Page 830 - Windows 10 May 2019 Update The Missing Manual: The Book That Should Have Been in the Box

ever done to this PC, leaving it with a fresh copy of Windows and

the apps that come with it. This is a fine option if you intend to
reinstall stuff and keep using the PC.

If you select “Change settings,” you’ll be able to hit an Off switch.
Now you’re in “Remove files and clean the drive” mode. In this

case, Windows will erase your files and scrub those storage spaces
with digital static, which will make it almost impossible for even a
sleuth or recovery company to resurrect your deleted files. (This

takes longer, but it’s the option to use if you’re planning to donate
or sell the computer.) Hit Confirm to return to the “Additional

settings” box.

3. Hit Next.

You get one more warning, one final reminder that you’re about to

erase every program you’ve installed on your PC.

4. Hit Reset.

The resetting process takes a long time. When it’s all over, your
computer is empty except for Windows and the apps it came with.
It’s shiny clean and ready to donate or reuse yourself.

Note

On some computers, there’s a third option called “Restore factory settings.” It’s the same thing as
“Remove everything,” except that it also restores whatever version of Windows came on the PC
from the store.

Windows Recovery Environment

You might play by all the rules. You might make regular backups, keep
your antivirus software up to date, and floss twice a day. And then, one day,
you get your reward: The PC won’t even start up. You can’t use any of

Windows’ software troubleshooting tools, because you can’t even get to
Windows.