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Reset This PC Button Not Working: 6 Ways to Force it
Resetting your PC might not work due to a faulty installation media
7 min. read
Updated onMarch 20, 2024
updated onMarch 20, 2024
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Key notes
Resetting this PC in Windows 10 allows you to choose whether you’ll keep your files or remove them altogether. The reset option is perfect if you encounter severe problems since it will reinstall your operating system without performing the clean install.
However, some users are complaining that resetting their PC is not working. This can be a big problem andprevent you from resetting your Windows installation, but in this article, we’ll try to fix this problem.
Why can’t I factory reset my PC?
This is a pretty common problem, and it’s usually followed byThere was a problem resetting your PCmessage. The message appears on multiple operating systems, including Windows 11, 10, 8, and 7.
Lastly, let’s look at the variations of this error message to figure out the causes behind it:
How do you force a factory reset on a PC?
1. Run SFC and DISM Scan
The practical example below briefly describes you how to run the SFC or DISM Scan using the Windows PowerShell tool.
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If prompted for permissions, clickYes.
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Now run the following command:sfc/scannow
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Now, type the command below and hitEnter:DISM /Online /Cleanup-Image /RestoreHealth
If the reset of this PC feature is not responding, you may also use adedicated registry cleaner softwareto clean your registry.
2. Use the Media Creation Tool
3. Use System Image Recovery
4. Set your computer for Clean Boot
Performing a clean boot for your computer reduces software-related conflicts that can bring up the root causes of the PC reset bluescreen error issue.
These conflicts can be caused by applications and services that typically start up and run in the background when you start Windows.
You will have a clean boot environment after all these steps are carefully followed, after which you can try the PC reset again.
5. Perform a Refresh/Reset from WinRE
If you still experience the PC reset error, try booting from Windows 10 media, then perform Automatic repair from Windows Recovery Environment (WinRE).
Once the repair is complete, try performing the PC reset to see whether the issue persists.
However, ifAutomatic Repair won’t work, check out this troubleshooting guide to fix the problem.
6. Perform a clean install
If the reset this PC option is not working, or you are wondering how to force reset Windows 10, you might need to insert an installation media to perform a clean install.
Also, this last solution is important if you can’t reset the PC without a recovery key.
If your PC doesn’t reset, you should check your installation media, ensure it’s properly configured, and try all other solutions from this guide.
What are other problems with resetting your PC?
These aren’t the only issues; several users reported thatWindows gets stuck during the factory resetprocess
If you didn’t fix the problem, your only option might be a complete reinstall. To learn more, read ourhow to clean install Windows 10 guidefor detailed instructions.
For Windows 11 users, we also have a selectReset this PC feature not working guidethat addresses similar problems on that version.
Let us know whether any of the above solutions worked for you by dropping your comment below.
More about the topics:PC Reset,System Errors
Milan Stanojevic
Windows Toubleshooting Expert
Milan has been enthusiastic about technology ever since his childhood days, and this led him to take interest in all PC-related technologies. He’s a PC enthusiast and he spends most of his time learning about computers and technology.
Before joining WindowsReport, he worked as a front-end web developer. Now, he’s one of the Troubleshooting experts in our worldwide team, specializing in Windows errors & software issues.
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Milan Stanojevic
Windows Toubleshooting Expert
Before joining WindowsReport, he worked as a front-end web developer. Now, he’s specialized in Windows errors & software issues.
