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Dell Migrate User's Guide

PDF

Reset Windows 8.1

Steps

  1. Click Start, and enter reset, and then select Remove everything and reinstall Windows.
    Figure 1. Searching for Reset settings
    Searching for Reset settings
    The Recovery page inside Update and Recovery settings is displayed.
  2. Click Remove everything and reinstall Windows, and click Get Started.
    Figure 2. Resetting the Settings page
    Resetting the Settings page
    Information about what changes are made and what data gets erased is displayed.
  3. Click Next.
    Figure 3. Reset prompt
    Reset prompt
  4. If you have multiple partitions or multiple disk drives in your system, Windows prompts if you want to only clean the Windows installation drive or clean all the drives. Select All drives or skip this step.
    Figure 4. Resetting the drives
    Resetting the drives
  5. Click Clean the drive fully to perform complete reset and remove all personal data.
    Figure 5. Selecting Clean the drive fully option
    Selecting Clean the drive fully option
  6. Click Reset to proceed with the system reset.
    Figure 6. Reset confirmation page
    Reset confirmation page
    NOTE: Depending on the number, type, size of disks, and configuration of the system, the reset can take from an hour to a few hours.
    The system restarts and resets the system.
    Figure 7. Preparing for Windows reset
    Preparing for Windows Reset
    Figure 8. Resetting in Progress
    Reset in Progress

    After reset is complete, Windows restarts to set up the system for a new installation.

    NOTE: Your system might restart a few times. This is the expected behavior.
    Figure 9. Setting Windows post reset
    Setting Windows post reset
    After the system is rebooted, the out-of-box experience (OOBE) page is displayed.
    Figure 10. Out-of-box experience landing page
    Out-of-box experience landing page
  7. You can either shut down the system forcefully by holding the power button, and let another user set up the system if you intend if you sell, gift, or trade in the system. You can also set the system up yourself.

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