How to Reset Your Computer to its Factory State

How to Reset Your Computer to its Factory State
Windows XP, Windows Vista, Windows 7, Windows 8x

It used to be common for computer manufacturers to include a Windows installation disk – or at least a recovery disk – with your new computer. Today, it’s rare, although some computer makers will include a Windows installation disk if you want to pay extra. But generally, if you buy a new computer these days, you’re not going to get a recovery or Windows disk. What you will get is a hidden recovery partition you can use to reset your computer to its factory condition.

A few words of caution here before we go on. Using the recovery partition will most likely delete everything on your computer (it’s rare but some manufacturers offer other options than a complete recovery), and using the recovery partition will definitely install all the garbage trialware and other unnecessary stuff that was installed on your computer when you purchased it.

But sometimes, when you’re computer’s been infected with a booby-trap Trojan or malware app or virus, (booby-trap meaning when you try to remove it, your computer won’t boot) using the recovery partition may be your only option if you don’t have an image backup and the boot CD/DVD you should have created with your backup program.

One good thing, if you use your computer’s recovery partition to reset it to its factory state is that your computer will be exactly as it was when it came from the factory — i.e. (assuming all your hardware is functioning correctly) it will run like a brand new computer.

Here’s a simple, quick reference guide to using the Recovery Partition on your computer. It’s important that you press the appropriate key as soon as your turn on your computer – before Windows starts to load, if Windows starts to load, pressing the keys below will have no affect. Our advice is to turn your computer off at the switch and leave it off for at least two minutes before attempting to do a factory reset using the recovery partition. When you turn on your computer, immediately press the appropriate key or keys for you brand of computer to access the recovery partition on your hard drive.

Here are the recovery partition access keys for various brands of computers. Remember, you must press or continually press the appropriate key or keys as soon as you turn on your computer and before your computer starts booting Windows. Pressing the appropriate key or keys for your brand of computer tells your BIOS that you want to boot from the recovery partition and not from Windows – so it’s important that you are ready to press the right key or keys as soon as you power on your computer.

Acer – Alt + F10
Asus – F9
Dell/Alienware – F8
HP – F11
Lenovo – F11
MSI – F3
Samsung – F4
Sony – F10
Toshiba – 0 (not numpad) while turning on, release key when Toshiba logo appears

After you’ve accessed the recovery partition, just follow the on-screen instructions to complete the recovery. Once you get to this point, it will be mostly automatic and withing 30 to 45 minutes your computer should be booted up and looking and running just like it did when you bought your computer. 

Special Note for Windows 8x users:

“Refresh” or “Reset” Windows 8

If you use Windows 8x you can use System Refresh or System Refresh instead of using the the recovery partition — however this requires that you boot into Windows first. Factory Reset is the same as using the recovery partition (as above); in other words, it will reset your computer to its factory state – wiping out all your personal files, settings, programs, etc. A System Refresh re-installs Windows while preserving your personal files, folders, settings and apps – but you will have to rein stall any desktop programs you had installed. When you do a System Refresh in Windows 8x, Windows will provide you a list of desktop programs you’ll need to re-install. 

To access Reset and Refresh, open Settings from the Charms bar (press Windows Key plus C), and then choose the “Change PC settings” option at the bottom. Select the General category, and you’ll see the following:



Choose Refresh or Reset and sit back and sit back and relax while Windows works its magic. In 20 to 30 minutes, your computer should be up and running, and ready to use.