Restore Windows 7 to its original state. Windows System Restore

Despite the fact that Windows 7 is a fairly stable system, questions still come by email asking for help restoring Windows functionality.

There are plenty of reasons for Windows to crash. This could be the installation of “inappropriate” drivers, or as a result of a virus. It happens that the user himself, through erroneous actions, brought the system to a black screen.

Data recovery tools

First watch a short video tutorial on how you can restore Windows to factory condition.

This is how you can make the system look like you just installed it. If you succeeded, then you can reward yourself and go to an online platform where you can play slot machines. But first, it’s better to write down this lesson.

A brief summary of how to restore Windows 7 to factory condition.

In order to better understand the information you have viewed, let us repeat a little what needs to be done in order to restore Windows 7 to its original factory state.

1. In order to start windows recovery, you need to press F8 on the keyboard immediately after starting the computer.

2. After this, a list of additional download options will open in front of you on a black screen:

• Troubleshooting computer problems,
• Safe mode,
• Safe mode with loading network drivers, etc.

We need the first point - Troubleshooting your computer. Select it and press the Enter key. The Windows recovery system will begin to load.

3. After the download is complete, a dialogue will appear asking you to select a language (select, of course, Russian). Then you will need to select a user and enter a password.

4. The Windows 7 System Recovery Options dialog will open. This is where you should select the System Restore Tool you need. Today we watched a tutorial on how to restore windows to factory condition. This was the last item on the menu. Click on the last line.

Further actions to restore the system are intuitive.

What should I do if I don't see the Troubleshoot my computer option when I press F8 on the More Boot Options screen? Is it possible to somehow restore the Windows 7 system in this case?

In this case, we will need an installation disk with the Windows 7 operating system. Boot from the Windows 7 installation disk and select System Restore at the very beginning.

You should know that with this recovery method, all previously installed programs, games, music - in general, all the wealth we have accumulated will be lost.

It is clear that this recovery method should be used only as a last resort.

Other methods of system recovery will be discussed in subsequent articles. Subscribe to blog updates so you don't miss information if it interests you. You will find the subscription form under the article.

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4 surefire ways to restore windows

This option will help return the system to the state recorded at a certain point in time - the restore point. If saving such points is configured and enabled, then the system state will be recorded to the hard drive before installing updates, drivers and applications.

Returning Windows to a restore point will save all personal files, but drivers and applications that appeared after the point was created will need to be reinstalled.

To start Windows recovery, right-click on “Start” (Win + X) and go to “Control Panel” → “System and Security” → “System” → “System Protection”. Click "Restore" → "Next" and select the desired restore point.

Another path option: “Control Panel” → “All Control Panel Items” → “Recovery” → “Run System Restore”.

If the restore point is not found, it means that system protection is disabled, and you will have to use other methods.

To avoid troubles in the future, enable the creation of restore points. To do this, in the same “System Protection” menu, select the system drive, click “Configure” and enable system drive protection.

2. Return the computer to its original state

If there are no restore points or going to them does not help, try returning the system to its original state. You can roll back while saving the files or completely delete everything and reinstall Windows. Also, some computers - often laptops - have an option to restore factory settings.

In Windows 8 and 10, you can start restoring to its original state by going to Settings → Update and Security → Restore your computer to its original state → Get Started.

In Windows 7, to do this, go to “Control Panel” → “System and Security” → “Backup and Restore” → “Restore system settings or computer” → “Advanced recovery methods” → “Return the computer to the state specified by the manufacturer.”

3. Restore windows using a disk

A recovery disk is useful, for example, for rolling back to a saved point or returning to its original state if Windows refuses to start. An ordinary flash drive, external hard drive or DVD can serve as such a disk.

The recovery disc should be written in advance and stored in case of system failure. Under Control Panel → All Control Panel Items → Recovery, click Create a recovery disk. In the menu that appears, check the “Back up system files to a recovery disk” option, and you can use the USB drive not only to fix errors and rollback, but also to reinstall Windows.

You can create a recovery DVD in Windows in the “Control Panel” → “System and Security” → “Backup and Restore” → “Create a system recovery disc” section. The same method works in newer versions of the system, only the name is different: “Backup and Restore (Windows 7)” instead of “Backup and Restore”.

To correct errors, boot the system from disk. In the recovery environment that opens, click Troubleshoot. Start returning to a system restore point in the “Advanced options” → “System Restore” menu.

4. Restore windows using a full system image

Another option for restoring Windows is to roll back to a previously created system image. The image is written to a hard drive, DVD, or network share.

Unlike a rollback or point-to-point restore, using a full image preserves all files, applications, settings, and drivers installed at the time it was created.

The most appropriate moment to create such an image may be when all the drivers and necessary applications are installed on the system, but there is nothing unnecessary. This way you can continue working immediately after recovery.

