When the laptop starts to slow down terribly due to a bunch of installed and incorrectly removed programs, system garbage, a lot of temporary files and other unpleasant things, the most logical solution is to roll back the system to its original state. In this article we will figure out how to return a laptop to factory settings, using the example of all major manufacturers.
Many users will argue that it is easier to reinstall Windows. But a system rollback has the same consequences as a reinstallation, but it is much faster and does not require a boot disk. In addition, users are freed from the need to search and install drivers - after returning to the original state, they only need to reinstall the programs necessary for operation.
Each laptop manufacturer equips its devices with proprietary recovery utilities. However, working with them follows the same scheme and requires compliance with a number of rules:
- During a system rollback, the adapter must be inserted into the laptop so that the power is not interrupted. Interrupting the rollback procedure risks causing more serious problems than just a lagging computer.
- It is better to first transfer all important data from the hard drive to removable media - after successful recovery, you will return it back.
- Some utilities can restore only the system partition (drive C:) or all partitions of the hard drive. It is recommended to perform a full recovery (this will delete all data from the hard drive, so move it to another location - see point 2).
How to return a laptop to factory settings?
So, if you want to get the system in the same condition as when you bought the laptop (without brakes, freezes, unnecessary programs and files), then choose a laptop from your manufacturer and follow the steps described.
Asus
Let's start with one of the most famous laptop manufacturers - Asus.
Returning an Asus laptop to factory settings:
You don’t need to press or enter anything else - the recovery utility will figure out how to return your ASUS laptop to factory settings.
By the way, pressing the F9 key when turning it on for the first time will not lead to anything, since by default the “Boot Booster” function is activated in ASUS laptops. It needs to be disabled in Bios. To do this, enter the BIOS, in the “Boot” item, set the parameter value to the “Disabled” position.
Acer
Let's continue our study of the topic with a story about how to return an Acer laptop to factory settings. You can perform this procedure from a running Windows (the utility is called "Acer Recovery Management") or through recovery tools.
Let's look at the second option:
On Windows 8.1, the recovery utility interface changes. Here you will have to select the item in the “Diagnostics” section "Return to original state". The rollback procedure is not much different, and all the steps are described in detail in Russian, so you will quickly figure out how to return an Acer laptop to factory settings.
Lenovo
To understand how to return a Lenovo laptop to factory settings, you first need to find a small “OneKey Rescue” button on the laptop case, which is responsible for launching the recovery utility.
Then follow these steps:
Wait until the rollback procedure is completed and be sure to restart your computer for the new configuration to take effect. The answer to the question of how to return a Lenovo laptop to factory settings has been received, but there are still other manufacturers, so let’s move on.
Samsung
It’s the turn of the South Korean manufacturer to answer the question of how to return a Samsung laptop to factory settings.
Resetting a Samsung laptop to factory settings:
You figured out how to return a Samsung laptop to factory settings, so you can forget about the need to reinstall the system.
HP
It's the turn of the next manufacturer: let's see how to return an HP laptop to factory settings.
Resetting your HP laptop to factory settings:
Now you know how to reset your HP laptop to factory settings. All that's left to do is wait until the factory reset procedure is completed, and start working with the laptop again.
MSI
Wondering how to reset an MSI laptop to factory settings?
Nothing complicated here either:
That's all you need to know about how to factory reset an MSI laptop.
Toshiba
Now let's figure out how to return a Toshiba laptop to factory settings. In the latest models, launching the recovery utility is quite simple.
Returning a Toshiba laptop to factory settings:
- Turn off your laptop.
- Press the number "0" and hold the key.
- Without releasing the key, turn on the laptop.
- When the computer starts beeping, release "0".
A program to restore settings to factory state will appear on the screen - you need to follow all the instructions of the recovery wizard.
But how to return a Toshiba laptop to factory settings if you have an old model? Here you will have to use the “Troubleshooting” section, which can be selected in the menu of additional boot options (F8 key when turning on the computer). 
After a short wait you will see the system again in original factory condition.
If Windows stops loading, you can use standard utilities to restore correct operation.
One of the main nightmares of computer lovers is to encounter a situation where they cannot turn on the device. The operating system starts to load, but eventually displays a message like: “Windows updates could not be configured, changes are being discarded, do not turn off the computer.” After which nothing new happens - the software cannot be restored, and downloading stubbornly does not help.
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System recovery tools
Before the release of Windows 7, this situation turned into numerous dances with a tambourine, and often a complete reinstallation of the operating system. Now everything is different, and often the problem is solved with standard tools from Microsoft, which do not even need to be specially installed. The task comes down to being aware, in principle, that such a toolkit exists, as well as simply remembering it when suddenly the “irreparable” happens.
The trick is that when you boot your computer, even before the Windows boot icons appear, you have time to get into the advanced parameters of this very boot, where you will be able to run diagnostics and, if necessary, restore the system to the selected checkpoint. Windows 7 required you to press a function key when booting F8, then select the “Troubleshoot” option (although in rare cases the “Last Known Known Configuration” option saved the day).
More Windows 7 download options
Once in the “System Recovery Options” menu, in most cases, one of the first two options became salvation. “Startup Repair” could save the operating system automatically, and “System Restore” required you to manually select a checkpoint to which the rollback would be made.
Windows 7 System Recovery Options
In order to be able to restore it to its original state in the event of a malfunction of the operating system, it is necessary to make a recovery disk in advance.
