't need.
If you're preparing to make some extra money selling your computer, there's nothing else you need to do. However, if you're refreshing the device to start over with a clean installation, you'll still need to check for updates, make sure none of the drivers are missing, reinstall apps, and restore your files from a previous backup.
Mauro Huculak is technical writer for WindowsCentral.com. His primary focus is to write comprehensive how-tos to help users get the most out of Windows 10 and its many related technologies. He has an IT background with professional certifications from Microsoft, Cisco, and CompTIA, and he's a recognized member of the Microsoft MVP community."}), " -0-10/js/authorBio.js"); } else console.error('%c FTE ','background: #9306F9; color: #ffffff','no lazy slice hydration function available'); Mauro HuculakSocial Links NavigationMauro Huculak is technical writer for WindowsCentral.com. His primary focus is to write comprehensive how-tos to help users get the most out of Windows 10 and its many related technologies. He has an IT background with professional certifications from Microsoft, Cisco, and CompTIA, and he's a recognized member of the Microsoft MVP community.
Restoring software on your iPhone, iPad, or iPod touch erases all your information and settings. To find out more about erasing all content and settings, see the Apple Support article Restore your iPhone, iPad, or iPod to factory settings.
If you turned on Find My iPhone, Activation Lock is on. You need to turn off Activation Lock before the new owner can activate iPhone for their own account. For information about turning off Activation Lock, see Remove a device from Find My iPhone on iCloud.com in the iCloud User Guide or the Apple Support article Activation Lock for iPhone, iPad, and iPod touch.
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