How do I restore windows 10 to its previous state after a "reset?"

Bazz said:

Sounds like you have installed over a old install you need to clean install deleting all partitions.

Unless you delete the partitions it is not clean.

Also your other PC has nothing to do with your problem, you have caused this problem yourself.

I am very particular about these kinds of things, so I always do a clean install (format, delete partition, create new partition, install - even though some of these steps are not necessary)

There's a way to test whether my old PC caused this. I will place it in the same location I had it before, and I'll power it back up to see what happens. If the random reboot doesn't resume, I'd be at a lost as to what caused this problem the first time. I'll report back my finding afterwards.

Well the way it is is a clean install deleting the partitions and making it clean, there are no magic fixes for click happy people.

WhyMe said:

I think we've all been there

Don't forget to make a backup / image on to a separate drive once you are all done :)

I usually do because I learned that lesson a long time ago. Unfortunately, I had been too busy to install my Acronis True Image Director backup after I installed Windows 10.

Bazz said:

Well the way it is is a clean install deleting the partitions and making it clean, there are no magic fixes for click happy people.

I might even do a clean install before I install all of my software back for the simple fact that a "reset" is not a clean install. Plus, I am seeing some issues (i.e. when I right click on my desktop, I get a straight line without any texts) that I don't really want to bother troubleshoot

Bazz said:

Not me kidda, don't think I have ever done a clean install over the top of another install, it just don't make sense.

I did, once. Never again. It was a huge mess. Pcs come to me all the time that had been set up like that, new OS over old. I won't try to repair em like that, I'll backup all their data and do a fresh install, a real one.