Microsoft would be betraying itself if, with the update of its brainchild, it left all the useful tools as before. Windows 10 system recovery is carried out by pressing hot keys Shift+F8, and, unlike “seven,” you need to press this combination very, very quickly, since the operating system itself began to load much faster.
The appearance of the rescue menu has also undergone changes. Having selected “Diagnostics”, in “Advanced options” there are already familiar to us “System Restore” and “Startup Repair” (only in a different order). There is also a “Return to previous build” option if you upgraded to “ten” from one of the previous versions of Windows.
If automatic recovery doesn't work
Restoring a Windows system to one of the previous checkpoints is not a difficult task. It is only important that these points themselves exist in the system, because sometimes users themselves manually disable their creation, at the same time deleting existing ones. It really makes sense to periodically clear old control points, since they take up a lot of space. But giving up recovery points altogether is a risky endeavor.
How to navigate the Internet without picking up viruses? Secure DNS servers will help.
To make sure that restore points are automatically created for you or to make changes to the corresponding settings, you need to select the “Large Icons” (or Small Icons, but not Categories) icon display in the “Options” window and select the “Recovery” item. There, select “System recovery settings”, check whether protection is enabled and, if necessary, use the “Configure” button. Here you can manually create a point for subsequent recovery.
If we have restore points, then using the method described earlier, that is, using the built-in Windows system recovery tools, you can quickly roll back to an earlier state of the computer without losing important files.
In extreme cases, you will have to restore the system to its original state or to a previously created system image. It is advisable to create a “System Image” and a “System Repair Disk” in a working state of the operating system, after you have installed all the applications you need. This is all done through the same “Control Panel” (aka “Settings”), when viewing by “Categories”, selecting “Backup and Restore (Windows 7)”. Here you can restore the operating system to a previously created image if the computer still boots, but has no longer worked as it should.
With each release of the operating system, Microsoft requests more and more information from users. But you can moderate her appetites.
Restoring a laptop to factory settings
If standard tools do not help, and you do not have a disk or USB device with a recovery image, then laptop owners can use “hot keys” to launch the built-in recovery utility. Some models may even have a separate key for these purposes, for example, OneKey Recovery from Lenovo, but this is rather an exception. In other cases, it is important to know which hotkey is for your laptop, since it tends to differ among manufacturers.
Hotkeys for laptop manufacturers:
- F3– MSI;
- F4– Samsung;
- F8– Fujitsu Siemens;
- F8- Toshiba;
- F9- ASUS;
- F10- Sony VAIO;
- F10- Packard Bell;
- F11- HP Pavilion;
- F11- LG;
- F11- Lenovo ThinkPad;
- Alt+F10- Acer (before this, select Disk-to-Disk (D2D) in the BIOS);
- Ctrl+F11- Dell Inspiron;
- Hold [ Alt] - Rover.
Factory Utility will restore the device to its original condition, as if it had just come from the store. This will delete all programs with settings, all files, including favorite photos, which it makes sense to store in cloud services just for such cases. However, the device will be able to work again, and in some cases this method will simply help prepare the laptop for subsequent resale or transfer to relatives.
Recovery - what kind of program is this? Translated from English into Russian "recovery"- This "recovery". Recovery is a program pre-installed by the manufacturer on the hard drive of a laptop or in the internal memory of a smartphone, which allows you to roll back the device (laptop, phone, tablet) to its factory state. On smartphones, this program is launched from the off state by simultaneously pressing and holding the power button and the volume button (usually “up”, but sometimes “down” or both) for a few seconds. There is no such uniformity for laptops.
How to run recovery on laptops
After turning on the laptop, we begin to feverishly press the keys:
F3– MSI recovery;
F4– Samsung. Under OS it is possible through Samsung Recovery Solution;
F8– Fujitsu Siemens. In general, it often allows you to get into the proprietary Recovery utility on other laptops (through troubleshooting).
F8- Toshiba recovery;
F9- ASUS recovery;
F10- Sony VAIO. Under OS it is possible through VAIO Recovery Utility;
F10- Packard Bell;
F11- HP recovery;
F11- LG recovery;
F11- Lenovo recovery.
Alt+F10- Acer recovery. Before doing this, select Disk-to-Disk (D2D recovery) in the BIOS;
Ctrl+F11- Dell Inspiron;
F8 or F9- Dell XPS.
Clamp- Rover
In the main WinSetupFromUSB window, select the name of our flash drive.
Put a tick on the item Auto format it with FBinst and check the FAT32 box,
Check the box Vista/7/8/Server 2008/2012 based ISO and click on the button that opens the Explorer window.
Explorer opens, find the ISO image of the Live CD AOMEI PE Builder on the computer and select it with the left mouse, click "Open".
Click “GO”.
"Yes"
The creation of a bootable Live CD AOMEI PE Builder flash drive begins.
The bootable USB flash drive is ready.
"OK"
We boot the laptop from the bootable USB flash drive Live CD AOMEI PE Builder. Our flash drive is universal; from it you can boot a laptop with a UEFI interface, as well as a regular BIOS.
Press “Enter” on the keyboard.
The Live CD AOMEI PE Builder desktop loads, which is a regular Live CD based on Windows 8.1.
We connect a portable USB hard drive or a regular flash drive with a capacity of 16-32 GB to the laptop.
Click on the Windows Disk Management button.
In disk management, three drives connected to the laptop are visible.
Disk 0. Laptop hard drive with all partitions:
The first hidden partition without a letter, volume 450 MB, contains the Windows 8.1 recovery environment.
