What will happen if I restore Windows?

I am currently having problems with my laptop and would like to restore the laptop completely to the state it was when it was new. I understand you can restore Windows in the settings at the Update & Security tab, but what I would like to know is what will happen if I restore Windows with the option to delete all my personal files, apps, and settings? The reason why I am cautious and want to ask experienced users before doing anything is that this Windows that is currently installed on my laptop was installed by a university, and I do not have the installation cd or license key. Will I be needing the installation cd or license key when restoring Windows?

You won't need installation media or product key if you use the restore feature built into Windows.

dalchina said:

Hi, you have various options.
Reset Windows 10 | Windows 10 Tutorials

- gives details of the options.

Repair Install Windows 10 with an In-place Upgrade | Windows 10 Tutorials
- this keeps almost everything except it renews the Windows build (as an older version of the same major build)
You may wish to consider this very useful repair option - depends on your problems.

Factory reset:
- uses the partition created by the manufacturer to restore your PC to as built - if available.
This may mean you restore to Win 7, 8 or whatever your PC came with originally.

Note that having installed Win 10, you can freely clean install it (same basic product) as many times as you like- activation should be automatic. No license needed.

All iso's can be freely downloaded so you can create bootable media for installation or repair.

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You can often avoid the more dramatic of these by using disk imaging routinely as I've so often recommended - and most here use it. E.g. Macrium Reflect (free) + external storage.

NavyLCDR said:

You won't need installation media or product key if you use the restore feature built into Windows.

Thanks for helping, but one question. I went into Update & Security tab and in the Activation tab it says that my Windows activation is a Digital License, will restoring Windows with the built in feature still work without any problems even though its a digital license?

Yes. And you can also use Showkey Plus from this forum (software section) to show the product key that it is activated with.

Thank you very much NavyLCDR and dalchina :)