If your PC came with Windows 8.1 or Windows RT 8.1, you’ll need the discs or thumb drive that came with your PC. If that happens, what you’ll need depends on your PC.

However, if Windows needs missing files, you’ll be asked to insert recovery media, which is typically on a DVD disc or thumb drive. In most cases, once you start to refresh or reset your PC, it’ll finish on its own. Before you start to refresh or reset your PC If you want to back up and restore your personal files using File History, see Backup and Restore in Windows. You can refresh, reset, or restore your PC from the Windows Recovery Environment. If you're having trouble starting (booting) your PC, see Windows Startup Settings (including safe mode), and go to the “Get to Windows Startup Settings in the Windows Recovery Environment” section. Restore your PC to undo recent system changes you've made. Reset your PC to reinstall Windows but delete your files, settings, and apps-except for the apps that came with your PC. Refresh also keeps the apps that came with your PC and the apps you installed from the Microsoft Store. Refresh your PC to reinstall Windows and keep your personal files and settings. If you're having problems with your PC, you can: DISM is a tool built into Windows 10 that allows administrators to prepare, modify, and repair system images, including Windows Recovery Environment, Windows Setup, and Windows PE (WinPE), but anyone can use it to repair common system problems.Note: For information about this topic in Windows 11 or Windows 10, see Recovery options in Windows.

If you are dealing with this known issue, the company is recommending users to use the Deployment Image Servicing and Management (DISM) command-line tool with Command Prompt to repair the current installation, and therefore the 'Reset this PC' feature. According to the company support website (opens in new tab) (via BleepingComputer), there's a problem with certain hardware configurations that causes the feature to fail on devices running this particular release. No changes were made' error message that will prevent you from completing the reset. However, if you have a computer running the Windows Update (version 2004), and you try to use the 'Reset this PC' feature, you may end up with the 'There was a problem when resetting your PC.

How to factory reset windows 10