To create a full system image, in the Control Panel, select Backup and Restore (Windows 7) → Create a system image. (In Windows 7: “Control Panel” → “System and Security” → “Backup and Restore” → “Create a system image.”)

In the menu that appears, you can choose which of the existing partitions and files to include in the system image and on what media to burn it.

Having a complete system image at your disposal, you can quickly return Windows to the state you need. You can start image-based recovery when you restart the computer: “Diagnostics” → “Advanced options” → “System image recovery”.

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How to return a computer to the state specified by the manufacturer.

Many users of laptops and computers do not know that they may have the function of automatically reinstalling the Windows operating system. Fortunately, at one time I purchased a laptop with such a function, although I had no idea that it existed, and when I found out I was very happy. It can be very useful if you are a fan of frequently reinstalling Windows; I’ll be honest, I suffer from such a disease. When I found out that my laptop had the ability to quickly reinstall the system, I began to do this almost every day. Now, of course, I have overcome this disease, but still, at the slightest mistake, I immediately tear down Windows.

Today I suggest you see if your laptop has such bells and whistles as mine. I have an HP Pavilion dv6 laptop, and the program for restoring the computer to the state specified by the manufacturer is called “HP Recovery Manager”. Your program may be called differently, but the essence is the same.

So, let's see how to get into control of this function, to do this, go to “Start -> Control Panel”:

Then go to “System and Security -> Backup and Restore”,

You are taken to a page where you can go to a simple method of restoring the system through a previously created restore point, by the way, I already wrote about this earlier, or proceed with a complete reinstallation of windows, if you want to completely reinstall windows then click on the link “Advanced recovery methods”

In the next step, you will be offered one of the recovery options; choose the second, that is, “Return the computer to the state specified by the manufacturer.”

Next, you need to choose whether to create a backup copy of the files before starting the recovery, if not, then click on the “Skip” button, I usually store all important files on a flash drive and disks, so I never archive anything.

Next, you will be redirected to the program control panel, which is responsible for the operation of restoring your computer to its original state, as I said earlier in this post, they are called differently on all brands of laptops. There is nothing complicated in setting up these programs; you just need to follow the computer's prompts. On my laptop, the whole process takes about 20 minutes, after which I install all the programs and files I need within an hour; you must agree, it’s very convenient.

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Resetting windows to its original state

Every operating system sometimes produces errors. But there are special tools that help correct the situation and restore the computer’s functionality. Sometimes you have to roll back to an earlier version, to factory settings, or reinstall the system. These measures are also usually required if a program is installed incorrectly, is deactivated, incorrect information is entered into the registry, or crashes occur in the OS.

When Windows 8 came out, the OS gained new ways to recover from problems. It has become possible to return the system to its original state without affecting the user’s personal files (Refresh), or to reinstall the OS from scratch; all user data and settings will then be deleted (Reset).

These two functions smoothly transitioned to Windows 8.1. Users have proven the demand for both functions, which is why they are also available in the 10th version of the OS, where they are combined under a common button. Both methods work in Windows 10 in the same way: you can return the computer to its original Windows 10 state, save files and settings, just by “refreshing” the system, or delete everything by reinstalling the OS.

In version 10, a new feature has been added - returning to the previous version of the OS if you switched to Windows 10 by updating to version 7 or 8. Below we will tell you in more detail how to return your computer a few days ago, how to roll back to a previous state of Windows 10 or reinstall it.

OS recovery

Windows has a special function to restore functionality. It returns the registry settings and system files that were there before the failure. Everything is done based on the control point that was created during stable operation. On Windows 10, the creation of such points is provided regularly, once a week by default. And before you install any utilities, applications, third-party programs on your computer, take care and create a manual restore point yourself in case of failure.

You should proceed like this:

• Go to the PC control panel.
• Go there to the “Recovery” tab.
• Select the command to start recovery.

Running System Restore

• Specify a point created by the system or manually by you, click “Next”.

The computer will reboot, after 12 minutes you will receive a restored OS that is operational.

If the OS does not boot

If the system does not boot, it can also be restored, returned to its original state, but you will have to follow a slightly different path.

• You will see a window with an error message, where you will be asked to repeat the download, for which you need to click on the “Restart computer” button, or restore damaged files by clicking on “Advanced recovery options”.
• Taking the second path, you will see several options for action. Click the Diagnostics button.
• Make the next choice on “System Restore” to roll back to its original position.
• A window with restore points will open, select the one you need.
• Then follow the program instructions until the procedure is completed.

Rollback to original state

If you cannot restore the OS using a restore point or there is no such point with working parameters, you can return the computer to its original state.