The second hidden partition without a letter, volume 100 MB, with EFI system partition (contains the boot configuration store (BCD) and operating system boot files).
Partition (C:) with Windows 8.1 installed, which does not boot.
Section (D:) with user data files.
The last hidden partition without a letter, volume 20.37 GB, is where the factory image of Windows 8.1 is located. We need to enter this partition and copy the factory WIM image to a portable USB hard drive (I’ll explain why later).
Disc 1. Bootable USB flash drive Live CD AOMEI PE Builder.
Disc 2. Portable USB hard drive, capacity 1 TB.
Before work, the drive (C:) needs to be formatted. Right-click on it and select “Format”
"OK"
The drive (C:) is formatted.
Launch the command line
and assign a letterhidden partition, volume 20.37 GB.
Enter the commands:
diskpart
lis vol (list all hard drive partitions)
sel vol 5 (using this command we select hidden RECOVERY partition without a letter, volume 20.37 GB, with a factory image of Windows 8.1)
assign (the command assigns a letter to the hidden partition).
Open the My Computer window and see that the hidden partition is assigned a letter (E:), go to this partition.
First of all, we enable the display of hidden files and folders, otherwise we will not see the factory WIM image with Windows 8.1, since it has the “Hidden” attribute. Left-click on View and check the “Hidden” items box.
Next we look in the folders factory WIM image. On my laptop it is in the folder"Factory" is called install.wim. Regardless of the laptop manufacturer, the file containing the factory image of Windows called install.wim.
Sometimes this file is divided into several files with the extension .swm I will also explain to you what to do with these files later in the article.
So, let's copy our file install.wim to a portable USB hard drive. Right-click on the file and select"Copy"
Go to the partition (H:) of the portable USB hard drive.
Right-click on an empty space and select Paste.
File install.wim is copied to the partition (H:).
File install.wim is copied to the partition (H:).
Friends, now all we have to do is expand the contents of the file using the command line install.wim(factory image of Windows 8.1) to disk (C:), for this you need to enter only one command, but you need to enter it correctly, the file index must be indicated in the commandinstall.wim and it's easy to define.
Any install.wim file must have a so-called image index and in the next command we must specify it. To determine the image index of the install.wim file, open the command line and enter the command:
Dism /Get-WimInfo /WimFile:H:\install.wim
Where H:, the drive letter where the file is located install.wim.
As you can see, the image index 1 .
Accordingly, enter the following command:
imagex /apply /check H:\install.wim 1 C:\
where image /apply /check H:\install.wim 1 C:\, means unpack the file install.wim from disk (H:) with the image checked for errors, on disk (C:), and 1 is the image index.
The Windows 8.1 image from the file begins to unpack install.wim to drive (C:). In other words, we did it using the command line and the utility ImageX is what the factory reset program was supposed to do - deploy the factory image from the hidden partition to the (C:) drive.
Progress 100%. Unpacking completed successfully. Factory Windows 8.1 deployed to disk (C:)!
We reboot the laptop and enter the final phase of installing Windows 8.1.
We do not change the language and regional settings.
We accept the terms of the license agreement.
The laptop manufacturer may ask you to create your ID and register the system. You can refuse by unchecking the appropriate boxes.
Enter the computer name.
You can immediately set up an Internet connection via WI-FI or refuse.
"Skip this step".
You can manually configure the settings, as I told you how to do this.
Or you can “Use standard settings”
Enter your username and click “Finish”
Windows 8.1 is loading.
When you connect to the Internet, the operating system is automatically activated.
I foresee your questions:
1. Hello admin! You found out the image index install.wim using the utilityDism, why didn’t they further expand the image using it?
Yes, you are right, you can use the Dism utility, the command will look like this:
Dism /apply-image /imagefile:H:\install.wim /index:1 /ApplyDir:C:\
but since Windows 7 I’ve gotten used to the ImageX utility, Dism does the same thing, but the commands are 2 times longer, which means the likelihood of errors (especially for an inexperienced user) increases.
2. Why transfer the install.wim file from a hidden partition of the laptop hard drive to a portable USB hard drive?
Basically, it doesn't matter where the file is located install.wim, and on the command line you can specify the full path to the file, for example, in my case, the command would look like this:
imagex /apply /check E:\OKRBackup\Factory\install.wim 1 C:\
3. What should I do if there is no file on my laptop in the hidden section? install.wim, and there is a group of files:
install4.swm...?
In this case, you need to add a key ref and the command will look like this:
imagex /apply /check /ref H:\install*.swm H:\install.swm 1 C:\
If you use Dism, the command will look like this:
Dism /apply-image /imagefile:H:\Install.Swm /SWMFile:H:\install*.swm /index:1 /ApplyDir:C:\
4. After expanding the file install.wim, the Windows 8.1 boot loader gave an error. What to do?
It is better to restore the bootloader in a recovery environment. There is a shortcut on the desktop of Live CD AOMEI PE Builder to go to WIN 8.1 recovery environment - Windows Recovery Environment.
5. I have a 32-bit operating system and your image Live CD AOMEI PE Builder 64 bit, not suitable for me.
15.06.2019
Often, restoring the operating system or rolling it back allows you to quickly and effectively get rid of many serious problems that, for example, appeared after installing updates. Unlike previous variations of Windows OS, version 10 offers five ways to help restore the functionality of the graphical shell.
In what cases is system recovery necessary?
