I Have Accidentally Run the ‘Return Factory Default’ on My PC!
Here is a step-by-step guide on how to recover your Windows system after an accidental factory reset, designed for clarity, completeness, and practicality. This assumes you’ve lost personal files and apps but still have access to the PC.
🔧 How to Recover Your Windows System After an Accidental Factory Reset
Step-by-step guide to recovering lost data, restoring files, and getting your system back in shape
🛑 First: Understand What a Factory Reset Does
A factory reset (sometimes called “Reset this PC” > “Remove everything”) reinstalls Windows and removes:
- User files (Documents, Pictures, etc.)
- Installed apps and programs
- System settings
Some versions allow you to keep files—but if you chose “Remove everything,” your data is likely deleted from the C: drive.
🧠 Step 1: Stop Using the PC Immediately
Any writing to the drive could overwrite deleted files. The faster you stop, the higher your chances of recovery.
- Don’t install new programs
- Don’t browse the internet
- Don’t use Disk Cleanup or defrag
🧰 Step 2: Use Data Recovery Software
Use another PC to create a recovery USB stick. Recommended tools:
- 🔹 Recuva (Free)
- 🔹 EaseUS Data Recovery Wizard
- 🔹 Disk Drill
- 🔹 R-Studio (advanced, powerful)
- 🔹 PhotoRec/TestDisk (free, powerful, but command-line)
📦 How to Prepare:
- Download the recovery software on another PC.
- Use a USB stick (8GB or larger) to create a bootable recovery environment (if possible).
- Boot your wiped PC from USB (change boot order in BIOS).
- Scan your primary drive (usually C:) for lost files.
⚠️ Be patient — deep scans can take hours or even a day.
💾 Step 3: Recover to an External Drive
Always recover files to a separate external disk, not back to the wiped C: drive.
Recommended external formats:
- NTFS or exFAT
- SSD or USB HDD preferred
🗃️ Step 4: Check for Cloud Backups
Sometimes data may be synced automatically:
- OneDrive – Go to onedrive.live.com and check Documents, Pictures, Desktop
- Google Drive / Dropbox / iCloud
- Outlook/Office365 Email Attachments (past sent files)
Also check if Windows File History or Backup was enabled.
🧩 Step 5: Reinstall Essential Apps
Once your files are recovered:
- Reinstall critical software (Office, browsers, antivirus, etc.)
- Restore license keys from email or account logins.
- Use Ninite (ninite.com) to batch-install common apps safely.
🛡️ Step 6: Rebuild Your Security & Backup Plan
Avoid a repeat incident. Set up:
- 🔄 Windows File History
- ☁️ OneDrive / Google Drive / Dropbox Sync
- 📀 External backup (use tools like Macrium Reflect or Acronis)
- 🧾 Keep copies of license keys and app installers
🧭 Optional: Restore from Previous System Image (if exists)
If you had created a full System Image Backup before the reset:
- Connect the backup drive.
- Boot from Windows Recovery or Installation USB.
- Select Advanced Options > System Image Recovery.
This restores everything as it was: files, programs, settings.
🚫 If Recovery Software Fails
If no files are found, you still have options:
- 🧠 Professional Data Recovery Labs (like Ontrack, Secure Data Recovery)
- 💸 Can be expensive (£300–£1000) but may help with critical data
✅ Summary Checklist
| Task | Done |
|---|---|
| Stop using the PC immediately | ✅ |
| Prepare USB with recovery software | ✅ |
| Scan for deleted files | ✅ |
| Recover files to external drive | ✅ |
| Check cloud backups | ✅ |
| Reinstall key apps | ✅ |
| Set up new backup routine | ✅ |
✨ Final Thought
Accidental factory resets are gut-wrenching — but modern recovery tools give you a fighting chance. The key is speed, care, and method. And next time, let’s make your backup system invisible but bulletproof.
Would you like a downloadable PDF or Word version of this guide for offline use or client handout?
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Well here is the Berkshire Computers take on all of this:
Firstly you do need to stop using the computer IMMEDIATELY! Any use of the disk will just reduce chances of recovery.
Secondly, do you have a backup? What exactly happened? Did you start the restore fron the boot-up sequence over the internet like a Dell business PC does?
Thridly – is it an SSD or a Spinning Disk? Either way you should probably bring the PC too us toute suite so that we can scan it for partitions shadows or other possible means of recovery.
Either way this is a difficult situaion and you need to find out if you have been unconsciously backing up to Microsoft OneDrive or Google Drive or Apple iCloud or anywhere else. If you haev noi backup we can attempt recovery and if you have not used the PC much then there is a reasonable chance we can recover some data.