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If you select “Remove everything”, Windows will erase everything, including your personal files. If you select “Keep my files”, Windows will reset Windows to its default state, removing your installed applications and settings but keeping your personal files. You can choose to either “Keep my files” or “Remove everything”. On Windows 8, head to Change PC Settings > Update & Recovery > Recovery to find the equivalent “Refresh your PC” and “Reset this PC” options. Click or tap the “Get Started” button under “Reset this PC”. To reset your PC to its factory default settings on Windows 10, just open the Settings app and head to Update & Security > Recovery. That’s why your desktop programs are erased. Whether you choose to keep your personal files or not, this process involves a completely fresh Windows system. It places them aside, installs a fresh copy of Windows, and puts them back where they were found. However, before erasing your Windows partition, Windows RE scans the hard drive for your files and personal settings.
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When you choose to keep your files, the same steps occur. The PC restarts into the new copy of Windows.Windows RE erases and formats the Windows partitions before installing a fresh copy of Windows.The PC boots into Windows RE, the Windows Recovery Environment.When you reset your PC and remove everything: Microsoft has explained what’s actually going on under the hood here. This process is very similar to reinstalling Windows from scratch or using a manufacturer-supplied recovery partition, but is more convenient.
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This will restore the original version that came with your PC–so if your computer came with Windows 8, and you upgraded to Windows 10, it will reset back to Windows 8. If your computer came with Windows pre-installed, you may also see a third option, “Restore Factory Settings”.
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