How to reset Windows 10 that has Creator Update removing everything

I am trying to reset my old HP Pavilion DV6 laptop (Intel i7-2670QM, 8 GB ram, 64 bit) so I can give it to my sister, so I want to remove everything. Everywhere I searched to do this shows there are two options under recovery (keep my files or remove everything) to do this and one of the options is what I want which is to remove everything. I recently upgraded to the Creator Update so the laptop would be all ready to turn over to my sister. When I went to reset it, I found two options, a Start Fresh option that resets but leaves your data files and a Advanced startup option that has a Restart Now button and above the button it says, "Start up from a device or disc (such as a USB drive or DVD), change Windows startup settings, or restore Windows from a system image. This will restart your PC." I'm not sure if this is the option I want and why it would be. Can someone help please?

Every computer has different bios settings including computers made by the same manufacturer.
In some HP computers there is a feature in the bios that sanitizes the drive. You can choose the number of runs to make sure the data you have on the drive cannot be recovered.
Alternatively you can simply format the drive but this could still allow recovery of files or data.
Unless you have something critical this is generally how you would plan to fix your computer before giving to a relative.
This is a link on how to perform a clean install:
Clean Install Windows 10 Windows 10 Installation Upgrade Tutorials

You indicated that you want to remove everything.

There are generally two common methods: 1) using a bootable windows 10 iso, deleting partitions, making the drive unallocated, and reinstalling the latest version of windows, 1703. You then would perform windows updates, install HP approved drivers, install any applications and give it to your sister.
2) use the diskpart command to clean the drive, then use the windows 10 iso to install the windows 10 version 1703.

Either method will clean all of your files/data and give her a computer with a freshly installed operating system, drivers, and applications.

To create a bootable windows 10 iso: Download Windows 10

You will boot to it by clicking on the F9 key.

I like to use Audit Mode when doing a clean install to get a computer ready to give away/sell. Do a clean install of Windows 10 and when you get to the screen to make the first user account you press Ctrl + Shift + F3 and you get logged into the built-in administrator account temporarily. Then you can do all the updates and install drivers. When it's all ready, use the Sysprep window that pops up to shutdown, set to reboot to OOBE. The next time the computer boots, it will go back to the screen asking to set up the first user and the built-in administrator account will be disabled and traces of your logon erased.

Thank you for your replies. I was looking for a less technical solution to resetting my computer like the pre-Creator Update options I mentioned that used to be available. Yes I would like to remove all my data files and make everything nice and new and clean again but I'd like it to be as easy as clicking on a button.

cjayed said:

I was looking for a less technical solution to resetting my computer like the pre-Creator Update options I mentioned that used to be available. Yes I would like to remove all my data files and make everything nice and new and clean again but I'd like it to be as easy as clicking on a button.

It's still there in Creators Update on my machine, it's in Settings > Update & Security > Recovery.

Another method will take you to all of the computers windows recovery options by using administrative command prompt where you will have:
reset and save files
reset and remove files
startup repair
command prompt
etc.

This can be done by entering the windows recovery or advanced troubleshooting menu:

Open administrative command prompt and type or copy and paste this command: shutdown /r /o /f /t 00

The computer will reboot and have available to you the windows recovery or advanced troubleshooting menu.

You navigate through it picking whatever you want.

To remove files, applications etc it will be reset with remove everything.

Creating a bootable windows 10 iso is likely to come in handy when you or anyone you know has a computer problem that is related to the operating system or registry. You can now perform an in place upgrade or an in place repair with the windows 10 iso. This allows you to save all of your files and applications in case you have corruption.

In addition the windows 10 iso allows you to perform a clean install. The clean install wipes the drive, eliminates the partitions, and creates an unallocated drive. The unallocated drive is similar to what you have when you purchase a brand new storage drive. You have to choose a drive letter to start using the drive.

While this can be complicated it is important so that you have backup plans in case the unexpected happens.

Thanks again everyone. I had success with resetting/reinstalling Windows 10. In Bree's screenshot above, I didn't have the Reset option only the Advanced Startup and I guess I was nervous to click on the Restart Now button and have something start that would be hard to get out of. But that's what I ended up doing and it took me to a screen that did show the option of reinstalling and removing files.
Zbook, does the iso replace the need for the system image (i think it was called) I recently did on my (not my sister's HP) Lenova Laptop...it required a 16GB flash drive and when it was done it asked if I wanted to create a repair disk or something like that. I'm a bit confused about all the backingup,image files, replacing, recovery, iso, repair disks, Media Creation Tool.. methods. I've been reading the tutorial links you posted above and I think definitely worth the effort like you suggested.

cjayed said:

Thanks again everyone. I had success with resetting/reinstalling Windows 10. In Bree's screenshot above, I didn't have the Reset option only the Advanced Startup and I guess I was nervous to click on the Restart Now button and have something start that would be hard to get out of. But that's what I ended up doing and it took me to a screen that did show the option of reinstalling and removing files.

Glad you found a way in the end. The reason you only saw the Advanced Startup option was that you were signed in as a standard user. You have to log in using an account with administrator rights to see the Reset this PC option. Taking the Advanced Startup option asks you to select an administrator account to use, which is why you could then reset the PC.

For earlier versions of windows people at one time needed recovery media such as a dvd or cdrom from the computer manufacturer. No longer is that needed. Now you find a flash drive that you can format. Then you install the latest windows 10 iso. And then if you find operating system corruption and you don't want to do much troubleshooting you can boot to the desktop, open file explore, find the setup.exe file on the usb flash drive and perform an in place upgrade or in place repair. By making this choice you can save files and applications.

So the next time sfc /scannow has integrity violations that cannot be fixed by dism /online /cleanup-image /restorehealth or the next time windows updates malfunctions you could bypass a lot of the troubleshooting and do the in place upgrade. It's a matter of time and depends on whether you want to troubleshoot or want a quick fix.

Thanks zbook, great info. I'll do the iso to flash drive instead of recovery and/or repairs. I usually use Windows to do backups and it asks if you want to do a system image. Since I'll have the iso is the system image not needed then? Is the Windows backup passe also? Recommendations if so, for a simple alternative?