How to Reset / Wipe your Windows PC to Factory Settings before Selling or Giving Away 

I was gonna ask the exact same thing what to do now after reaching the start screen with all the questions

You're very welcome!

You're welcome!

Personally I would also choose the download option if time was not a concern. And it isn’t an issue on newer computers. So yes, better choice.

Happy to help

If you needed to install when you got the computer, you will need to as well after.

It isn’t. What we do is have drives mechanically destroyed or have the magnetic structure atomically altered. But then the drive is trashed beyond use. Tom’s hardware has an article ( www.tomshardware.com/how-to/secure-erase-ssd-or-hard-drive ) about utilities to securely wipe various drives clean. I may make a video on doing this securely and still retaining windows, but we use paid utilities (ie Acronis) to be able to do this that I’m sure the average person isn’t likely to buy and use before donating their PC.

Yes.

Yes, you can do this by logging in and installing them after the cleanup. It is a bit more work though and I figured most people don't do this. There is also a way using Microsoft tools to integrate some of that stuff but its really used by system builders. Are you doing a one off or a lot of them?

It appears that you may have something else plugged in that is interfering with the boot sequence. A USB drive could do that.

No. You have the limitations of Onedrive (from Microsoft). So some files unless you paid extra for more storage and more backup of all your documents). And not the apps unless it’s Microsoft based, like Office for instance just requires a sign in.

Great question! To be safe, I'm going to say that the answer is no for most people. The only way that your files will still be there is if you were using Microsoft OneDrive and have all your documents, files synced. But I don’t know many that pay for OneDrive to have *all* their files synced, but still if you did, Microsoft talks about it here: www.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/transfer-your-data?r=1 You should copy out your files to transfer separately - most people will want things in their My Documents folder and also their Desktop. Maybe a separately downloads folder if you use one. Then their favorites from their browser, along with any passwords you may have saved. The password manager you use, but if you sync with the cloud those settings will be synced on the new PC after you sign in. Games! If you have local ‘saved’ games you will probably want all that out as well. What I use for clients is software from Acronis that does most of the heavy lifting, then I do the drivers and license activation. In the end, for the clients that want it, they get a new PC with all their old stuff on it and it operates just like it did before - except usually several times faster, smaller, and more energy efficient. (A lot of my older clients prefer this). After you have safely transferred your files to your new PC, then do the steps outlined in this video and remove all personal files - otherwise they stay on the PC and go to the new owners.

This video still applies to PCs built now in 2024. If you remove all the drives, there is nothing to reset. But the computer is then no longer usable without drives. Newer computers use SSD drives now, in which case you still need to do this if you are leaving the SSDs with the computer.

Yes. But choose the download option instead. Take some screenshots of the activation license, etc as well. Worst case is if for some reason you messed up, and got back to Windows 7 - Microsoft support will be able to help get you back to 10. (It will take talking to Microsoft though).

Your recovery environment got corrupted somehow. Did you or someone else install the OS yourselves? Or use any disk utility cleaner?

I went through those choices in the video. If you are setting up for your family, I'd say do cloud re-install if you have space. If not, just do local. It will go back to original factory settings the computer came with.

This tutorial will reset the computer to whatever version of windows came with the PC when first purchased. So if it came with Windows 10 Pro from the factory, it will go back to that version.

Yes. Primary drive only. If you have secondary drives they remain unaffected.

Local is probably safest. I’m not sure why you’d does not show - but manufacturers can remove options on their systems so maybe that’s why. Cloud is going to give you a newer version usually. In the end both can do the job.

I have the same issue

@@MikeMu great, because that’s what I did.

@@MikeMu Yeah, local is definitely the safest. Reset on cloud and it corrupted the windows files! Ended up having to download windows on a hard-drive then open it.

Yup.

@@MikeMu alright I did it should I be safe now?

@PolarEclipse14 if you followed everything, yes. Exceptions are if you have another drive in there (secondary or other).

Wait. It takes a while.

How old is your computer?

