Windows 10: Need to Restore to Factory Settings - How do I Reinstall Windows?

I posted last week regarding problems with my laptop. At the time, I could not get Windows to boot at all, it would only ever load to the recovery environment. I had tried to reinstall Windows from there by keeping all of my personal files, but this had failed. I needed a way to back up my data from here, which was provided, in order to reinstall Windows while removing everything.


I tried this yesterday and I got a "there was a problem resetting your PC" message. I have two options open to me now; one, "Use a device" to boot. I currently do not have a USB to boot from, I do not have a Windows Recovery DVD or a disc drive anyway and I do not know how to do it via a network connection. The second option is to use the in-built Dell software to complety wipe the system and take it back to factory settings, an option called "Factory Image Restore". When I click this option, i get the following two messages:


"This utility will restore your system software to the state it was in when it left the factory. In order to return the system to the factory state all personal files will be overwritten."

Then:


"WARNING - This utility will erase your operating system hard drive partition prior to restoring the factory image. This means data on the partition will be deleted and cannot be recovered. To confirm this action, check the box below and press the next button."


My question is that if I do this, how do I reinstall Windows? I've reset Windows 10 a few times now the laptop has never been right since day one and I've had complete WiFi failures that were unrepairable, sound failures etc etc, all of which were faults in the registry or 'deepseated' within Windows. However, I have never had to do a wipe that removed partitions and, seemingly, Windows itself. It appears I'd have to install from a pen drive or something similar as mentioned, the laptop does not have a disc drive and set up partitions from I assume DOS or something. I also assume I'll have to create this boot USB from a second laptop, if I can get it to work it's extremely old.


Can anyone help?

Many thanks

:)

 

Reinstalling Windows 10 to sell a PC - is the 'Remove everything' option enough?

Restore factory settings do list Removes your personal files, apps and settings, and reinstalls the version of Windows that came on this PC.

So if this isn't true well than just erase the drive and install a clean Windows 10 with all the drivers u need but why should it be true
@FordGT90Concept ? *Laugh :laugh:

 

Windows XP PRO error after restore

System restore is handy when it works like it did for me 2 days ago saving the need to reinstall all of my software as well as windows, id suggest using norton Ghost 12 for an excellent system restore feature.

 

restoring to factory settings

Hi Lorna,

What’s the make and model of your laptop? I’ll find the steps to get that restored to factory settings for you. Let me know!

- C