How to Reset Your Windows 10 System Without Losing Any Files
If you’re having trouble with your Windows 10 system and you’re considering resetting it, you may have heard that resetting your computer will erase all of your files. And this isn’t an empty threat: Resetting Windows 10 will permanently delete everything on your hard drive, including the files on your desktop and in any folders you might have set up to store things in, even if those folders are currently empty.
What is File History
File History is a backup feature in Windows 10 that regularly saves copies of your files to a designated location. That way, if you ever accidentally delete a file or need to revert back to an older version, you can do so without any hassle. To set up File History, head to the Backup settings page in the Settings app. From there, you can choose how often you want File History to save copies of your files, as well as where those copies should be stored.
If you’re concerned about wasting space on your computer’s hard drive, consider storing the backups on another drive like an external USB stick. However, keep in mind that File History will still take up some space on your main hard drive while it runs automatically in the background.
How Does File History Work
File History is a feature in Windows 10 that allows you to create backups of your files on an external drive. This is useful in case your computer crashes or you accidentally delete a file. To set up File History, go to the Settings app and click on Update & Security. Then, click on Backup and select Add a drive. Choose the external drive you want to use for your backups and click OK. File History will now create regular backups of your files.
You can access these files by going to File Explorer and clicking on View > Show All Folders > Previous Versions. Right-click on the folder containing the file you want to recover, then click Restore personal files (or folders). The original date of the backed-up version of your document should be listed as well as its size. Clicking it will open it so you can compare it with what’s there now and decide whether or not you want to restore it.
Back-Up Folders
The first step is to back up your important files. This can be done by dragging and dropping them into a separate folder, or by using an external hard drive. Once you have all of your important files backed up, you can proceed with resetting your system. Go to the Start Menu and type reset in the search bar.
Click on the result titled Reset this PC. Make sure that under Keep my files, you select the option that says: Keep everything (even my apps). You will then need to choose whether or not you want to keep any personal information such as documents, contacts, emails, photos, music, etc. When everything has been set up correctly just click Reset.
Restore the Folder
If you’re planning on resetting your Windows 10 system, you can choose to keep your files or delete them. If you want to keep your files, you can use the Keep My Files option. This will restore your personal files, as well as any apps that came with your PC. Here’s how to do it – Go to Settings > Update & Security > Recovery > Get Started
- Select Keep my files and then follow the instructions.
- On some PCs, you’ll be prompted for a password before starting this process.
- You might need an external hard drive if there isn’t enough room on your current drive for all of your data.
What Happens When You Use This Option?
If you’re having problems with your Windows 10 computer and you want to keep your personal files but start fresh with a clean installation of the operating system, you can use the Keep my files option when resetting your PC. This will reinstall Windows 10 and keep your personal files, settings, and apps intact. You won’t need to reinstall any third-party programs or drivers either because they’ll be saved too. When you’re done, it’ll be like your PC was never messed up in the first place!
Things to Know Before Restoring
- Restoring your Windows 10 system will return it to its factory settings, which means that any programs you’ve installed and any changes you’ve made to settings will be lost.
- If you have any unsaved files or unsaved work, be sure to save them before you begin the restore process.
- Once you start the restore process, it cannot be stopped, so make sure you’re ready to commit to resetting your system.
