Guide to factory reset laptop windows 7: Step-by-step instructions

One user stated on Microsoft Answers, How can I reset my Windows 7 laptop?
> I accidentally deleted some files from my C drive, and now my files have > disappeared. Here’s how it happened:
> I was copying some files to an external hard drive, and I accidentally > deleted some files from my C drive, as well as the external hard drive. I > checked, and the C drive and the external hard drive have files, but nothing > is on my C drive.
Follow the steps in this article to fully reset your laptop.

• If your laptop is frozen, you can factory reset it to return it to its factory state.
• This guide will show you how to factory reset your laptop, step by step.
• Visit our Laptops Hub for more articles on this topic.
• For more Windows-related solutions, check out our Windows 10 Errors Hub.

Disconnect all external devices

1. Turn off the laptop
   Press and hold down the power button for 30 seconds
   Release the power button
2. Connect an external monitor to the laptop
   Press and hold the power button for 30 seconds
   Release the power button

Turn off fast startup

1. Press Windows Key + S and enter power options. Select Power & sleep settings from the list of results.
2. Click Choose what the power button does.
3. Locate the Shutdown settings section and deselect Turn on fast startup (recommended). Now click Save changes.

Perform a Clean boot

1. To perform a clean boot, open the Run accessory by pressing the Windows key and R.
2. Enter msconfig and click OK to open System Configuration.
   
3. Select the Services tab shown directly below.
4. Select the Hide All Microsoft Services option.
5. Select the Disable All option on the Startup tab.
6. Press the Apply and OK buttons.
   
7. Restart Windows 10 after closing the System Configuration utility.

Run SFC and DISM

1. To run SFC, press the Windows key + R hotkey.
2. Type cmd in the Run box and click OK to open the Command prompt as an administrator.
   
3. Input the sfc /scannow command, and press the Return key.
4. Then input the DISM /Online /Cleanup-Image /RestoreHealth command.
5. Press the Return key again to run DISM.

Create a new user account

1. Create a new user account on your desktop. You can do this by pressing the Windows key, typing User Accounts, and clicking it from the results.
2. Click Add an account.
3. Click either Add a user without a Microsoft account or Add a user with a Microsoft account.
   
4. Enter the desired username, password, and an optional display picture.
5. Select the checkbox to agree to the Microsoft Account Agreement, click the Sign In button, and press the Next button.

Turn off system restore

1. Press the Windows key + R key on your keyboard, type control, and
   press Enter.
2. Go to System and Security.
   
3. Click System Restore.
4. Select Show more restore points.
5. Select a restore point and click Next.
6. Follow the prompts to finish the process.