@@MikeMu its fine now, i just turned it off and turned it back on and boom its fixed

No. That comes after/later with updates after the reset.

Won’t be affected.

i think he can edit the name when ever he wants in the advanced systemsettings

Yes. I do go over this in the video so you probably didn’t watch it. Just skip ahead to that part.

@@MikeMu Thanks, you have a new subscriber, I will try I have a problem that I can not change the username. and I didn't try your method in the video. I directly reinstalled Windows without resetting this computer

Really old computers have it on the computer case. Newer ones you don’t worry about this, because it is linked to the motherboard. If it is a big name brand PC sold to consumers, you don’t need to put any activation code because it is tied to the PC already when sold and activated. If it’s one someone built themselves, you may just have to purchase a license and Microsoft gives you a grace period to do so. The PC will let you know on the screen. Please let me know what situation yours ends up being.

@@MikeMu Thank You Very Much For Replying! 🤍 BTW, I've successfully completed the reset process without having any issues of licence card or anything. It was super easy. But yeah keep sharing the right information with your subscribers, unlike other RU-vidrs who only give incomplete information about everything. Keep It Up! 👍🏻😊

Yes. You can do the online version of the reset. (I did the local version in the video, but talked about both types).

Yw. Yes this will fix all issues as long as you don’t mind reinstalling your apps. There is a way to fix without reinstalling, but I haven’t made that video yet. Most people need a fresh start anyway.

Original drivers will be there. New ones won’t. Ie. updated ones, add on cards.

You should be good. But do a full backup first just in case.

@@MikeMu thanks

Yes. Do the secure erase method. Also, for your logins, consider adding a multifactor authentication method if supported as an extra precaution.

Hi Mike, I have to 2 partitions C (with the windows) and G (which is encrypted) When I rest will it remove both or just the C?

@@foureverpaid Is G a separate drive (physical drive). Most likely the encrypted drive will remain and still be encrypted then.

Try checking the disk for errors. Reboot. Try again. Report back.

New SSD won’t have your data on it, so you are good there. As far as the last question, it depends. Older PCs have a way to create recovery disks. You need to do that first. Not covered in this video, but simple enough. Some even bother you about till you tell it not to. Newer PCs with Windows 11 may let you recover with built in recovery tools in the ROM. If that fails, you can download windows directly first to a USB flash drive. Do a fresh installation from it to the brand new SSD. Install the drivers needed to run. I might cover that in a new video next month.

Hello, Thank you. I have a pc with intel 11th gen cpu and Windows 11 system on it. @@MikeMu

I explained both. Personally I prefer cloud option if it’s a newer computer. License information usually won’t be a problem from a ‘name brand’ computer.

@@MikeMuwhat happens if you didn’t choose cloud version and don’t have the passkey card it came with?

This is urgent

@@silascox6953 It proceeds exactly like in this video in most cases. Unless it's a DIY computer with a really old license or no license.

You made the mistake of signing in. Don't sign in. Now you have to do this over again. On most computers, you can just hold the power button in for a few seconds to have it do a shut down. Thanks for the comment though, now it makes sense what someone else said about their stuff showing up. Because you signed in, Microsoft will start syncing your items from your Microsoft account back to the PC. Do these steps again and just shut it down with the power button. Worst case is once that sign-in shows up, just wait a minute or so. Just pull the power.

@@MikeMu Thanks. Re-ran the reset and shut down as soon as setup started and it asked for language preference. Thanks for your help!

I have Win 11 Home I'm not selling but I want to start over without MS log in will this method work?

@drejohnson4599 yes.

@drejohnson4599 Yes. Unplug the internet / Ethernet when you startup. Then press shift F10. Type in oobe\bypassnro in the prompt. Press enter. Then proceed with limited setup. Connect to internet only after you finish the setup.

It depends. As I stated in my video it was a long time for this older PC.

Sometimes it gets stuck (talking many hours later). Just reboot it / shut it down and it should continue in most cases.

Check the disk for errors. Choose the cloud download option. There's also a chance you are out of space and need to delete some files to make space first.

