If your Windows computer isn’t starting or booting up at all, you may have to reinstall
the operating system.
On my Acer Aspire Switch 10 I think Windows got corrupted somehow and I was having occasional
problems until one day it wouldn’t boot up anymore.
At that point I had to reinstall Windows to get it working again.
The steps I’ll show in this video worked on my Acer Switch 10 but you can follow these
instructions on any Windows desktop or laptop computer.
And I’ll say this right here at the beginning… if you follow the directions in this video
all your data will be erased so just proceed with caution!
Now the first thing you have to do is create a recovery device which is usually a USB drive.
Find a functioning Windows computer with and insert a USB drive with at least 8GB capacity.
In my case I’m using my 2nd Switch 10 laptop.
In the Windows search bar type in Recovery.
Then click to open the recovery software.
And when you see the recovery tools click on Create a Recovery Drive.
The next screen has some information about the recovery drive and what it can do.
Here I’ll click Next.
On this screen it’ll confirm that the computer sees the USB drive.
Click Next again.
The last warning will tell you that the USB drive will be completely erased when the recovery
drive is created.
And when you’re ready click on the Create button.
This will take a few minutes to finish.
Now take the newly created recovery USB drive and plug it into the computer that’s not
working.
Turn on the computer and hold down the F2 key.
In a few seconds the Set Up Utility menu will pop up.
Here click on Boot and we’re going to tell the computer to boot from the USB drive.
In the list of devices click the arrow next to USB HDD until it moves to the number slot
at the top.
Now click on Exit and then on the button that says Exit Saving Changes.
Then click on Yes to confirm the modifications.
The computer will eventually come up in diagnostic mode.
Here choose your keyboard layout.
On the next screen there are several options.
I’m going to click on Troubleshoot here.
On this page you can Refresh Your PC which could fix your computer without losing any
files or you can choose Reset Your PC and set it back to factory settings erasing all
your data.
For what we’re doing today I need to click on Reset Your PC which will completely erase
the computer and install a fresh operating system on the hard drive.
I had Windows 8.1 on this computer so that is the choice I’m given.
Your options might be a bit different.
So click on the operating system you want installed.
In a few seconds there’ll be a warning for what’s going to happen next.
When you Reset Your PC all your data, personal files and apps will be deleted.
Also all saved settings will be reset to default.
In other words all your files and settings will be deleted.
My computer won’t work anymore so I have no choice but to continue with the reset.
If you’re sure you want to completely delete your computer click on Next.
On the following screen, you have the option to repartition the drives on your computer
or keep the existing partitions.
If you keep your existing partitions they’ll still be available after the reset but the
data may or may not be there on the other partitions after the reset.
I want to completely start over on this computer so I will choose Yes, Repartition the Drives
and delete everything on my laptop.
On the next screen since I’m keeping my computer I’ll click on the button that says
Just Remove My Files.
If I were to sell my computer I’d use the other option to Fully Clean the Drive.
Now we’re on the last step and in a bit I’ll show you what you need to do after
the computer has been reset.
So if you’re prepared to erase everything from your computer click the Reset button.
From this point the computer starts deleting all personal files and reinstalling Windows.
Once the initial restart is complete you’ll have to choose a keyboard layout.
On the next screen I choose Turn Off Your PC.
Mainly because this is the first time I’m doing this.
I may have been able to click on Continue and it would’ve probably launched into Windows.
But I decided to choose this option to turn off my computer and then restart it.
When the computer reboots it goes to the Windows login screen.
At this point just follow the on-screen instructions to get your computer set up again.
When you’re done you’ll have a completely fresh and functioning Windows computer minus
all your data.
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