Often, personal computer users resort to system recovery after receiving new updates for the OS. Unfortunately, despite the quality of the operating system itself, Microsoft often releases “crooked” updates. After installing them, there may be two development options:
- the first is OS recovery and rollback;
- the second is waiting for patches. They appear quite quickly, so you should not immediately resort to such drastic measures as rolling back the system (except in rare cases when the security of your PC may suffer).
A more common reason why you need to perform an OS restore is that the software is not working correctly. For example, if the user installed any drivers, after which the programs stopped functioning properly, then the best solution to the problem would be recovery.
More advanced PC users often try to make some changes to the system registry. This is a common practice, but in inexperienced hands it can be pointless and cause a lot of harm. Since the system registry contains information about all applications, their data, including data from the system itself, there is no need to make any adjustments here. If after the changes the PC stops working as before, it is necessary to use OS recovery.
It should be noted that if the PC begins to work somehow differently, errors of an unknown kind appear, you can always use the recovery function. It will not harm the operation of the device, but will delete all changes that were made after the date the restore point was created.
Methods to restore Windows 10 OS (if the system boots)
Microsoft in the latest version of the OS has provided users with many options for restoring the OS. The choice of one method or another directly depends on the capabilities of the user, as well as the state of the device itself. Let's consider three options:
- using a restore point;
- reset to factory settings;
- changing file history.
Restore point
One of the most useful features of the Windows 10 operating system is the restore point. It was present in previous versions, but did not involve storing many variations of the OS state. Typically, a restore point was created either automatically after making changes to system files or drivers, or manually by the user. Now, if errors occur in the operation of the device, you can always use the optimal rollback point.
Restore points still contain only information about the changes made. As such, there is no operating system image in this case. This means that if you did not create restore points yourself, then the list will display only those dates when changes were made to critical and system OS files.
First, the user needs to enter the recovery settings section of the Windows 10 operating system. This can be done as follows:
- Use the combination Win + R button on your keyboard.
- Enter the "Restore" command in the field.
In the panel, click the “Create a restore point” button
- In the window that appears, open the “System Protection” tab. In the “Protection Settings” section you can see all available hard drive partitions. Separate restore points are created for each of them. Pay attention to the "Protection" field. Select the required section and change its state using the “Customize” button.
Change the recovery point settings for the selected hard drive partition
- Change the option status to “Enable system protection”. Also, do not forget to specify the optimal amount of disk space. It will be used to create operating system restore points in the future. Save your changes.
Activate the function of creating a restore point and specify the amount of memory that will be used for these purposes
Once the specified amount of memory is reached, old restore points will be deleted and overwritten by new ones.
To use existing restore points, follow these steps:
- Right-click on the Start icon and select Settings.
- Find the "Update and Security" button in the list.
- In the menu on the left, go to the “Recovery” section. Click the "Run System Restore" button and a window with options will appear. There are two options here:
- Recommended recovery options. Used in cases where the likely cause of problems with the system is incorrect drivers, updates and other software;
Select the appropriate restore points: recommended or custom
- Using user-created restore points. If you did not create them, then not a single option will appear in the list.
All points created by the user are displayed in a list from which the appropriate option is selected
- Recommended recovery options. Used in cases where the likely cause of problems with the system is incorrect drivers, updates and other software;
- After selecting the appropriate restore point, click the “Next” button and wait for the procedure to complete. It will take at least 5–20 minutes, depending on the selected date and PC configuration. This will automatically restart your computer. When you log back into the graphical shell, the system will report that the recovery was successful.
To create an OS restore point yourself:
Video: how to create a restore point in Windows 10
Factory reset
This feature is a kind of novelty, since in previous versions of the Windows 10 operating system the only thing the user could do was to reinstall the OS themselves. In this case, the presence of a corresponding CD or image was mandatory.
This is not required when working with Windows 10. The system will use executable files stored on the hard drive for installation. In this case, the reset procedure itself will take 20 minutes or more (directly depends on the device configuration).
The same can be done without entering the graphical shell on the user selection screen. Hold down the Shift button and at the same time press the Restart button in the lower right part of the window. A special window will appear in which you will need to use the “Diagnostics” tool, and then select “Reset to original state”.
As an analogue, you can use the new feature that appeared in Windows 10 called “Start over”. This process is practically no different from the option described above, except that a clean installation of the operating system will be performed. It starts in a few clicks and can take about 20 minutes, depending on the computer. A distinctive advantage of this function is that, compared to a standard reset, it will not restore additional software that was installed after purchasing the device (antiviruses, programs from the manufacturer, and much more).
To take advantage of this feature, do the following:
- Find “Windows Defender” in the tray and activate it.
- Go to the “Device Performance” tab.
- Find the "Start Over" or "New Start" option.
Under New Start, click More Information
- Click "More Information" and then use the "Get Started" button.
To activate the function, click the “Get Started” button
- A window will appear warning the user of any possible changes. If you agree, then click the “Next” button.
Activate the Start Again feature to start a clean version of Windows 10 and confirm its execution
- A list of all applications and programs that will be uninstalled will be displayed. The last thing left to do is to confirm the procedure and wait for it to complete. Upon completion, a file will appear on the desktop where all changes will be detailed. There will also be a special directory with the old version of the operating system.
Video: How to perform a factory reset on Windows 10
File history
The File History feature first appeared in the Windows 8 operating system. It can be very useful, especially for non-professional users. This feature is useful if you accidentally deleted an important file or directory, incorrect changes were made, or the data of a program was infected with malicious software. In all these cases, the user can use the “File History” function, which allows you to restore the previous, working state.