There are two options here:

1. With the preservation of some previously pre-installed applications and content. Settings, programs, drivers will be deleted.
2. Without saving files, settings, a complete rollback to the original state that was after installing Windows 10 on the device, to factory settings.

Returning to factory settings is performed when other mechanisms fail to establish operation or when preparing the PC for sale/transfer.

• Go to Start, click Settings.
• Select Update & Security - the circular arrow icon.
• On the left, click on “Restore”, on the right, select “Return to original state”. Next, click “Start”.

Resetting your computer to its original state

• Choose a rollback path: save personal files or completely clear everything.

Selecting a rollback path

• Wait about an hour for the rollback process to complete.

Rollback to a previous version

Those who installed “ten” based on the “seven”/“eight” update can roll back to the previous version in case of system failures. But this method is only available for a month after updating the OS to Windows 10. If the period is more than a month, rolling back is no longer possible.

When rolling back, all tens updates are deleted, personal information, drivers of the previous version that was installed are saved.

The algorithm will be as follows:

• Follow the path “Start” - “Settings” - “Update and Security”.
• Click the "Recovery" function.
• On the right you will see the inscription “Return to windows...” indicating your previous OS.

Windows rollback to an earlier version

If there is no such item, it means that this way back is no longer possible - more than a month has passed since the system was updated to “ten”, or the windows.old folder was deleted from the directory.

Reinstalling the OS from disk

If you have prepared a recovery disk in advance, you can update the system through it. We recommend that after a successful OS update, copy it to disk, and after a failure you can return it to working parameters.

To create a disc, insert the disc into the drive or attach a USB flash drive. Go to the “Recovery” section, select the “Create Disk” function. Follow the program's instructions.

Do not use this disk/flash drive for other purposes, save it.

After a failure, we return Windows 10 through the created backup copy.

• Go to “Options” and go to the “Recovery” tab.
• Boot into Recovery mode, go to “Diagnostics”, select restore OS image.
• Connect the media with the image, backup copy, format the disk if necessary, agree to the rollback and wait until the process is completed.

Recovering system files

You can run the special utility SFC.exe via the command line. Type the command /scannow, the utility will begin scanning system files, then correct errors, restore files, and return them to their original, previous state. The entire process lasts approximately 45 minutes. Information about damage that has been repaired is placed by the program in the system partition in the Logs folder.

These few tricks will help you, in case of problems with the system, restore damaged files, return the OS to its previous, original state in order to continue functioning as it was before the failure. Now you know how to return your computer to factory settings, you can fix the OS in case of problems or after erroneously installed programs that disrupt the operation of the system as a whole.

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Restoring windows to its original state

The Internet is one of the areas of our lives, a platform for communication. To drive him completely into a Procrustean bed is both technically impossible and morally wrong!

Many people dream of a Reset button for the Windows system, which will allow you to get rid of incorrect configurations and error messages with one click. Even if everything went wrong, you don’t want to waste time looking for mistakes. And such a function could easily reset the OS to factory settings and instantly return it to normal operating condition. However, until now, doing this in Windows has been quite difficult. System Restore has been offering a mechanism that rolls back the OS to an earlier state for many years, but this option is very insidious and well hidden from users. Finally, Microsoft realized this and gave Windows 8 a simple reset option in two modes: hard and soft. The so-called Refresh (“Recovery”) is a gentle script for “taming” the vagaries of Windows 8. When using it, the “My Documents” folder is saved and Metro applications and personal settings remain untouched. Refresh returns only the operating system itself to its original state. ATTENTION! “Desktop” programs installed by the user not from the official store, as well as some special parameters, will be lost during recovery. Windows Reset is much stricter. It returns the system to the state specified by the manufacturer. In addition to settings and installed programs, user data is also deleted. We will show you how to use both options, as well as how to restore Windows XP and 7 without much effort.

windows 8 as after purchase

"Eight" received two new functions for restoring the system in a few clicks.

1. RESTORE WINDOWS WITHOUT DATA LOSS

A soft reset of Windows 8 is called “Recovery”. To do this, first use the Win + C keys to open the “Miracle Bar”, and then call the “Options Change computer settings” menu. In the first version of the G8, the recovery function is located in the “General” section. Here you will have to scroll far down the list. Windows 8.1 has better menu ordering. In this system, click on “Update and Recovery” and then on “Recovery”. The Refresh function in Russian versions of Windows 8 and 8.1 is called “Updating your PC without deleting files.” Clicking the “Next” button will launch the Wizard.

2. RESTORATION FROM DATA MEDIA

In the next step, your computer will boot into the so-called “recovery environment” (Windows Recovery Environment - RE). If this console is not configured on your PC, Windows will ask for an installation disk. Insert the DVD or USB drive with the system installation files. Then windows RE will analyze the hard drive, save data, settings and applications, reinstall the OS and finally copy all the materials into it. After the reboot, you will receive a “fresh” Windows with all the data saved during the update.

