Windows 10: I want to do a system reset, but the on-screen warning is unclear.

Hello,

Today I have installed the free Window 10 Home Edition x64 and in the systems screen it is listed as "Windows is activated." However, I intend to perform a system reset because my system has been acting odd ever since it went through the update. The update process itself went fine without any errors. But now there are very long start up times, programs refuse to start up, errors. I've spend a near 5 five hours going through every option until I decided to do the reset.

The only trouble I have is that a warning screen shows up before I can do the reset and delete all my files. This is the Google Translate of it:

This PC has recently been upgraded to Windows 10. If you reset the computer, the upgrade can not be undone and put back the previous version of Windows.

But if I were to be literal in what it states in my language, it's more like this:

This PC has recently been upgraded to Windows 10. If you reset the computer, the upgrade cannot be undone and the previous version of Windows will be put back.

Is it safe for me to do a system reset without removing Windows 10?

:)

 

I want to do a factory reset on my computer, but last time I did that, some files weren't deleted

Once your hardware has been activated on win 10 you can wipe the drive and simply download the iso, boot from it, and install it. when you get to the step where it asks for a key simply skip that step. The installation will check with the online activation
servers verify your identity and complete the install

 

I want to do a factory reset on my computer, but last time I did that, some files weren't deleted

I have installed some programs outside of "..\Programs Files (x82)" and "..\Program Files" and last time I did a factory reset, those files weren't deleted. Would there be a way to do a factory reset that would also delete those? I got Windows 10 as a free
upgrade for 7, so I don't have anything I can use to reinstall windows if I wipe the drive--that is, unless there's some way to do it. I'm simply assuming that, since my install was a free download, I don't have a key or anything; thus, unable to reinstall
Windows if I wipe the drive.

Any help would be greatly appreciated.

I'm putting this under "Download, install, & activate," though I am unsure whether this is the correct board. Does the post have to match all 3 of those? Just one? Anywho, thanks in advance.

 

I suggest you download and create the ISO then burn a DVD or create a flash drive the boot it to do a Clean Install.

Windows 10 ISO Download - Windows 10 Forums

Windows 10 - Clean Install - Windows 10 Forums

 

This IS the accurate statement, and this is what they mean exactly:

When you did the Windows 10 free upgrade, it saved your old OS things in backup folders on your hard drive. For up to 30 days from the time you upgraded to Windows 10 you may undo the upgrade and restore back to your original OS.

However, if you "reset the computer" this means doing a fresh install of Windows 10 which many people want. That would wipe out your saved prior OS stuff and thus you can never go back to your prior OS. Thus the upgrade cannot be undone.

The confusion here is reset is not the same as restore.

Reset means to wipe everything out and create a clean installation.

Restore means to move back to your prior OS.

 

Thanks for the answers! I did the reset and it's running a lot smoother now, and no more programs failing to activate.