How to 'Recover from a drive' to Reset Windows 10
A recovery drive can help you troubleshoot and fix problems with your PC, even if it won’t start.
A recovery drive is a USB version of a system repair disc with an option to include the system files to be able to also reset Windows 10 from the recovery drive.
When you recover Windows 10 from a drive, here's what will happen:
- All personal files and user account on your PC will be removed.
- Any apps and programs that didn't come with your PC will be removed.
- Windows 10 will be re-installed (reset) from the recovery drive connected to your PC. (unless your PC came with Windows 8/8.1 and a recovery partition from your PC manufacturer, in which case it'll reinstall the version of Windows that came with your PC).
- If you've repartitioned your system drive, this will restore its default partitions.
This tutorial will show you how to reset Windows 10 from the recovery drive connected to your PC.
Here's How:
1 Boot from your created USB recovery drive that was created with the "Back up system files to the recovery drive" box checked.
2 Choose your keyboard layout. (see screenshot below)
3 Click/tap on Recover from a drive. (see screenshot below)
If you chose not to back up system files when you Create a Recovery Drive, the Recover from a drive option will not be available.
4 Things will now start getting ready. (see screenshot below)
5 Click/tap on either Just remove my files or Fully clean the drive for how you want to clean your drive. (see screenshot below)
Just remove my files = This performs a quick format, and doesn't take long. Your files might be recoverable by someone else since they are only marked as deleted. You would use this option if you are keeping your PC.
Fully clean the drive = This performs a secure erase to fully clean your drive by overwriting your files so that they can't be easily recovered. This can take several hours to finish. You would want to do this option if you are recycling or selling your computer.
6 Click/tap on Recover when ready to begin. (see screenshot below)
7 Recovering Windows 10 will now start. This will take a while to finish, and your PC will restart a few times during the process. (see screenshots below)
8 When finished, select your Country or region, App language, Keyboard layout, and Time zone, then click/tap on Next. (see screenshot below)
9 Click/tap on Accept for the Windows license agreement. (see screenshot below)
10 You can now pick up at step 21 here (click on link) to finish setting up Windows 10.
That's it,
Shawn
Related Tutorials
- How to Create a Bootable USB Recovery Drive in Windows 10
- How to Download a Recovery Image for a Surface Device
- Create Custom Provisioning Package used to Reset Windows 10 or Create Recovery Drive
- How to Reinstall Windows 10 with this media
- How to Reset Windows 10
- How to Refresh Windows 10
- How to Clean Install Windows 10
- How to Custom Install Windows 10
- How to Do a Repair Install of Windows 10 with an In-place Upgrade
- How to Start Fresh with Clean up-to-date Installation of Windows 10