How to reset or reinstall Windows 10/11 — every mode explained
Windows & Ubuntu Guides · 1 views
IMPORTANT ON COMPANY LAPTOPS: raise a ticket before resetting — we save your BitLocker recovery key, licences and back up your profile. A reset without the BitLocker key can permanently lock the disk.
BACK UP FIRST (all modes)
Copy Documents, Desktop, Downloads and browser bookmarks to OneDrive/Google Drive or an external disk. "Keep my files" keeps personal files but ALWAYS removes installed programs.
MODE 1 — RESET, KEEP MY FILES (fixes most software rot)
1. Start > Settings > System > Recovery > Reset this PC > "Keep my files".
2. Choose "Cloud download" if your internet is decent (downloads a fresh ~5 GB copy of Windows — most reliable), else "Local reinstall".
3. Confirm. The laptop restarts a few times over 30–60 minutes. Programs must be reinstalled afterwards; files remain.
MODE 2 — RESET, REMOVE EVERYTHING (true factory reset)
Same path, choose "Remove everything". Pick "Clean data: No" for a normal handover-to-IT wipe is done by us separately — this mode is for a fresh start you will keep using.
MODE 3 — RESET WHEN WINDOWS WILL NOT BOOT
1. Power on and force off (hold power 10 s) as soon as the Windows logo appears; do this twice — the third boot opens Automatic Repair.
(Or from the login screen: hold Shift and click Power > Restart.)
2. Choose Troubleshoot > Reset this PC, then Keep my files / Remove everything as above.
MODE 4 — CLEAN INSTALL FROM USB (the deepest fix)
1. Create a bootable USB with the Media Creation Tool (see the recovery-USB article).
2. Plug it in, power on, and tap the boot-menu key: F9 (HP), F12 (Dell/Lenovo), Esc/F2 (ASUS). Pick the USB (UEFI entry).
3. Windows Setup > Install now > "I don't have a product key" (activation returns automatically — the licence is stored in the laptop firmware) > choose the same edition that was installed (usually Windows 11 Pro).
4. Choose "Custom: Install Windows only". On the partition screen select each partition of Drive 0 and click Delete until only "Unallocated Space" remains, select it, Next. THIS ERASES EVERYTHING.
5. Windows installs in ~20 minutes, then walks you through setup. Sign in and install updates; then raise a ticket so IT re-enrolls the device (antivirus + management agent are mandatory).
Still stuck? Email [email protected] or raise a ticket from the Help Center — include your asset tag and what step failed.
BACK UP FIRST (all modes)
Copy Documents, Desktop, Downloads and browser bookmarks to OneDrive/Google Drive or an external disk. "Keep my files" keeps personal files but ALWAYS removes installed programs.
MODE 1 — RESET, KEEP MY FILES (fixes most software rot)
1. Start > Settings > System > Recovery > Reset this PC > "Keep my files".
2. Choose "Cloud download" if your internet is decent (downloads a fresh ~5 GB copy of Windows — most reliable), else "Local reinstall".
3. Confirm. The laptop restarts a few times over 30–60 minutes. Programs must be reinstalled afterwards; files remain.
MODE 2 — RESET, REMOVE EVERYTHING (true factory reset)
Same path, choose "Remove everything". Pick "Clean data: No" for a normal handover-to-IT wipe is done by us separately — this mode is for a fresh start you will keep using.
MODE 3 — RESET WHEN WINDOWS WILL NOT BOOT
1. Power on and force off (hold power 10 s) as soon as the Windows logo appears; do this twice — the third boot opens Automatic Repair.
(Or from the login screen: hold Shift and click Power > Restart.)
2. Choose Troubleshoot > Reset this PC, then Keep my files / Remove everything as above.
MODE 4 — CLEAN INSTALL FROM USB (the deepest fix)
1. Create a bootable USB with the Media Creation Tool (see the recovery-USB article).
2. Plug it in, power on, and tap the boot-menu key: F9 (HP), F12 (Dell/Lenovo), Esc/F2 (ASUS). Pick the USB (UEFI entry).
3. Windows Setup > Install now > "I don't have a product key" (activation returns automatically — the licence is stored in the laptop firmware) > choose the same edition that was installed (usually Windows 11 Pro).
4. Choose "Custom: Install Windows only". On the partition screen select each partition of Drive 0 and click Delete until only "Unallocated Space" remains, select it, Next. THIS ERASES EVERYTHING.
5. Windows installs in ~20 minutes, then walks you through setup. Sign in and install updates; then raise a ticket so IT re-enrolls the device (antivirus + management agent are mandatory).
Still stuck? Email [email protected] or raise a ticket from the Help Center — include your asset tag and what step failed.
windows resetreinstallfactory resetclean installrecovery