3. HARD RESET WINDOWS

A real reset in Windows 8 is launched in a similar way. You will have to open the "Miracle Bar" and "Settings, Change PC settings" again. In the first version of G8, go to the “General” section, and in Windows 8.1 select the menu item “Update and Recovery, Recovery”. The Reset function here is called “Delete all data and reinstall windows.” Clicking “Next” launches the Windows RE recovery environment, so keep a disk handy to install the necessary files. It should be remembered that such a reset will not save any data: the Windows RE environment will erase and format all partitions, and also reinstall the system. Some manufacturers, such as Sony, have integrated a recovery feature into their laptop menus that uses a hidden Recovery partition. On some models there is a separate button for this.

4. CONFIGURATION OF THE IMAGE FOR RESTORATION

The Refresh function does not affect only tiled applications, and installed classic programs disappear. On the Desktop, you will be prompted to view a list of uninstalled applications, which can be used as a starting point for later installation of programs. Professionals can take advantage of the customizable recovery feature. First, configure the computer to your liking, select the necessary settings and programs, and then use the Win + X key combination to call up the menu in the lower left corner of the screen and launch Windows PowerSheil (Administrator). Confirm the User Account Control prompt, and then enter mkdir C:\Refreshlmage. After this, use the command recimg - Createlmage C:\Refreshlmage to create a new image that will be used for recovery.

Resetting windows XP and windows 7 settings

The vast majority of users have not yet parted with previous versions of the system. But they also have a reset option, albeit not as convenient.

1. SAVE IMPORTANT DATA

During our testing of returning Windows XP and Windows 7 to their original state, no problems arose. However, you should accept the possibility that after this process the system will no longer start or data will be damaged. Therefore, you need to make backups before resetting. How to create a windows image, read on the next page. If you don't want to do this, save important files to a flash drive or external hard drive. Small volumes can be copied by simple transfer, and work with large arrays will be speeded up by the free TegaCoru program. The most convenient way to complete the task of creating a backup copy of the system partition is using the Personal Backup application, also non-commercial.

2. PREPARING SOFTWARE AND LICENSE KEYS

For everything to go smoothly, you will need a license key for Windows. In addition, you MUST have the KEYS for the paid programs you are using on hand. IMPORTANT! Download the latest Service Packs and save them to your external hard drive. After the reset, they will need to be started first. In addition, prepare a disk with drivers, download the latest versions from the device manufacturers' websites, or save the installed drivers using the Double Driver program.

3. RETURNING WINDOWS 7 TO THE ORIGINAL STATE

Recovery works in the "seven" only in cases where the system is still able to boot without problems. You will need an installation disk or flash drive. Insert the storage medium while the system is running and run the setup.exe file.

Then select your language and click on “Install Now”. At this point, you don't have to bother downloading updates, but be sure to select "Update" as the installation option. Thus, you will launch the so-called Inplace Upgrade. During this process, Windows 7 will be returned to its original state, but your programs, settings and files will remain intact.

4. UPDATE THE SYSTEM

Finally, you will have to install windows updates again. The easiest way to do this is through the built-in Update Center.

5. RESET WINDOWS XP

Updating using the installation disk is also possible on computers with Windows XP.

IMPORTANT! If your system installation disk does not contain the Service Pack 3 update, you must download it in advance and save it to a USB drive. After that, load windows XP and insert the disk with the OS. Run the setup.exe file, and then click on the “Install windows XP” item in the menu that appears. Follow the Wizard's instructions and select the "Update" installation option. Activate Service Pack 3 immediately and update the system. A freshly configured Windows with programs in the correct configuration will serve as the basis for an excellent image - an ideal recovery solution.

1. SELECTING THE BACKUP COPY MEDIUM After you install a fresh Microsoft OS and all the necessary updates and programs on a blank disk, you need to create a backup image. Subsequently, with its help it will be easy to “roll back” the system. To begin, you will need suitable storage media on which to record your backup copies. Despite the fact that modern hard drives in PCs and laptops have very large capacities, we do not recommend storing copies of data together with the originals. If there is a problem on the HDD, both the originals and duplicates will instantly disappear. For home use, there are two proven backup methods: you can save your data on external drives or use network storage (NAS, Network Attached Storage). The first option is easier and faster, but NAS systems are capable of recording backups from multiple computers at once. For greater reliability, we recommend combining local copies with a network backup.

2. BACKING UP DATA WITH BUILT-IN MEANS It doesn’t matter what you choose, a hard drive or network storage, your first step is to create a full backup copy of your data. This way you will protect yourself from any emergency situations, including hardware failure of your hard drive. In Windows 7, this task can be performed through the Control Panel without using any additional programs. The corresponding menu item is called “Backup and Restore”. Here, in the left panel, select the “Create a system image” option. You can select HDD, CD or DVD as the image location. Hard drives, which also include network storage, are in most cases the best solution. Only small amounts of data should be copied to DVD.