It is worth saying that this feature has its own settings. If the user has not made any changes, the system will automatically back up folders such as Desktop, Documents, Pictures, Music and Videos. Storage periods are also configurable, but by default the data in these files will be stored for an unlimited amount of time.
To launch settings and view this feature, use the standard Windows 10 search and enter “File History” in the field.
In the “History Storage” section, the user will see the hard drive partitions and drives used, as well as the status of the function itself. To activate it, just select the appropriate section and click on the “Enable” button.
Enable file history recording on your computer
If you want to change your saving options, use the "Advanced Options" button. Here you can configure the period of time after which files will be saved, as well as their storage period.
Change the settings to suit your needs by selecting the saving interval and file storage time
To use the recovery function through File History, open the directory where the necessary information was stored. In the “Home” tab you will see the “File History” icon, which is what you will need in this case.
Go to the directory to restore the file and activate the entry to the “File History” section
To restore files and data, just enter “File History”, select the appropriate document and click on the restore button, after which it will reappear in the directory. The procedure itself is completed in a matter of minutes.
Select the file you want to restore and confirm the procedure
Video: how to use file history in Windows 10
Windows 10 Advanced Recovery (if the system won't boot)
Some problems that any user of a personal computer may encounter are very serious and lead to the fact that the graphical shell does not load at all. In such cases, you may not be able to use the methods described above.
Fortunately, Microsoft has provided for this scenario and added several functions that will allow you to return the computer to a working state in cases where you cannot log into the OS.
Windows 10 Recovery Disk
A recovery disk is a standard tool that allows you to return the system to a working state. Don’t pay attention to the name itself: not only a CD or DVD drive, but also a regular flash drive can act as a disk.
The only drawback of this method is that the user needs to write information about the operating system onto removable media in advance and thereby create this recovery disk. In any case, you can use another computer or the help of friends.
A recovery disk involves saving the most important information about the operating system (files and directories) to removable media. This will allow them to be used in the future to replace damaged components.
To create a disk, do the following:
Video: How to create a Windows 10 recovery disk
Installation disk
An installation disk or other storage device that contains an image of the Windows 10 operating system is very useful. For example, if the OS does not want to boot, using such a drive can easily and quickly solve the problem.
If you do not have such a disk, use the built-in operating system tools to create one. This can be done as follows:
- Search the Start menu and select Control Panel and open it.
- Change the display options to Large Icons and select the Recovery option.
In Control Panel, select the Recovery option
- A window will appear where the user can create a recovery disk using the appropriate button.
In the list of options, select "Create a recovery disk"
- Install the drive and select it in the working window. Confirm the creation procedure and wait for it to complete.
Select the appropriate one from the list of installed drives and use it to create a disk
The last step is to change the boot order of the personal computer components through the BIOS.
Activate the built-in environment when booting the device using the Del button (button combinations depend on the motherboard manufacturer). Go to the Boot Configuration Features tab. Here, change the boot order of the components so that either the optical drive or USB is installed first. This depends on what drive was used to create the boot disk.
It is very important to remember the order in which the elements load, especially if you are a novice user. Otherwise, after making changes, the system will boot incorrectly.
Exit the BIOS and wait for the OS installation window to appear. Here you can do it in any convenient way:
- perform a system rollback using a restore point;
- perform a system restore at boot;
- reinstall it and much more.
Windows 10 System Restore Error 0x80070091
A common problem that PC users may encounter when restoring is error 0x80070091. If it appears, you will not be able to use the device again, and the recovery process will not be completed.
It is necessary to warn in advance that it is extremely difficult to get rid of this problem and the user must be aware that all measures he resorts to are carried out at his own peril and risk. It is likely that some manipulations can lead to other problems.
The reason for this error lies in the contents of the Program Files folder, namely WindowsApps. Usually the problem appears after the next OS update.
The solution to the problem is very simple. To do this, simply delete the directory itself and subsequently use a restore point. How to create and use it was described above.
- Activate Command Prompt with administrator rights by right-clicking on it and selecting “Run as administrator” from the context menu
- In the field, enter the command TAKEOWN /F “C:\Program Files\WidowsApps” /R /D Y.
Enter the command in the field to rename the folder
- After the process is completed, activate the display of hidden files and folders by checking the corresponding item in the “View” tab in “Explorer Options”.
Enable the display of hidden files and folders through “Explorer Options”
- To change the name of the system directory, download the Unlocker utility. It can be easily found in a search engine and installed.
- Launch the program and select the WindowsApps directory, then change its name and click the Unlock All button. After these changes the error will be fixed.
Open the option to change the WindowsApps directory and change its name
How to recover your Windows 10 activation key yourself
When you first install and activate the operating system, a user-specified key is automatically assigned to the device. It can also be saved to a personal account, which can be useful when, for example, you are going to install the same OS on another computer.
However, no one is immune from the fact that after the next update the license key will simply disappear, and your version of Windows 10 will no longer work properly.
Restoring it is quite simple. This is where the function in which the key is literally assigned to the account will help us. To recover the key, follow these steps:
The entire further process of working with this option is described above.
Please note that upon completion of the procedure, the license key will return to its place, but some information will still be deleted. This will depend on the recovery method that was chosen.
How to restore screen resolution
After reinstalling the operating system or restoring it, the screen resolution often becomes non-standard. For example, if you previously used 1920x1080, then it will probably change to something else after the above procedures.
