How to hard reset a laptop?

Resetting your laptop to factory settings can be a useful troubleshooting step if your computer is running slowly, crashing frequently, infected with malware, or having other issues. A hard reset will erase all data and restore the laptop to its original out-of-the-box state. Here is a step-by-step guide on how to hard reset a laptop on Windows 10 and MacOS.

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When Should You Hard Reset a Laptop?

A hard reset should be used as a last resort when troubleshooting laptop issues. Try less drastic steps first like restarting your computer, running antivirus scans, freeing up disk space, or reinstalling apps. If those basic troubleshooting steps don’t fix the problem, then a hard reset may be necessary. Here are some common reasons to hard reset a laptop:

Your laptop is very slow and laggy

Programs are freezing or crashing frequently
You suspect your laptop has a virus or malware
You want to wipe your personal data before selling or giving away the laptop

You forgot your Windows or Mac login password
A system files has become corrupted and Windows or MacOS is having issues
You want to start fresh and erase all apps and data

How to Back Up Data Before Hard Reset

Before resetting your laptop, it’s important to back up any personal files and data you want to keep. A hard reset will erase everything on the computer. Follow these steps to back up data first:

Copy important files like documents, photos, music, and videos to an external hard drive or cloud storage. This ensures you have copies of anything important.
Use Windows File History or MacOS Time Machine to do a system backup onto an external hard drive. This creates a system image you can use to restore after the reset.

Make sure any web data like bookmarks or emails are synced to the cloud. This data can usually be re-downloaded after the reset.
De-authorize any software you have installed that uses product keys or licenses. You will need to reactivate the software after the reset.

How to Hard Reset a Windows 10 Laptop

Here is how to hard reset a Windows 10 laptop to factory default settings:

Open the Windows Start Menu and click on the Power button near the bottom left corner. Hold the Shift key while clicking Restart.
On the Choose an Option screen, select Troubleshoot > Reset this PC.
On the Reset this PC screen, click Remove everything to do a full hard reset. This will remove all personal files, apps, and settings.

Follow the prompts to complete the reset process. The computer will reboot several times during the reset.
After resetting, Windows 10 will need to be reinstalled. Follow the on-screen instructions to setup your language, location, account, and other options.

The reset process typically takes 30-90 minutes depending on your laptop’s hardware. Your computer will be restored to its original factory settings.

Alternative Hard Reset Methods for Windows

Here are a couple other ways to hard reset a Windows 10 laptop if the normal reset process does not work:

Recovery Mode – Access the Recovery Environment by holding Shift and clicking Restart. Then select Troubleshoot > Reset this PC. This is useful if Windows won’t boot properly.
Recovery Drive – Boot from a USB recovery drive and factory reset the laptop. You can create one in Settings > Update & Security > Recovery.

Command Prompt – Open an Administrator Command Prompt and type ‘format c:’ to erase the C drive. Then reinstall Windows.

How to Hard Reset a Mac Laptop

Here are the steps to hard reset and erase all data on a Mac laptop running MacOS:

First, fully back up the Mac using Time Machine to an external hard drive. This will allow you to restore your data later.

Restart your Mac into Recovery Mode by holding Command + R while powering on. The Recovery screen will appear.
From the Recovery Mode menu, select Disk Utility. Click Continue to launch Disk Utility.
In Disk Utility, select your main hard drive volume from the left sidebar. It is often named Macintosh HD.

Click the Erase button near the top. Choose a name, format of MacOS Extended, and scheme of GUID Partition Map.
Click Erase to wipe your hard drive. This may take several minutes depending on drive size.
When done, quit Disk Utility, then choose Reinstall MacOS from the Recovery menu to start a fresh OS install.

Follow the prompts to install a new copy of MacOS. Your laptop will be restored to factory settings.

What to Do After Resetting Your Laptop

Once you have completed the hard reset process on either Windows or Mac, your laptop will be back to its original out-of-the-box state. Here are some steps to take after resetting:

Reinstall any applications you need like web browsers, productivity software, games, etc.

Restore your personal files and data from your backup.
Adjust operating system preferences to your liking.
Update Windows, MacOS, and all software to the latest versions.

Reconfigure any custom settings that you changed previously.
Activate and register software you had installed prior to resetting.
Set up security protections like antivirus, firewalls, and encryption.

After taking these post-reset steps, your laptop should be ready to use like new. A hard reset can go a long way in improving performance and fixing issues if done correctly.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is a hard reset the same as a factory reset?

Yes, a hard reset and a factory reset are the same process. They both erase all data and restore the laptop to its original factory condition. The terms are used interchangeably.

Will a hard reset remove viruses?

Yes, performing a hard reset will remove any malware or viruses infecting the laptop. Resetting deletes all files and reinstalls the operating system, so any malicious software will be wiped out.

Can I keep my files after a hard reset?

No, a hard reset erases all personal files, programs, and user settings. Be sure to back up anything important before resetting your laptop. You can restore files from your backup after the reset completes.

Does a hard reset delete everything permanently?

The files are deleted permanently after a hard reset, but only if you do not have a backup. Create a backup first, then use that to restore important files to your laptop once the reset is finished.

Will I lose my installed software after resetting?

Yes, any software or apps you have installed will be deleted after a hard reset. You will need to reinstall them once the reset process is complete and Windows or MacOS is freshly set up.

Can I reset without the original recovery disks?

On modern laptops the recovery environment is usually stored on a hidden partition of the hard drive, so external disks are not needed. Older laptops may require recovery disks if the recovery partition is missing or corrupted.

Summary

Performing a hard reset can help revive a sluggish or malfunctioning laptop by erasing everything and restoring factory settings. Make sure to fully back up important data first. On Windows 10, use the Reset this PC option. On MacOS, erase the drive in Recovery Mode then reinstall the OS. After resetting, reinstall apps, restore files from backup, and configure the laptop to your preferences. With some time and effort, your laptop will be running good as new.