3. ALTERNATIVE PROFESSIONAL SOLUTIONInstall the free version of Paragon Backup & Recovery. After that, restart windows and run this utility. On the Data Protection and Recovery tab, click the Smart Backup option. The wizard will guide you through the backup process. You will be asked to select different partitions of your computer to save. Simply check the boxes in front of entries to create copies of individual sections.

4. SELECTING THE TYPE OF ARCHIVE LOCATION Once you have decided on the partitions for archiving, they can be saved to a hard or network drive. It is possible to copy data to DVD and Blu-ray, but with today's large system partitions, backup requires a large number of such media, and recording them is too tedious. The easiest way is to use an external hard drive for these purposes. Now you can give the backup an informative name and start the process by clicking on the “Next” button.

Complete computer cleaning

Resetting windows settings is not the best solution when it comes to selling a PC, since some data always remains on the hard drive.

1. WRITE THE DELETION PROGRAM ONTO DISK If you need to completely erase Windows, including before selling your computer, you will need a special program - for example, Darik's Boot and Nuke. It is recorded as an ISO file and has a very compact size - 10.5 MB. This is a boot image: you must either burn it to a CD or save it to a USB drive. Writing to a disk in Windows 7 and 8 is done simply from the context menu. To do this, in Explorer, click on the file Darik's Boot and Nuke-2.2.7_i586 .iso file, right-click and select “Burn disc image”. Windows XP does not have a built-in recording function - for example, the free CDBurnerXP program will help you here. This utility is also convenient because it allows you to check the recorded disk for errors, which is very important for bootable media.

2. ANOTHER OPTION: WRITE TO A USB DRIVE If you no longer keep blanks at home or your computer does not have an optical drive at all, a small flash drive will be enough for you to write a 10.5 MB ISO file with Darik's Boot and Nuke program. To quickly transfer the image to a USB drive and make it bootable, you will need another program - UNetbootin. Insert the USB flash drive and run UNetbootin. This utility does not need installation - just double-click on the EXE file to get started. Select the Diskimage entry and set the path to Darik's Boot and Nuke ISO image. Make sure that the USB drive is installed in the Drive category. If not, set here the letter that Windows assigned to the flash drive. Click on OK - UNetbootin will create bootable media.

3. LOADING THE CLEANING PROGRAM On modern computers, this stage poses virtually no difficulties, but outdated machines, as a rule, need to make some changes to the BIOS. However, even here loading from external media is not particularly difficult. You need to insert a CD or flash drive and switch to BIOS when the system starts. Here you can change the boot sequence. It is important that the CD drive or USB drive is positioned higher than the internal drive. On some computers, it is possible to quickly switch using function keys to select the drive sequence once at boot. After this, the computer will not launch Windows, but the uninstallation program.

How to show hidden folders in windows 7

In the section on the question how to return windows to its original (clean) state? otherwise the one specified by the author is terribly slow Protozoa the best answer is 1. Disk Cleanup: Start - All Programs - Accessories - System Tools - Disk Cleanup
2. Disk properties C-Run defragmentation: -
3. Cleaning the registry: link
4. Backup of the configured system:
5. It is advisable to defragment the registry: TuneUp Utilities

Answer from [email protected] [guru]
railway format
Better yet, reinstall Windows

Answer from Dm17riy.[newbie]
reinstall

Answer from Crooked-handed[guru]
will help you

Answer from Neurologist[guru]
I need to keep an eye on my computer! It needs to be cleaned...for example, with this program AusLogics BoostSpeed ​​5.0.6.250

Answer from Omich[guru]
Using the installation disk and format c:

Answer from Vega25XT[guru]
rearrange Windows .. and then take a picture with Acronix (for next time)

Answer from Sergey Kotenko[guru]
standard "system recovery" function: start menu - all programs - standard - utility - system recovery. Select there the date when the computer worked normally and click ok

Answer from White[guru]
Recovering with the help of programs is a difficult task, and it’s very tedious - restoring the integrity of the registry, the original set of DLLs and ALL system files... this requires a lot of free and extra time, deep knowledge of the OS architecture and a bunch of specialized programs.
There is really only one option: we completely reinstall the system (formatting the system disk, by default drive C), then download Acronis True Image, preferably a boot disk version no lower than 10, and preferably 11.
Using this program, you can save an image of the system, and, if necessary, restore it at any convenient time, in the same state in which the image was created (you can fully configure the system before archiving, and then the next time the system starts to slow down, it will take ~ 10-15 minutes).
Good luck!

