There are two main reasons why you might need to recover your computer:
- It’s not working properly: This could be due to erratic behavior after installing a program or update, or you might not be able to start Windows at all.
- It feels sluggish: Over time, your computer might slow down and feel bogged down. If you miss how efficiently it used to run when you first bought it, a complete recovery can restore it to its original condition.
Whatever the issue, this step-by-step guide will help. Be sure to follow the instructions carefully, selecting the options that apply to your situation.
Important: Before starting, ensure you’ve backed up all your important files—including emails, photos, and documents.
Reset Your PC
Resetting your PC reinstalls Windows and gives you the option to either keep your files or remove everything. Here's how to get started:
- Go to Settings > System > Recovery > Reset this PC and select "Reset PC".
- Follow the on-screen instructions.
Important: When prompted, select "Remove everything". Choosing to keep your files might allow the issue to persist if it’s caused by drivers or software settings.
You may also be asked whether to restore from the cloud or a local backup. We recommend opting for the local backup as it’s faster and will automatically reinstall the necessary drivers.
Once Windows 11 has been reinstalled, you’ll see the "Out of Box Experience" screen, where you can set up your account and preferences.
If you can't recover your OS using the method above, you may have to use/create recovery drive to reset your PC (see instructions below).
To reinstall Windows, you'll need to create a Windows Installation Media USB drive. Microsoft provides the necessary software for free on their website. You will need a USB flash drive with at least 16GB of free capacity.
Here are the steps to follow:
1) On a working PC, go to the Microsoft Windows 11 Download Page:
https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/software-download/windows11
2) Download the Media Creation Tool and run it.
3) Select "Create installation media for another PC."
4) Choose the language, edition, and architecture (64-bit).
5) Follow the prompts to create the installation media, then select Finish.
6) Connect the installation media to your non-functional PC and turn it on.
7) On the setup screen, select your language and other preferences, and then select Next.
NOTE: If you're not seeing the setup screen, restart your device and then immediately start tapping the boot menu key* on the keyboard. This will cause the device to enter the boot menu. From here, choose the USB device as the boot device. The Windows installation should begin loading. Once it loads, enter your language and other preferences, and then select Next.
8) Once the Windows installer loads, select Install now.
9) If prompted for a product key, you can select Skip, and Windows will activate later.
10) Accept the license terms, then select Custom installation.
11) On the partition selection screen, select and delete every partition. This will combine them into a single empty partition.
12) Select the empty partition and click Next.
13) Follow the rest of the setup instructions to finish installing Windows 11.
Once Windows 11 is installed, you will be greeted with the "Out of Box Experience" screen, where you can set up your account.
*The boot menu key varies depending on the laptop manufacturer. Lenovo: F12, Dell: F12, HP: F9