The problem can be solved in two ways:
Video: how to change screen resolution in Windows 10
Windows 10 password recovery and reset
If you set a password to log into your computer account, but for some reason forgot it, use recovery tools. The procedure directly depends on the type of account used (local or Microsoft).
Resetting your Microsoft account password is done online. It can even be done using a mobile phone.
If everything was specified correctly, follow the instructions on the screen. This way you can easily and quickly regain access to your computer.
The second possible way to fix the immediate problem is to use the built-in administrator account. This option is most appropriate if you have forgotten your local account password.
An important feature of this option is the need to use a recovery disk. How to make and use it was described above.
Change the settings for loading computer components through the BIOS, as described above. When the window for selecting the language to install appears, use the key combination Shift + F10. Here, enter the commands one by one:
Remember the name of the hard disk partition on which the directory with the operating system is stored; this will be required later. Enter the exit command to exit the diskpart utility.
Also in the “Command Line” enter the following commands:
If the operations are completed without errors, exit and change the boot options in the BIOS.
All that remains is to return to the account selection screen and select “Command Line” in the accessibility section. Enter the following information: net user username new password. This way you can change the password and use it to enter the graphical shell.
Video: how to recover or reset your account password in Windows 10
There are many recovery tools for the Windows 10 operating system, most of them can be used even if the user is not able to log into the computer’s graphical shell. You can also resort to additional tools in the form of special programs created by third-party developers, but it is better to use a standard set of tools in the system itself.
BIOS– a set of utilities that are installed on the motherboard, which make it possible to turn on the device to install the OS. With its help, Windows 10 is loaded, a storage medium is selected, the range of thermal sensors is indicated, and various parameters are configured. If the system stops booting, errors occur and recovery cannot be performed using the standard method, you can do so through the BIOS.
How to restore Windows 10 via BIOS.
But this method can only be used if you have an installation disk or flash drive with a distribution kit of a licensed operating system with the version and bit depth that you have installed; this option is not possible without an external drive.
First of all, you need to start by setting the BIOS to read the disk immediately when you start the computer.
If preparing automatic recovery does not make it possible to restart the computer normally, you need to do it forcibly by holding down the shutdown buttons for 10-15 seconds, as soon as the system starts to boot, you need to press one of the keys: F1, F4, F3, Delete, F8 (tell exactly which one exactly what you need to press cannot be done, as it depends on the motherboard model on your device).
You can look in the instructions for your computer or on the manufacturer’s website to find out which key you will need to log in. On most PCs, the “Delete” button is used; on laptops, the key combination “ctrl+alt+esc” can be used.
After the BIOS starts, go to the Boot section.
You need to find the “1st boot device” parameter, which can be located in the “Boot Device Configuration”, “Advanced Features”, “Boot”, “Boot Sequence” section. There you will need to set the parameter for the CDROM or PXE UND I disk to boot from a flash drive:
Press “F10” to save the result, insert the disk into the drive or connect the flash drive on which the distribution is stored, then reboot the device.
After the computer boots, the initial system installation menu will appear, where you will need to click on the “System Restore” button.
The “Select actions” menu will open; select “Diagnostics”.
Then go to the “Advanced options” item.
After clicking, a window will open asking you to select a restore point.
Startup Repair scans your computer for errors and fixes them when they are found. You can try to run the utility, but in most cases, after searching, it usually displays a message that the computer could not be restored.
If you had a rollback provided and your Windows was successfully restored after the above steps, then after this you will need to go into the BIOS and return the hard drive boot priority back to first place.
How to restore Windows 10 through the command line.
If you did not create a checkpoint, you can try restoring the Windows 10 system via the command line. To do this, you will also need a boot disk or flash drive with the Windows operating system installed on the computer.
In the "Advanced Options" section, select "Command Line"
In the window that opens, type “fixboot”.
Then the action must be confirmed by pressing the “Y” key.
After restoring the Windows 10 bootloader, the system needs to be checked for damaged system files.
Options for solving problems with damaged system files
- The boot sector of the operating system is damaged.
In the command line you need to enter “fixboot”, press “Enter”, then enter “fixmbr”, press “Enter”. After this, the windows boot sector will be restored. The computer can be restarted normally. - The boot.ini file has disappeared.
In the line you need to type “bootcfg /rebuild”, then press “Enter”. Confirm all possible system questions by pressing the “Y” and “Enter” keys. - The config in the system32 folder is damaged.
You need to insert the disk with your OS version into the drive, enter “cd repair copy SYSTEM C:\windows\system32\config” in the command line, and then press “Enter”. - The files “ntldr” or “ntdetect.com” are missing, the system displays the message: “NTLDR is missing when loading Windows.”
- Enter “copy X:\i386\ntldr C:\” in the command line, press “Enter” (Where X is the letter of your drive, and C is the letter of your system drive on which your OS is installed).
Restoring the system via the command line while the computer is on.
If you do not want to restart your computer, you can restore the system via the command line from Windows. To do this, you will need to insert the disc into the DVD-ROM while the PC is loaded. Then launch the command line by pressing the hotkey combination “Win + R” and in the search bar of the “Run” window, enter “sfc /scannow” and click “OK”. After which the broken system distributions will be copied from the boot disk automatically. System recovery and rollback are quite quick and trouble-free.
If you are interested in restoring Windows 10, then you have come to the right place.
Let's figure out how to get Windows 10 back up and running without using third-party programs.
System Restore
This option will help correct errors that appeared after installing software, Windows updates, changes in the registry, and similar actions.
The Resume feature allows you to return registry settings and protected system files to a previously saved state - to one of the checkpoints that Windows creates automatically.