During our testing, returning Windows XP and Windows 7 to their original state did not cause any problems. However, you should accept the possibility that after this process the system will no longer start or data will be damaged.

Therefore, you need to make backups before resetting. How to create a Windows image, read on the next page. If you don't want to do this, save important files to a flash drive or external hard drive.

Small volumes can be copied by simple transfer, and working with large arrays will be speeded up by a free program TeraCopy. The most convenient way to complete the task of creating a backup copy of the system partition is to use the application Personal Backup, also non-profit.

2 We prepare software and license keys

For everything to go smoothly, you will need a Windows license key. In addition, you should have the keys for the paid programs you use on hand.
Important: Download the latest Service Packs and save them to your external hard drive.

After the reset, they will need to be started first. In addition, prepare a disk with drivers, download the latest versions from device manufacturers' websites, or save installed drivers using the program Double Driver .

3 Restoring Windows 7 to its original state

Recovery works in the "seven" only in cases where the system is still able to boot without problems. You will need an installation disk or flash drive. Insert the storage medium while the system is running and run the setup.exe file. Then select your language and click on “Install Now”.

At this point, you don't have to bother downloading updates, but be sure to select "Update" as the installation option. Thus, you will launch the so-called Inplace Upgrade. During this process, Windows 7 will be returned to its original state, but your programs, settings and files will remain intact.

4 Updating the system

Finally, you will have to install Windows updates again. The easiest way to do this is through the built-in Update Center.

5 Resetting Windows XP

Updating using the installation disk is also possible on computers
with Windows XP system. Important: If your system installation disk does not contain the Service Pack 3 update, you must download it in advance and save it to a USB drive.

After that, boot into Windows XP and insert the OS disc. Run the setup.exe file, and then click “Install Windows XP” in the menu that appears. Follow the Wizard's instructions and select the "Update" installation option. Activate Service Pack 3 immediately and update the system.

Photo: manufacturing companies

Sometimes there are times when the computer refuses to work normally and the only way to solve the problem is to reinstall the operating system. Below are several ways to quickly solve the problem.

Many users would like to have a special button that restarted the operating system, which would get rid of all problems and errors in the system. Such a feature could quickly return the computer to factory settings and working condition. Previously, these actions were difficult to perform.

There is a “System Restore” function that allows you to roll back the operating system
to a state where everything worked correctly, however, this option is hidden and sometimes cannot help. And in the eighth version of the operating system, the developers have implemented the ability to reset Windows in two modes.

Now there is a Refresh mode, which gently eliminates all problems in the system. When using it, the “My Documents” directory and Metro applications, as well as personal settings, remain. In this mode, factory settings are returned only to the operating system. It is worth noting that all programs that were not installed from the application store and some settings may disappear during recovery.

The Windows Reset function is much stricter. With its help, the state of the computer set by the manufacturer is returned. In this case, all settings and installed applications, as well as user settings, will be deleted. Below you will see several options to restore Windows OS.

Windows 8 with factory settings

The eighth version of Windows received two recovery modes for the operating system in several manipulations.

Restoring a system while saving data

This type of pullback in the figure eight is called a "Recovery". To get into it, you need to press the key combination “Win ​​+ C”, which will launch the “Miracle Panel”. Then you need to go to “Settings” and select “Change PC settings”. After this, you need to go to the “General” section, where at the bottom of the list there is a backup option.

In Windows 8.1, the menu is much simpler. Here you need to click on “Update and Recovery”, and then select “Recovery”. In Russian-language editions of the operating system, this function is called “Updating your PC without deleting files.” Then you need to click “Next”, which will activate the Recovery Wizard.

Backup from storage

After this, the PC should start in the backup environment. If this panel is not activated on the computer, then the operating system will ask you to insert the installation drive. To do this, you need to insert an optical disk or flash drive with the operating system distribution.

After analyzing the hard drive, Windows RE will save files, settings and utilities, and then reinstall the operating system and finally install all the copied elements into it. By restarting the computer, you will get a new operating system with all the previously installed utilities and parameters.

Second recovery option

A complete reset of the operating system settings is opened in the same way as the previous option. The first step is to go to the “Miracle Panel”, in which you need to select “Options”. Then you need to go to “Change PC settings”, where you should select the “General” section.

If Windows 8.1 is installed, then you need to select “Update and Recovery”, and then click “Recovery”. In this case, the option is called “Remove all data and reinstall Windows.”

By clicking on the “Next” button, the OS backup environment will start, so you need to have the necessary data at your disposal. It is worth remembering that using this method will delete all data from the computer and reinstall the operating system. Many laptop manufacturing companies implement a Recovery section in their devices. Some laptops have a special button.

