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Reset This PC is a recovery feature available in Windows 10 that lets you reinstall Windows again from scratch with just a few taps or clicks, much like a factory reset or restore but no install disc or flash drive is needed.

You even have the option of keeping or removing your personal files in the process!

See my Reset This PC: What It Is & How To Use It for more on this "solution of last resort" and when its a good idea to use.

The easiest way to start the Reset This PC process is from the Advanced Startup Options menu, shown in the screenshot on this page.

The great thing about Advanced Startup Options is that there are at least a half-dozen ways to bring it up, which is super helpful considering that the tools there, like Reset This PC, can fix problems that are preventing you from using Windows normally.

If Windows 10 is starting correctly, the best way to access the ASO menu is via Settings. Just tap or click on Settings from the Start Menu.

If Windows 10 is not starting correctly, the best way to bring up the ASO menu is via the Repair your computer link after booting from your installation media or recovery drive.

See How to Access Advanced Startup Options if you need some more help with either method, or you need some more options. I list six different ways in that piece, so one is likely to work out.

Once at the ASO menu, tap or click on Troubleshoot.

In Windows 8, the Reset This PC tool exists as two distinct and similarly-named processes, Refresh Your PC and Reset Your PC.

Basically, Windows 8s Refresh Your PC is the same as the Keep my files choice in Reset This PC in Windows 10, and its Reset Your PC equates to the Remove everything choice.

Ill call out any important differences between the reset processes of Windows 10 and Windows 8 throughout this tutorial but, for the most part, theyll be the same.

From the Troubleshoot screen in Advanced Startup Options, choose the Reset this PC option.

As youll see, it says Lets you choose to keep or remove your files, and then reinstalls Windows, so dont worry that you havent yet told Windows 10 to keep your personal files. Thats coming up next in Step 3.

This screen looks a little different in Windows 8. Choose Refresh your PC if you want to reinstall Windows 8 but you want to keep your personal files (like saved music, documents, etc.) or Reset your PC if you want to reinstall Windows 8 without keeping any of your files.

Skip to Step 4 of this tutorial after making that choice in Windows 8 or check out Step 3 (even though its for the Windows 10 folks) if youre not sure which one to choose or are confused about what might happen.

In Windows 10, this is the Reset This PC screen youll see next, headed with Choose an option.

Choose either Keep my files, Remove everything, or Restore factory settings to continue.

This is a very important choice, so I want to make sure you completely understand what youre doing before you move forward:

Choose Keep my files to keep your personal files, remove all installed software and apps, and reinstall Windows 10 from scratch.

Windows 10 will back up your personal data and tuck it away safely while it reinstalls itself from scratch. When complete, Windows 10 will appear much like when you first bought your computer or installed it yourself. You may need to reconfigure some custom settings and you will need to reinstall any software you want again, but your saved files will be waiting for you.

Choose Remove everything to remove your personal files, remove all installed software and apps, and reinstall Windows 10 from scratch.

Windows 10 will erase everything on the drive its installed onto and then reinstall itself from scratch. When complete, Windows 10 will appear much like when you first bought your computer or installed it yourself. You may need to reconfigure some custom settings and you will need to reinstall any software you want again.

Note: This option only shows up on some computers and is not reflected in my screenshot example above.

Choose Restore factory settings to remove your personal files, remove all installed software, and reinstall the operating system and preinstalled software that originally came with your computer.

Windows 10 will erase everything on the drive and then return your computer back to the exact state it was in when you first purchased in. In most cases, this means all of the preinstalled software will be reinstalled and the version of Windows that was on your computer when you bought it will be there again.

All options accomplish the same thing if youre doing a Reset This PC to solve a major computer issue so choosing Keep my files is the safer bet in most cases.

The most common reason to choose Remove everything or Restore factory settings would be if you were selling or giving away the computer afterwards and you wanted to make sure nothing of yours was left to dig up later. Starting over after a major malware infection is another good reason.

Important: Only the last option, if present, allows you to keep your installed software programs and apps! With the first two choices, youll need to reinstall all of your software once the Restart This PC process is over.

Tip: One really easy way to protect yourself from mistakes with Reset This PC, or any process that might mean your important files are at risk, is to make sure youre backing up! Online backup services are best but traditional local backup softwareworks too.