The user's documents are not affected.
Regeneration points in the “tens” are created before installing programs, drivers, system updates, or simply once every 7 days. In addition, the user can create them manually.
Procedure
- Go to the Control Panel, open the “Recovery” applet and select “Run System Restore” from the list of commands.
- Select the checkpoint created before the failure and click Finish.
- While the task is running, the computer will restart. After 5-7 minutes, Windows 10 will return to the state that preceded the problem.
Resuming the system is also available when Windows 10 does not start. If the download fails, you will see the following instead of the welcome window:
By clicking the “Additional recovery options” button, you will be offered a choice of action. Here you need to click on “Diagnostics”.
After this, a familiar window will open asking you to select a control point. Follow the instructions and wait for the wizard to finish.
Restoring your computer to its original state
This option can help you deal with errors that System Resume does not resolve, or when appropriate checkpoints are missing or not created.
Restoring Windows 10 to its original state can be done:
- With saving user files and a number of pre-installed programs. In this case, all system settings, drivers and software installed by the user will be reset.
- Without saving personal data, programs and settings. This option returns the system to the state it was after a clean installation. There will be no user information left in it.
Important! On computers and laptops where Windows 10 was installed by the manufacturer, a third option may be available - restoring to factory settings. This deletes not only user data and settings, but also the contents of non-system partitions of the hard drive.
Returning to the factory state without saving personal information is used as a last resort - an alternative to reinstalling the system in case of intractable failures, as well as before selling the computer or transferring it to another user.
How to reset Windows 10 to its original state
- Open the Start menu and click the Settings button.
- Select Update & Security from the list of options.
- Next, select "Recovery".
- In the "Reset your computer" section, click the "Get Started" button.
- After that, select the option you need: “Keep my files” or “Delete everything”.
In about 40-60 minutes, Windows 10 will be up and running again.
Rollback to a previous version of the system (Windows 7 or 8)
This method is available only to those who installed the “ten” in the order of updating the previous OS - “seven” or “eight”. And it is possible only within a month after the update.
In this case, the user’s files in personal folders, drivers, software and settings of the previous system will be saved, and everything that was in Windows 10 will be deleted.
To roll back to the originally installed OS, launch the Settings application from the Start menu, open Update and Security, then Recovery and select Return to Windows 8.1 (7).
If this item is not in the list of parameters, then the function is not available. It will also be unavailable if the user has deleted the Windows.old folder from the system partition of the hard drive.
Reinstalling Windows 10 from a recovery disc
This option will be useful for those who have created a regeneration disk in advance. It stores a backup copy of the system with working parameters.
To create a recovery disk, you must do the following:
- prepare a blank DVD or flash drive (the minimum storage capacity is determined individually) and connect to the computer;
- open the “Recovery” section in the control panel, select “Create a recovery disk” and follow the instructions.
The finished Windows backup media should be stored in a safe place and not used for anything else.
How to restore Windows 10 from a backup
If the system boots, open the Settings app -> Update & Security -> Recovery and Reset your PC.
After rebooting into the recovery environment, select the “Diagnostics” and “System image recovery” sections.
Windows will be automatically restored, saving user files, software and settings. The system state will be the same as when the backup was created.
Mid-summer 2015 was marked by the release of the widely anticipated Windows 10 operating system. Consumers were able to get it by downloading a free update. Which is offered by every computer with Windows 7 and 8.1 installed. The new version has designated itself as the most reliable. But like any mechanism, it can sooner or later fail. Older versions offered different ways to fix errors. Windows 10 was no exception. How to return it to working condition or correct errors is described in this article.
The operating system itself offers users a wide choice of recovery methods. First, you will need to diagnose the suspected problem with Windows 10. For example, if the computer does not boot or freezes a lot, then you should use the troubleshooting tools that are present on the installation disks. If the operating system still loads, but does not work well or often freezes, then you can use the system itself to return to working condition.
There are three main methods for restoring system functionality, each of which is suitable in different situations based on the diagnosis of the problem itself. All of them are known and are similar to the methods that were in older versions of Windows:
- return to original parameters;
- restore point;
- return to working condition using an OS image;
- Windows 10 boot disk;
Correction using the "Restore Point" method
The most common method that does not require much knowledge in information technology is to use restore points. To use this method, the user needs to click on the notification tab, then select the following items: “All settings” - “Update and security” - “Recovery”.
You can also get to this menu even without completely loading the OS. To do this, after the welcome screen appears, where the computer prompts you to enter a password, you need to click on the power icon and hold down the Shift key. After a couple of seconds, a window will appear in which you need to select the “Diagnostics” item and go to the “Reset to original state” tab.
To start fixing problems in Windows 10, in the “Restore to original state” item, click on the “Start” button. After this, a dialog box will appear that will offer two options for reinstalling the OS:
Method by deleting all files and completely reinstalling the OS
This method deletes all old owner data and Windows 10 settings. After which all necessary drivers and the operating system itself are installed. All actions occur automatically - this prevents errors that may occur due to the human factor.
The disadvantage of this method is that it will not be able to resurrect the OS if there is damage on the hard drive. This will require other methods.
OS with storage of personal data
The method returns the computer to its original form, but at the same time retains all the owner’s data. During this correction, files stored in the users folder (sections such as “Documents”, “Images”, “Downloads”, etc.) are not formatted. But at the same time, all programs that were previously installed will be deleted. 