Setting up a recovery image

The recovery option has nothing to do with tiled programs, but installed ones may disappear. A list of utilities that will be removed will appear on the desktop. It can be used after reinstalling the operating system to download the necessary software.

More experienced users can use the custom recovery option. Initially, you need to configure the PC at your discretion. After this, you need to select utilities, and then click on Win + X. Then you need to activate Windows Powershell.

Factory settings for Windows XP and "seven"

A huge number of users work on the Windows 7 operating system, however, there are also those who have been using Windows XP up to this point. In these operating systems you can also perform a recovery, but not as convenient as in the G8.

Saving important data

As a rule, no problems should arise when restoring factory settings in these two operating systems, but this possibility should not be ruled out. It is possible that after a reset the system will no longer start or data may be corrupted. In this case, it is recommended to back up your data.

If you don’t want to create a system image, then you can simply copy the information to an external drive. If there is quite a lot of information, then you can use the special freely distributed utility TegaSoru. To back up your system drive, you can use the Personal Backup program, which is also free.

Software preparation and license

To successfully complete the procedure, you must obtain a license key for the operating system. In addition, you must be licensed for the commercial applications you are using.

It is worth noting that you need to use only the latest update packages, which can be saved on a third-party drive. After restoring the factory settings, they will need to be loaded. In addition, you must have a package of drivers available, which should be downloaded from the computer manufacturer's resource or saved existing ones using the Double Driver application.

Factory settings in Windows 7

In the seventh version of Windows, you can use recovery only if the operating system is capable of booting. To do this, you need to get a boot disk or USB drive. You need to insert the media and open the exe file.

After this, you need to specify the language and click “Install now”. Here you can't
bother searching for and downloading updates, but you need to click “Update” as an installation option. This will launch Inplace Upgrade. During this process, the “seven” will return to factory settings, however, applications, settings and user data will remain untouched.

OS update

At the end of the recovery, you must install all operating system updates. The easiest way to do this is to use the Update Center.

Backup Windows XP

Using a bootable drive, you can update computers running Windows XP. If you don't have Service Pack 3 on your boot drive, then you need to download it first and save it. Then you need to launch the operating system and connect the drive with the operating system. Next, you need to open setup.exe, and then click on “Install Windows XP.” Then you need to follow the installer’s recommendations, where you need to select “Update”. Then you need to run Service Pack 3 and update the operating system.

Excellent copy for restoration

A freshly installed system with all the utilities and settings is perfect for creating an operating system image that can be used for recovery.

Copy drive

After installing a new version of the operating system from Microsoft and completing all the updates and settings, you need to create an image. In the future, it can be used to roll back the operating system. The first step is to select a drive for recording the image.
Today, computer hard drives are quite impressive in size, however, it is not recommended to store copies in the same place as the original. If something happens to the hard drive, both the original and the duplicate will end up. For home computers, you can use several backup methods.

In this case, you can use third-party drives or cloud storage.
External drives are easier to use, however, NAS systems allow you to record backups from different computers. In addition, with network recovery, it is recommended to use local copies, which will increase reliability.

Copying data using integrated tools

Regardless of the chosen storage location, hard drive or cloud, you must initially create a complete copy of the data. This will help avoid problems in emergency situations, even if the hard drive physically breaks down. In the “seven” this procedure can be carried out using the “Control Panel” without using any third-party programs.

The required item in the control panel is called “Backup and Restore”. In this section, you must select “Create a system image.” You can place the image on a hard drive or third-party optical drives. An excellent solution in this situation would be to use a hard drive or cloud storage. DVDs can store small amounts of data.

Replacement of professional programs

You can use the free utility Paragon Backup & Recovery. After restarting your computer, you need to launch this application. In the “Data Protection and Recovery” section, click on “Smart Archiving”. After this, you must follow the recommendations of the wizard. Here you will be prompted to specify the PC partitions to copy. You just need to put marks in front of the sections.

Archive location type

After selecting the required partitions for archiving, they can be saved to a hard drive or cloud storage. You can copy information to DVD or Blu-ray discs, but at the moment the system disk capacity may require the use of several such drives, which is not very convenient for saving. An excellent solution in this situation would be a third-party hard drive. You can then give the backup a name and activate the procedure by clicking the “Next” button.

Complete PC cleaning

Returning a computer to its factory state is not very suitable when selling a PC, since some information may remain on the hard drive.

Program for liquidation

If you need to completely remove the operating system, then you should use special programs, among which are Darik’s Boot and Nuke. The application is distributed in an ISO file and is only 10.5 MB in size. This image can be written to an optical drive or USB drive. You can record media in the “seven” and “eight” through the menu. You need to right-click on the program in Explorer and select “Burn disk image.”

The Windows XP operating system does not have an integrated disc burning function. In this case, you must use the CDBurnerXP program. This application is capable of checking the hard drive for errors, which is important for installation drives.

