I cant factory reset

[Nerd23245]

Hi, Im trying to do a file delete (Keep personal), but every time I get to around 30% it freezes and says No changes were made, I would love it if someone could help me, because I want to clear out my computer and I don't want to wipe it clean, but its not working, thanks in advance!

 

[Colif]

Which version of Win 10 are you on?
right click start button
choose run...
type winver and press enter - the version you are on may matter later

right click start button
choose command prompt (admin)
copy/paste this into window - it needs to be exact
DISM /Online /Cleanup-Image /RestoreHealth and press enter

What DISM does is it cleans the image file that Reset uses to fix windows. Once its complete, run the next command in same window as it will fix the system files as well:
type SFC /scannow and press enter
restart PC and then try the reset again


Now if DISM asks for a source file, and you on version 1607, you need to do the next step. If you aren't on 1607, see note below

Download a copy of the win 10 iso from Here - create ISO by telling it you want to make DVD - and then mount that ISO in file explorer (see Here) and then copy paste the below command into command prompt (admin)

DISM /Online /Cleanup-Image /RestoreHealth /source:WIM:X:\Sources\Install.wim:1 /LimitAccess
Where "X" is the drive letter where the ISO is located. Simply change the "X" to the correct drive letter

Note: you can't run the source command if you are aren't on 1607, as you need an ISO that matches version you are on and unless you lucky and have one, its a struggle to find and its easier to just upgrade to latest version of win 10 instead. To upgrade to current version, go to here and press upgrade now - this will download the upgrade assistant which once run will upgrade win 10 to the current build... for a few more weeks until MS update it again

 

[Nerd23245]

Which version of Win 10 are you on?
right click start button
choose run...
type winver and press enter - the version you are on may matter later

right click start button
choose command prompt (admin)
copy/paste this into window - it needs to be exact
DISM /Online /Cleanup-Image /RestoreHealth and press enter

What DISM does is it cleans the image file that Reset uses to fix windows. Once its complete, run the next command in same window as it will fix the system files as well:
type SFC /scannow and press enter
restart PC and then try the reset again


Now if DISM asks for a source file, and you on version 1607, you need to do the next step. If you aren't on 1607, see note below

Download a copy of the win 10 iso from Here - create ISO by telling it you want to make DVD - and then mount that ISO in file explorer (see Here) and then copy paste the below command into command prompt (admin)

DISM /Online /Cleanup-Image /RestoreHealth /source:WIM:X:\Sources\Install.wim:1 /LimitAccess
Where "X" is the drive letter where the ISO is located. Simply change the "X" to the correct drive letter

Note: you can't run the source command if you are aren't on 1607, as you need an ISO that matches version you are on and unless you lucky and have one, its a struggle to find and its easier to just upgrade to latest version of win 10 instead. To upgrade to current version, go to here and press upgrade now - this will download the upgrade assistant which once run will upgrade win 10 to the current build... for a few more weeks until MS update it again

 

[Nerd23245]

Sorry I don't really understand what you meant can you just like a list? (1,2,3) because I am really bad with computers

 

[Colif]

okay, we try the short version 1st then

from the desktop
1. right click the start button
2. choose command prompt (admin) from the list it displays
2. copy/paste this next command (in bold) into the window as it needs to be exact
DISM /Online /Cleanup-Image /RestoreHealth
and press enter

what this does is cleans the files that reset uses to reinstall windows again.

 

[Nerd23245]

Ok beforehand you said one thing about another step, do I have to do that? Thanks in advance I'm loving this website!

 

[Colif]

Ok beforehand you said one thing about another step, do I have to do that? Thanks in advance I'm loving this website!

only need the other step if when you run DISM it asks for a source - what this means is it needs a fresh copy of windows 10 to rebuild the image file as the files currently there are corrupted.

Guess I might as well spell it out now as I suspect you will need it

1. Download a copy of the win 10 Media creation tool from Here - its the 2nd link on page
2. create ISO by telling it you want to make DVD
3. mount that ISO in file explorer (see Instructions Here)

4.. copy paste the below command into command prompt (admin) - it needs to be exact

DISM /Online /Cleanup-Image /RestoreHealth /source:WIM:X:\Sources\Install.wim:1 /LimitAccess

Where "X" is the drive letter where the ISO is located. Simply change the "X" to the correct drive letter

5. close command prompt and restart PC