Restore point
This method has been used for many years by Windows. The system points for fixing a non-working OS are known to many, but few know how to check or enable them. They help the computer owner get things working in case of unsuccessful installation of a driver or other programs that lead to Windows 10 failure.
To make sure that the program creates such points on a schedule, the user needs to go to the “System Setup and Recovery” menu. To do this, right-click on the “Start” button and select the following items one by one: “Control Panel” – “Recovery” – “System recovery settings”. 
Typically, point creation occurs automatically on a schedule, and this feature is enabled by default. But the owner can always change most of the parameters independently by clicking on the “Customize” button.
All recovery points are created automatically when any important software settings and parameters are changed, as well as various services, program installations, etc. In case of experiments or other dangerous situations, the owner can create a record of the system state himself.
If Windows 10 does not work well after installing a program or driver, then by going to the appropriate item, you can return it to its original state. To do this, select the “Start system recovery” section, where the user can select the date the point was created. Having agreed to the changes, you should click the “Continue” button, after which the OS will return to the state that was saved earlier.
Creating a full Windows 10 recovery image
The developers have left a function for creating a complete OS recovery image on a hard drive (built-in or external) or on several optical DVDs.
The difference from the previously used option is that the process creates a complete reflection of the operating system, including all installed programs, necessary drivers, and individual settings that are relevant when loading the image. In the previous version, the user could only receive the OS installation file and save personal data.
It is best to create such a file immediately after the complete installation of the OS, all drivers and necessary programs, when the computer is fully configured and not cluttered with unnecessary files and applications.
To record this image, go to the “Control Panel” menu, here open the “File History” item. In the lower left part of the window, select the line “Backup system image”, then “Create a system image”. An alternative way: go to the “All Settings” menu, select “Update and Security”, then the “Backup Service” line, in the window that opens, click “Activation and Recovery (Windows 7)”, then “Create a system image”.
In the menu that appears, the user can independently indicate the path where the created file should be saved: options will be offered: to a hard drive, to a DVD drive or to a network folder, select the one you need, and you can also mark the items and partitions on the disks that need to be included in the backup copy , and which ones to remove from it. Most often, this is the section occupied by the OS itself and the software parts of the disk. 
Subsequently, the resulting file can be used to quickly return the computer to the desired state. You can launch this function from the image itself from the disk on which it is saved, or select the “Recovery” menu in the program. To do this, you need to go to the “Diagnostics” window, select the “Advanced options” line, and then “System image recovery”.
Windows 10 boot disk
Resuscitation work can be carried out either from a bootable CD/DVD disk or from a flash drive.
In older versions of Windows, a specialized disk with a set of repair utilities was used. In a modern OS, this is a full-fledged disk with Windows 10 and various recovery programs.
For security, the user can create such a disk himself using the built-in tools of Windows 10. To do this, go to the “Create a recovery disk” menu.
This feature is also useful for quickly installing the system. To do this, you need to select the item that makes a backup copy with a complete copy of all program files.
To launch such media, you need to restart the computer and first, before loading the OS, go to bootmenu and select the desired disk. Or this function can be configured in the BIOS, indicating from which media the boot will take place.
After saving the settings, the installation welcome window should appear. Here, you need to select System Restore, then the “Diagnostics” section. This will allow the user to fix the system in several ways: 
- Command line – here, you can correct errors by manually entering commands and launching various utilities. This method is suitable for advanced users.
- Restoring the OS from an image - boots from a previously saved image.
- Restore point – loaded from a previously saved system state.
- Startup Repair – Fixes any important program files that may have become corrupted.
- You can also go into the BIOS to fix or make changes to system settings.
Having such a device, the user can protect himself in many matters. An advantage can be considered the quick installation of Windows 10, with existing drivers on board.
As can already be seen from the above, Windows 10 offers a very large selection in correcting system errors. Even an inexperienced user can master them. They have the simplest and most convenient mechanism for interacting with a person.
Many may argue that there are now a large number of products on the software market aimed at fixing the OS. They also have a convenient and intuitive interface. The flexible data saving algorithm is more advanced than in the operating system itself. All this gives the green light to third-party programs. But, as a rule, they cost a lot of money. Therefore, it would be good practice for the owner to know how to revive Windows 10 using the system itself.
In contact with
The Windows 10 recovery image is an official tool with which you can restore your OS to functionality if problems occur with it. You have two ways to get an image. The first way is to download a Windows 10 recovery image from the Internet. The second way is to create this image yourself, when your system is still working as stable as possible. Ideal if you choose the second method. It is best to create an image at the moment when you have just installed the OS. At this point, your system is as close to a clean state as possible.
How to use a Windows 10 recovery image
The Windows 10 recovery image must be written to a USB flash drive. After all, if problems happen to your computer, then you will not be able to use the data recorded on your hard drive. Therefore, no matter which of the two methods you choose, you must write the data to the USB flash drive. The recovery image requires a flash drive of at least 4 GB. We recommend creating such a flash drive immediately after you have installed the system. You have 2 ways to obtain a recovery image:- Create an image on your computer;
- Download a Windows 10 recovery image from the Internet;
It is not possible to download a recovery image for your computer. You can only create a personal image yourself, because it is unique. Of course, the image is created at a time before you have any problems. Experts recommend creating images regularly. For example, once every six months or year. You should always have the image at hand. After all, a computer can be disabled at any time. If you do not have a ready-made image, and your computer is broken, then you will need a second device on which you will create a Windows 10 recovery image from a Windows 10 image. Of course, for this you must read the instructions,