Recording to a USB flash drive

If you don’t have a blank optical drive at hand or the laptop is not equipped with a drive, then you need to use USB drives to record the program image. To transfer the image and convert the flash drive into an installation one, you must use a special program - UNetbootin.

You need to insert the drive into your PC and open the application. There is no need to install the software, you just need to double-click on the exe file. Here you need to click on Diskimage and specify the path to the Darik’s Boot and Nuke image. It is also worth checking that the flash drive is listed in the Drive section. If this is not the case, then you should put down the letter that the operating system gave it. Then you need to click OK and wait for the process to complete.

Downloading the Cleanup Utility

Modern computers do not create any difficulties in this process, but older PCs require adjustments to be made to the BIOS. However, loading from a third-party drive does not seem difficult here. You just need to insert the drive and go to the BIOS when the operating system starts. You can then change the boot order.

In this case, it is necessary to place the drives above the hard drive. Some PCs have special buttons to quickly switch to the BIOS, where the startup order is set. After these manipulations, the PC will not launch the operating system, but the liquidation utility.

Cleaning the hard drive

The interface of Darik’s Boot and Nuke utility cannot be called comfortable. The menu resembles the BIOS, and navigation is done using the arrows. But the advantage of the application is different. After launch, the program displays a list of disks. Among them you can select those that you want to clean. If you press P, then you can specify the elimination algorithm; pressing F10 will begin cleaning.

Resetting Windows to factory settings or resetting is a function that allows you to return the hard drive to the “As from the store” state: all personal files and personal settings will be deleted, only the standard operating system with default settings will remain.

Why reset Windows?

It should immediately be noted that this feature is present only on computers where the operating system was installed by default. As a rule, these are all branded devices that are sold in stores.

There are 5 main reasons for resetting Windows to factory settings:

1. Sale/transfer of device. In order not to manually delete all personal files on your computer, you can use zeroing. Any buyer will be only happy with a “store-bought” HDD;
2. Reinstalling the OS. Resetting the Windows system to factory settings is the best alternative to reinstalling the OS in case of a critical failure;
3. Littering the operating system and system directories. If Windows has been used for a long time, then littering is an inevitable phenomenon in which the OS begins to slow down and work incorrectly;
4. Driver installation failed. Windows 7 stopped working after installing a new driver - restoring it to its original state will fix this problem;
5. "Rally" of the system. If Windows has crashed for unknown reasons, then resetting to factory settings will be the most optimal solution.

Comment. Restoring Windows 7 to standard settings is only possible with a working hard drive.

How to determine the presence of the reset function

The hard drive of the computer on which Windows is installed by default is marked in a special way. There is a hidden or service section here. It stores a backup copy of the original system with all the necessary utilities and drivers. The disk is not visible through Explorer, but it appears in Disk Management. Algorithm:

Comment. The Samsung brand is taken as an example, hence the name of the backup disk Samsung_REC.

The section does not have a letter designation and is not available while the user is working with the system. You can view the contents (it’s better not to do this unless absolutely necessary) only by booting the computer from external media, where you can assign a letter to the drive.

Preparing for a rollback

Some manufacturers integrate a utility for resetting settings into the user Windows shell, which allows you to start the recovery procedure while working with the system. But if the OS does not boot due to a critical error, then this will not be useful, so all proprietary devices are equipped with a factory reset tool that can be launched when the computer starts by pressing a special key.

The image shows a list of common PC models and default system recovery initiation keys:

The preparation procedure includes only two stages:

1. Make a backup copy of all key files to any third-party media (preferably a flash drive) from all hard drives, if there are several of them;
2. Check the battery charge on your laptop. It must be complete, since an unexpected power outage can cause a lot of trouble to the computer, including the need to take the device to a service center. Owners of stationary systems either must be confident in their station, or connect the computer to an uninterruptible power supply.

Recovery using hotkeys

Pressing one of the keys described above on the screen initiates the launch of the recovery wizard. The entire program is adapted to the Russian language, so even an inexperienced user will not have problems using the utility:

Comment. In some cases, the owner will be asked to copy the data to another medium. If the information has already been saved, then this item can be skipped.

Do not forget that it will be impossible to interrupt the procedure. Once started, the process should complete. The duration depends on the performance of the device. On average it takes 20-30 minutes.

Restoring using the built-in utility

As an example, we chose the HP Pavilion G6 laptop, where the program for resetting the settings was installed by default. To begin the rollback, perform the following steps:

After clicking, the utility will provide the opportunity to create a backup copy of the data to an external storage device. We agree or refuse.

Rollback via recovery environment

If Windows does not boot to the user interface, then the recovery wizard can also be launched through the recovery environment. For this.