Windows 10: What does "Keep My Files" keep when resetting PC?

I'm planning to do a quick reset on this PC since it's getting a bit too cluttered for my taste and I'm experiencing strange stuff happening to this PC that I'm not exactly sure what's the cause (It's a single user but shared PC). However, My external SSD does not have enough space anymore so I can't start with a clean slate without deleting A LOT of personal files that I actually use.

Can some of you more knowledgeable people tell me which files windows would keep and which one it will remove? A general guideline in a way. I have a bunch of tools installed in drive D:, some personal files in C: and some portable apps installed here and there. I just don't feel comfy doing this without know which will be kept and removed.

:)

 

Windows 10

I have a built pc, but if i reset my computer with the "Keep my files" option does it keep my operating system?

 

about reset

Hi! I just want to ask what will happen if i reset my windows and choose keep my files? What do you mean by "personal files"? Does it include the files on my document? How can i be sure that it will not be remove after i reset my windows?

 

Files are you own data files as opposed to programmes and apps, so basically all those items you have saved in the My Documents, My Pictures, My Music etc, etc folders.

 

What's on your D-drive will not be touch'd, only what's on your C-drive. Programs and apps installed by you, will be lost
and have to be reinstalled.

See link: Refresh Windows 10

 

Surely this will only be true if OP has set up a "D" drive .

 

Libraries

 

OK *Redface

 

Sorry about replying VERY late.

So basically, the things that are removed are mainly installed programs on drive C:\. Does this include those files left by those programs, games and other apps located in My Documents (e.g. Save files, Settings, Caches, etc.)? Can Windows distinguish between those leftover bloat and my own files in that directory? I don't have enough space on D:\ to transfer those from C:\.

 

I couldn't edit my previous comment so I just made another one. Sorry for the double post.

I just went with the reset. For future reference, based on my reset, the following list is what's kept in your PC when you reset it with "Keep Personal Files" option.

A. Any files placed in Documents, Pictures, Videos, Downloads, Desktop and other default "personal" directories are untouched.
B. Wallpaper, User Info, Basic Theme changes (e.g. Theme Color, Start Menu Opacity, etc.)
C. Bloat files created by the programs you've used (Cache files, Game Saves, leftover directories (Folders), etc.), files in the Recycle Bin and other items YOU made in C:\ including custom start menu shortcuts (Notably left behind are Steam shortcuts).
D. Anything else that wasn't added via an installer.

Basically, Resetting this way will only remove program files and most of the settings you've done so far. Also, this will uninstall anything that was setup via an installer, regardless of its location. Inversely, portable programs remain untouched. Rainmeter continues to operate after but this might just be because I've moved it around a couple of times. This might be something to note of when doing this sort reset.

THIS WILL NOT CLEAN YOUR PC. I personally am okay with this since I only wanted a clean slate but If you're experiencing problems with viruses and other malicious behavior, I recommend picking the "Remove Everything" option instead when resetting your PC. If you still want to keep your files, running Disk Clean-up after the reset will help.

Hope this will help.

EDIT: Oh, and after you reset Windows will create a list of the programs that were removed from your system. This will be the same list the was show before you actually reset your PC.