Windows 10: Can I reinstall Windows and keep all the files, but reset the settings and remove all...

The title is self-explanatory. My laptop's been having serious performance issues for a while and not even re-pasting the thermal paste fixed these issues. I want to reset Windows and keep all the files, but I want to reset all the settings and delete all the preinstalled apps by Dell. Is there a way to do this without having to manually back up all the files?

:)

 

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:

 

Recent File List

Remove-ItemProperty -Path "Registry::HKEY_CURRENT_USER\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion
\Applets\Paint\Recent File List" -name file1

Remove-ItemProperty -Path "Registry::HKEY_CURRENT_USER\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion
\Applets\Paint\Recent File List" -name file2
Remove-ItemProperty -Path "Registry::HKEY_CURRENT_USER\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion
\Applets\Paint\Recent File List" -name file3
Remove-ItemProperty -Path "Registry::HKEY_CURRENT_USER\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion
\Applets\Paint\Recent File List" -name file4
Remove-ItemProperty -Path "Registry::HKEY_CURRENT_USER\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion
\Applets\Paint\Recent File List" -name file5
Remove-ItemProperty -Path "Registry::HKEY_CURRENT_USER\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion
\Applets\Paint\Recent File List" -name file6
Remove-ItemProperty -Path "Registry::HKEY_CURRENT_USER\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion
\Applets\Paint\Recent File List" -name file7
Remove-ItemProperty -Path "Registry::HKEY_CURRENT_USER\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion
\Applets\Paint\Recent File List" -name file8
Remove-ItemProperty -Path "Registry::HKEY_CURRENT_USER\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion
\Applets\Paint\Recent File List" -name file9
...

you get the idea. ( too lazy to put it in a for loop and test it.

or just open regedit and remove all the fileX from that key.

 

recovery options, reset versus reinstall from dvd?

First, what is 'reset'?

From the tutorial:
Reset Windows 10 Installation Upgrade Tutorials [table][tr][td]Keep my files [/td] [td]

• This is to refresh Windows 10.
• Reinstalls Windows 10 and keeps your personal files.
• Removes apps and drivers you installed.
• Removes changes you made to settings.
• Removes any apps your PC manufacturer installed. (If your PC came with Windows 10, apps from your PC manufacturer will be reinstalled.)

[/td] [/tr] [tr][td]Remove everything[/td] [td]

• This is to reset Windows 10.
• Reinstalls Windows 10 and removes all your personal files.
• Removes apps and drivers you installed.
• Removes changes you made to settings.
• Removes any apps your PC manufacturer installed. (If your PC came with Windows 10, apps from your PC manufacturer will be reinstalled.)
• If you're planning to donate, recycle, or sell your PC, use this option and choose to fully clean the drive. This might take an hour or two, but it makes it harder for other people to recover files you've removed.

[/td] [/tr] [/table]

This reinstalls Windows, with the two options, including by definition, removing all installed programs.
That's quite different to simply checking and correcting where possible your system files vs those in a repository on your disk.

Second- the Registry:
Reinstall- you get a completely new registry; SFC doesn't repair the registry.

There are so many areas which SFC doesn't touch- drivers, installed programs and conflicts, possible disk problems and corruption affecting files SFC doesn't check.....

Just because SFC passes does not and cannot guarantee Windows will run smoothly.