No. Just the main windows drive with programs.

As new as an old machine can run. Thing is... if your computer came with a bunch of crapware, that crapware is going to be restored as it was when it was new. Also, Windows updates will likely also slow down old machines - but you generally need them installed for security reasons. So... it won't be quite as fast as when you got the PC, but it will run better in almost all cases.

Same did you figure it out

@@ibeatgoldfish2337 had to reinstall windows via flash drive

I'll do it!!! I have all the unedited footage. lol. I can put some sleep hypnosis audio to it while I'm at it.

Do you mean license key? Or are you talking about saved pass keys for authentication (logins etc).?

@@MikeMu license key.

That’s pretty much what this is about.

Yes

If it’s really old probably a hardware failure somewhere. I get a lot of those when refurbishing old PCs. Sometimes it’s not worth fixing depending on how old the system is.

Yes

It is either corrupted or was deleted. Try a disk check and repair first. If that doesn’t work, you may need to download windows and install.

Did you use the secure erase option like I did? If so, you're fine. (That take's hours. If you didn't the factory reset takes minutes, and the data can be easily recovered). If you are paranoid, destroy the drive. Sell the PC without it, or buy a new one and put it in.

You might have a hardware issue.

How old is the computer?

@@MikeMu purchased it in 2020 I got it to work though, seems it’s a part of the process with the motherboard that was on it

@@wrldrnwnd I tried to warn people that the process takes a while. Sometimes hours, but that's usually an older machine like mine was. The 'BIOS' is involved because of licensing. It'd probably have been faster if you installed from scratch, but I haven't made a video about that yet.

On newer ones with no sticker, no. The Product Key on preinstalled WIndows is embedded in the UEFI Firmware chip on the motherboard. Its the really old machines that the key is a sticker or printed somewhere in the user manual.

Yes, if you choose to delete all files and start over (as opposed o keeping your files the first time.

Okay, but why is it taking me so long and my monitor screen is black all the time

@@sefuel if it’s been a day, your PC may have other issues - probably hardware related. Or the restore files are corrupt. Choose the download from the cloud / online setting.

@@MikeMu cloud reinstall?

@sefuel in the video it is the clean install option. For really old computers you have to do it manually. Newer ones allow cloud. I will make another video on the clean installation method.

You must have missed a step in there somewhere.

@@MikeMu Nevermind I reinstaled a clean windows 10 on a usb and did it from the bios. Ventoy + iso

Right

Also good if you just want a clean PC to start over or to repair unfixable issues.

@@MikeMu Thank you for the reply and the EXTREMELY helpful content! 💯👍🏻

oh no ... did you get it figured out?

@@Thankful305 yeah.. i deleted all my application cause it said i have no storage left to reset...

Long. I went over how long it took this old PC.

It wipes the drive and restores the original windows unless you choose the download windows option. Windows will but back on the machine.

@@MikeMu thankyou

Yes for GPU. No for CPU. They will just revert back to what the machine came with. If your GPU came with your computer, it will revert back to the original GPU driver. CPU may/may not need updating.

@@MikeMu what if I built the pc myself

@@flix8743 Then yes, the drivers will most likely need to be installed again. Basic universal drivers will be loaded and may be good enough for basic use. I guess it depends on the whole reason why you are resetting and how much effort you want to put into it.

@@MikeMu a family member wanted to buy the pc off me so I want all my personal files and information deleted

No.

Valorant is stored on their servers tied to your login. That’s safe. (As long as you remember your login and password). Game settings/preferences probably won’t be saved with your login though, so you may have to look up where that is saved and copy those out to offline storage or cloud storage to copy back. I hope that makes sense. Other accounts may vary depending on the game / application. Most online games are stored in the cloud the same way as valorant.

@@MikeMu so if i reset and clear files it i will still be able to login all my accounts if i know my passwords?

It says "The user profile service service failed the sign-in. User profile cannot be loaded

The restore got corrupted. Try again or you may have to download a new copy.